When I suggested you try 8.2 . It was because of your stated kernel requirements at LFO. I agree that you might be mistaken about kernel requirements.
Yeah, I think I still have to learn more about kernels and stuff __{{emoticon}}__
I can relate to that. Hehehe...The reinstalls were my bad/fault usually.
I have to try this one. After one year and seemingly countless reinstallations, I partition my OS/HD this way, Swap and then the rest.I learned how to do a install with a separate /home partition.
I can now see that having separate partitions for files has its advantages.