Ubuntu

xubuntu says my laptop is too old.

Asked by Stephanie

It tried to downgrade itself to fit my computer after I got it figured out how to install over redhat and it basically came up with the fact that my computer is a 96 model laptop that needs pretty much throwing away. Would ubuntu work on it?

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arochester
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arochester (arochester) said : 		#1

The most important things are (1) the amount of RAM and (2) the size of the hard disk. Xubuntu is the Xfce version of Ubuntu and the recommended amount of RAM is 128Mb. Full Ubuntu, with the Gnome desktop or Kubuntu with the KDE desktop need at least 256Mb.

1) What is the make and model of your laptop?
2) How much RAM do you have ?

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Stephanie (steph9700) said : 		#2

I think it is 128mb of ram and the computer is a Compaq presario 1600s

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Stephanie (steph9700) said : 		#3

It loads really slow then when it gets to the blue/green background it freezes and goes no further. my husband worked with it for three hours last night and he is the I.T. manager of a 9 company corporation so I am hoping he knows something about what he is doing ;)

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arochester (arochester) said : 		#4

You could try running the Xubuntu LiveCD to see if it works and if you have any problems. DO NOT try to install from the LiveCD as this takes 196Mb RAM. If you do install it will have to be from the AlternateCD which only takes 64Mb to install.

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Stephanie (steph9700) said : 		#5

where do I download the alternate cd from?

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Best arochester (arochester) said : 		#6

There are other (more) lightweight distributions. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Mini_Linux_distributions

Staying with *ubuntu you could try:
a) install the server edition (which does not have a gui) then tell it to install e.g. sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop
b) try fluxbuntu from http://fluxbuntu.org/js.html#
c) try ubuntulite from http://ubuntulite.tuxfamily.org/

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Stephanie (steph9700) said : 		#7

Thanks arochester, that solved my question.