If there is docker image for what you need, use docker image.

If not I would recommend systemd-nspawn, it’s chroot but can run systemd init, with efforts you can run GUI applications from it too., wiping that is just sudo rm -rf.

On Ubuntu 22.04 based distro, you can try install HWE (hardware enablement) kernels but you need a phone that can share WIFI/mobile connection through USB cable.

sudo apt update; sudo apt install linux-generic-hwe-22.04

Try posting output of lspci command here, gives us more information about your laptop hardware.

I think thunderbird always delay major version upgrade until <version>.2.

If you observe their changelog:

115.0: only offer binary download, not as upgrade

102.0: only offer binary download, not as upgrade

102.1.2: only offer binary download, not as upgrade

102.2: no such disclaimer

They also has the same disclaimer for 91.x, that’s how Thunderbird decided to distribute update.

I know Micron Storage Executive can run in Ubuntu Live USB, too bad Micron/Crucial doesn’t have attractive offering where I live.

Ubuntu freezes package version number (with only few exceptions like browsers) when they release a new version.

You will either need to wait for a new version (most likely 23.10) or use 3rd party maintained PPAs.

Vulnerable versions: Linux kernel 6.1 through 6.4

Fixed in: mainline, 6.4.1, 6.3.11, and 6.1.37