How do i know if I am updated after ubuntu said I needed kernel updating

To be sure your system is updated/upgraded with no pending packages or packages install errors...

Open a Terminal from the menu Applications->Accessories->Terminal

**Tip: right click with mouse on the top terminal windows title caption and select the menu item "Always on Top"
doing this you will force the terminal window to stay on top of the other windows and you will find very easy
to copy single row from this web page into the terminal...
Something more about using the terminal https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingTheTerminal

Then type or better copy and paste a row a time then press enter:
(Tip: select the single row to copy from this page then right click and select copy then click into the terminal window
and to quick paste click with middle button of mouse )

Copy and paste the rows below, copy and paste one row a time (see the **Tip) then press enter:

sudo dpkg --configure -a
sudo apt-get -f install
sudo apt-get --fix-missing install
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo apt-get clean
sudo apt-get autoremove
sudo apt-get update

give your user password when requested, you don't see nothing when you type it, then press enter.