yuna chromebook black screen on kernel 4.10.x+

[tl5k5]

I have an Acer CB5-571 (Yuna) chromebook that's been running Linux Mint. I did a system upgrade that updated the kernel to something a lot newer. Upon reboot, all I got was a black screen. I though it was then a good time to switch to debian. I was able to install stretch which was running 4.9.x and seemed to work except the occasional gui glitch. I then backported 4.12.x and the same black screen happened on reboot. I've gave manjaro a try and when I upgraded from 4.9.x to 4.14.13 I still get the black screen.
So there seems to be something with more modern kernels and this chromebook. I'd like to still use this laptop for years to come...any idea how I can progress past a 4.9 kernel?

CPU: Dual core Intel Celeron 3215U (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
clock speeds: max: 1700 MHz 1: 1700 MHz 2: 1700 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel HD Graphics
Display Server: N/A drivers: intel (unloaded: modesetting)
tty size: 80x24
Audio: Card-1 Intel Broadwell-U Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel
Card-2 Intel Wildcat Point-LP High Def. Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
Network: Card: Intel Wireless 7260 driver: iwlwifi
IF: wlp1s0 state: up mac: 6c:29:95x:x
Drives: HDD Total Size: 64.1GB (18.9% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: KINGSTON size: 32.0GB
ID-2: USB /dev/sdb model: Flash_Drive_FIT size: 32.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 26G used: 6.2G (26%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: /home size: 30G used: 1.3G (5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
ID-3: swap-1 size: 4.33GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
fs: swap dev: /dev/sda2
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 48.8C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 189 Uptime: 23:53 Memory: 1815.6/3890.7MB Init: systemd
Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.53

[debiman]

...any idea how I can progress past a 4.9 kernel?

you don't have to.
the 4.9... is one of the LTS series. just stick to that.

[tl5k5]

I usually do an "apt upgrade" which will upgrade the kernel.
What command do I use to upgrade the system without updating the kernel?
Thanks!

[debiman]

i'm not sure, but i think it will stay on the 4.9.x line forever.
i see this behavior both on my debian jessie and archlinux install.

i think you should read up on how these kernel updates work, and how debian stable handles updates/grades, to understand better.

[tl5k5]

Ok...thanks