Bug#720272: unbootable and lead to data loss?

[jidanni@jidanni.org]

What will happen if I boot

          product: Intel(R) Celeron(R) M processor         1.40GHz
          version: 6.13.6
          size: 1400MHz
          capacity: 1400MHz
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 400MHz
          capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr mce cx8 sep mtrr pge mca cmov clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss tm pbe up bts

with -686-pae?
Will it not boot at all? Will it run normally but with subtle data
corruption to my files?

Why can't there be a utility checker script (like the "autoconf -
automatic configure script builder") a user could use to detect such
dangers, without needing to ask the experts each time?

$ ./is-486-or-686-pae-right-for-me?
...checking cpuinfo
...checking something else
Congratulations, your system is suitable for -686-pae !!

$ ./is-486-or-686-pae-right-for-me?
...checking cpuinfo
...checking something else
Sorry, your system should use the older -486, not the -686-pae!!

Such a script could be included with all Debian kernel packages,
so curious users could check before filling their /boots with the wrong
stuff!

No more need to comb newsgroups for answers about things one doesn't
understand. Let the expert script answer the mystery!