Question about Mandriva Boot Menu-multiple kernels?
 

I have Mandriva 2009 Power Pack and have a question about the boot menu. I'm a Linux newbie so I'm very confused about this but it seems since I've had Mandriva I've had several Kernel updates. At the boot menu I always just let it boot to default and had the following options:
Boot Mandriva Linux 2009
Boot Mandriva Linux 2009 Safe Mode

The problem is I now have 3 more options below:

Desktop 2.6.27.4-2.mnb
Desktop 2.6.27.5-2.mnb
Desktop 2.6.27.7-1.mnb

I assume these are each kernel updates but my confusion is when I boot into Mandriva Linux 2009 (the first default option) is it using the newest Linux Kernel or do I have to select Desktop 2.6.27.7-1.mnb?
Do I need to delete some of these kernels as I update so I just have one?

For you it does not matter if you use Mandriva 2009 or the other desktop
For the system it can be different
Do you need to delete the other kernels No
Failsafe is something like Windowsz safe mode

You do not need to remove the older kernels. They do take up a bit of disk space. So if you are short of disk space, you can remove them, If you decide to do that, go to MCC, and use the Install/Remove software option. Remove one at a time, starting from the oldest one.

MCC shows you a coloured icon showing the status of each one. There are many files that are removed with each one. URPMI will look after all dependencies, that is why you should use MCC and URPMI to remove them. I have done this on my 2008.1 system. It does make things look neater, but no other effect.

If you are interested in what each update is for, you can find out here --> http://mandrivausers.org/index.php?showforum=33

The majority are security updates, ie someone has discovered a vulnerability, and fixed it.

The same question...
 

Someone answer to such question?

If you want to know what is running, open a konsole, and run the command 'uname -a' ( without the quotes ).

Here is what it looks like on my machine.

This is from a Mandriva 2008.1 system.

When your Mandriva kernel is updated, the new one is installed allongside the old one. The first few menu options will always boot the newest, most recently installed kernel.

The old ones are given a new entry at the bottom of the grub boot selection menu in case something doesn't work properly with the new kernel, so that you always have the option of using it instead. That way you are never unable to use your computer.

As others have said, the differences are minimal, ususally due to security updates that patch vulnerabilities.

The only reason to delete them would be if you need the extra space, and they should always be removed using the Mandriva Control Center or URPMI