Installing Ubuntu 8.10 on old compaq

as your computer does not meet the recommended requirements for ubuntu, i recommend Xubuntu. also 64 megs of ram isnt sufficient to run the liveCd so you'll need to use the alternate CD installer:

http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-Xubuntu/8.10/release/xubuntu-8.10-alternate-i386.iso

http://mirror.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs-Xubuntu/8.10/release/xubuntu-8.10-alternate-i386.iso.torrent

Wow, i'm not sure that even Xubuntu is small enough to work. Find a tiny distro on DistroWatch. I haven't explored many but for this type of machine my favourites would be

Wolvix Cub 1.1.0, it's more soothing on the eye than pretty. As a full linux it's easy to add programs to, very configurable and due to have a new release soon so it might be interesting to try beta testing the 2.0.0. The installer is the easiest of any distro i've tried and is worth trying even if it's just to learn how to install linux. Community is small but keen to help and explore
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=wolvix

AntiX is pretty and has a Window(ish) feel to it but instead of a "start button" it uses a right-click menu anywhere on the desktop. Created by women against war, find references to Lysatrata
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=antix

SliTaz, very tiny. Full linux so it's easy to add to and configure, made in french but translated to english
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=slitaz

Puppy, everyone's favourite. Easy to use but difficult to add programs to, hence lots of 'Puplets'. Installer is a bit awkward and login asks a lot of questions and it's slow to boot up unless you've installed it to hard-drive but has lots of eye-candy and appeals to people used to Windows. Has a large community keen to help
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=puppy

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysistrata

If you are still having trouble with this then please post it as a new question. Only the most recent questions tend to get looked at so posting/reposting a question just before america arrives online after work/school gives the best chance of getting a good few answers.
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+addquestion

If the problem has been resolved then please follow the link to the forum thread and mark it as Solved.

Good luck and many regards from
Tom :)