LXLE which is a souped up version of Lubuntu is great on low powered systems. There is an excellent review of it on today's Distrowatch weekly feature story http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130909
For old laptops or desktops may I suggest that you give Puppy Linux a try?
The latest Precise Puppy variant (5.7.1) has compatibility with Ubuntu Precise (Long Term Support) software packages as well as Puppy's own packages.
The Puppy .iso is only around 170 to 200 MB so (if your optical drive works) you can burn a live CD and give it a try. It loads fully into RAM at boot so runs at full speed (which is very fast) and unlike the Ubuntu live CD's you can even eject the CD to free up the drive once it has booted. At first shutdown you have the option to create a save-file (on the HDD or on a USB flash drive) to retain your settings and installed packages for future boots. None of this will affect any other installed operating systems.
On Ubuntu (if you have a working version installed at the moment) open a terminal window and enter:
cat proc/cpuinfo
You'll get a big list of info about the CPU.
Look under the 'flags' section, and see if 'pae' is listed.
Also what CPU it is.
That's handy, I'll take a look later.
Now I've got 11.10 up and running it's giving me the option of upgrading to 12.04. However, when I tried to install 12.04 from scratch it installed but wouldn't boot, is it worth chancing installing as an upgrade or will I get the same problem of it not booting?
That's handy, I'll take a look later.
Now I've got 11.10 up and running it's giving me the option of upgrading to 12.04. However, when I tried to install 12.04 from scratch it installed but wouldn't boot, is it worth chancing installing as an upgrade or will I get the same problem of it not booting?
As has already been said repeatedly, scrap Ubuntu (it requires more powerful kit nowadays, basically) and try:
Both of those require less resources and should run like lightening on your old kit.
I think the OP is more worried about whether it'll work with his via chrome 9 video hardware.
As long as you have at least 1GB of RAM, you should be able to run live DVDs/USBs so just try several till you find one that plays nicely with your hardware.
There'd be no harm in trying an upgrade from Ubuntu 11.10 to 12.04. If it works then you're on a version that will be supported till 2017. If not then you can install something else.
LXLE which is a souped up version of Lubuntu is great on low powered systems. There is an excellent review of it on today's Distrowatch weekly feature story http://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20130909
I've been trying Lubuntu LXLE over the past week it runs ok but XP on the same hardware is like lightning compared with Lubuntu also can't get flash to work in lubuntu so no youtube .
Could I encourage you to give Puppy Linux a try on that hardware? I always find it to be lighter and faster than XP and it has Flash Player 10 on board out of the box as well as "GetFlash" which is a utility to easily check for and upgrade to the latest version of Flash Player.
The thing about recent Ubuntus (even the lighter LXDE and XFCE derivatives) is that they are still aimed mostly at recent (higher spec) hardware.
Got the product key, just need the serial No.. Think it was Vista.
VISTA?! :eek: Is the machine capable of running Windows 7 or would it be a good idea to put XP on instead? As for Linux distros, have you looked at Linux Mint?
I've been trying Lubuntu LXLE over the past week it runs ok but XP on the same hardware is like lightning compared with Lubuntu also can't get flash to work in lubuntu so no youtube .
Flash is not automatically included. Using the Synaptic package manager on LXLE you can can download and install adobe flash.
Comments
The latest Precise Puppy variant (5.7.1) has compatibility with Ubuntu Precise (Long Term Support) software packages as well as Puppy's own packages.
The Puppy .iso is only around 170 to 200 MB so (if your optical drive works) you can burn a live CD and give it a try. It loads fully into RAM at boot so runs at full speed (which is very fast) and unlike the Ubuntu live CD's you can even eject the CD to free up the drive once it has booted. At first shutdown you have the option to create a save-file (on the HDD or on a USB flash drive) to retain your settings and installed packages for future boots. None of this will affect any other installed operating systems.
http://www.puppylinux.com
On Ubuntu (if you have a working version installed at the moment) open a terminal window and enter:
cat proc/cpuinfo
You'll get a big list of info about the CPU.
Look under the 'flags' section, and see if 'pae' is listed.
Also what CPU it is.
Now I've got 11.10 up and running it's giving me the option of upgrading to 12.04. However, when I tried to install 12.04 from scratch it installed but wouldn't boot, is it worth chancing installing as an upgrade or will I get the same problem of it not booting?
As has already been said repeatedly, scrap Ubuntu (it requires more powerful kit nowadays, basically) and try:
http://www.lxle.net/ or
http://www.puppylinux.com
Both of those require less resources and should run like lightening on your old kit.
I think the OP is more worried about whether it'll work with his via chrome 9 video hardware.
As long as you have at least 1GB of RAM, you should be able to run live DVDs/USBs so just try several till you find one that plays nicely with your hardware.
There'd be no harm in trying an upgrade from Ubuntu 11.10 to 12.04. If it works then you're on a version that will be supported till 2017. If not then you can install something else.
And does it support the OP's integrated graphics?
Cos if all it gives him is a black screen, then it's immaterial how long it's supported.
Sorry you are right.
According to this http://www.mail-archive.com/lubuntu-qa@lists.launchp*******/msg03444.html
LXLE and current Lubuntu distros do not support that particular graghics setup.
Thanks for that info. Best stick to the version I installed, it's only a back up laptop anyway, but it works and gets me on the internet..
Cheers for the help everyone..
Could I encourage you to give Puppy Linux a try on that hardware? I always find it to be lighter and faster than XP and it has Flash Player 10 on board out of the box as well as "GetFlash" which is a utility to easily check for and upgrade to the latest version of Flash Player.
The thing about recent Ubuntus (even the lighter LXDE and XFCE derivatives) is that they are still aimed mostly at recent (higher spec) hardware.
VISTA?! :eek: Is the machine capable of running Windows 7 or would it be a good idea to put XP on instead? As for Linux distros, have you looked at Linux Mint?
Flash is not automatically included. Using the Synaptic package manager on LXLE you can can download and install adobe flash.