Installing Ubuntu

[MRG]

I was given an ancient PC today (AthlonXP 1600+, 128mb PC-133 RAM, 8mb onboard shared video, onboard audio & a 20GB HDD) as way of thanks for around 15 mins of help I gave to a friend & thought about installing a non-MS OS on it. I looked @ some of the videos of Ubuntu & from what I saw, it looked very interesting.

Does anyone here have much experience using it? I'm currently downloading the ISO, which is around 55% done. I'll burn it to a CD & then try installing it on this old PC. If it runs, i'll post more.

Vista vs Ubuntu Video - Ubuntu Starts @ 1:30
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xC5uEe5OzNQ

-MRG

 

[DreamThrall]

 

[MRG]

Well, Ubuntu installed without a problem & it seems to run fine on the limited hardware this old PC I installed it on has. Of course I can't have any of the whiz-bang special effects enabled due to the limited hardware, but otherwise it runs fine.

However, being the complete newbie with Ubuntu that I am, I have spent the past hour trying to figure out how to do certain tasks, like find the equivalent of "Device Manager" to see what aspect of the PC needs attention, such as drivers for video & audio. From what I can see, Ubuntu seems to have installed drivers for the onboard network port, but nothing I do will get Firefox to connect to the net. So perhaps i'll try to install the network drivers manually. The same for both audio & video.

Perhaps it's because it's new for me, but I like the simplistic look of Ubuntu & how quickly everything seems to run on this old PC. Of course dig a little bit & you'll quickly get lost navigating the many different screens & folders hiding in the background.

Off to look for & download drivers to manually install.

-MRG

 

[AtomicSpark]

Ugh. Where to start. Never manually install drivers and software. Especially since you don't know what you're doing. There are way too many differences between the distributions and this breaks 100% upgradeability (apparently not a word). One of the main features of Linux is that everything is controlled by a package manager. This allows one piece of software to keep track of the OS and software updates, or more importantly, make sure it works properly together. You'll want to use Add/Remove Software and the Synaptic Package Manager (advanced method).

The first thing I want you to do is open Add/Remove Software and change it to All Available and enable "Ubuntu Restricted Extras". This will allow you to use Flash, Java, and all the non-free codecs. This will keep you from trying to manually do stuff. It would be nice to use FOSS alternatives, but alas it's not realistic for the every day user.

The great thing about Ubuntu? The community:

Ubuntu Documentation
Ubuntu Wiki
Ubuntu IRC Channels (I lurk here often)

 

[Oreolek]

I'm using xUbuntu now.It's an awesome OS if you have an unlimited Internet connection.If not,it's a pain to work in Linux.
Things you should do after the install:
- upgrade the OS
- install the programs and codecs you need
- install "proprietary drivers" and drivers for your hardware
- install Wine 1.1
Because GPL software isn't ideal and can give you a bad day of configuring and trying to configure.The best IM in Linux is Pidgin,but it's too far away from Windows IMs.So installing Wine is a good idea.
Valve games run good on Wine.When in trouble,check www.winehq.org for a "compatibility list".
In the office work,programming and Internet work,you won't meet any problems.However,there is a certain problem with multimedia work:for example,you'll have to compile the kernel if you want to transfer a DV video from a tape.

 

[MRG]

The first thing I want you to do is open Add/Remove Software and change it to All Available and enable "Ubuntu Restricted Extras". This will allow you to use Flash, Java, and all the non-free codecs.

Thanks for the info you posted, & I would if I could, but when I follow your directions, I get a pop-up message saying that in order for those changes to take effect, I have to have an active internet connection. So far, no go. Hence my desire to manually install the Network driver which I have copied to Ubuntu's Desktop in a folder. (Copied driver from a flash drive) When I double click on "Setup.exe" nothing happens.

I of course have to download the Linux version of the drivers correct? However, if thats so, then I'm already in trouble, as I did not see any linux drivers for the old hardware in the free PC I got.

Perhaps if I took the time to read the "How-To" for Ubuntu, I would already have my answers....

-MRG

 

[AtomicSpark]

Congrats. You're one of the few that Ubuntu doesn't like. I've never had an issue with missing drivers, but yes you'll need to install one. I can tell you're very, very new to Linux since you tried to use an .exe. Forget everything you've learned before baby because it doesn't work. You'll need to find a Linux driver for your network device. These should be in the .deb format (not .rpm or the other thing) since Ubuntu is Debian based. If you cannot find them, you'll have to compile them yourself. These are usually given in a .tar.gz file (the Linux archive). Compiling is a bitch and I'm always too lazy to do it. So, I wish you luck! You might want to try the Ubuntu Forums (I forgot to list this).

I was given an ancient PC today...

This could have something to do with it.

 

[MRG]

Congrats. You're one of the few that Ubuntu doesn't like. I've never had an issue with missing drivers, but yes you'll need to install one. I can tell you're very, very new to Linux since you tried to use an .exe. Forget everything you've learned before baby because it doesn't work. You'll need to find a Linux driver for your network device. These should be in the .deb format (not .rpm or the other thing) since Ubuntu is Debian based. If you cannot find them, you'll have to compile them yourself. These are usually given in a .tar.gz file (the Linux archive). Compiling is a bitch and I'm always too lazy to do it. So, I wish you luck! You might want to try the Ubuntu Forums (I forgot to list this).

Well... crap!

This could have something to do with it.

True, but I read on Wiki that Ubuntu could be installed on even lesser PC's than the one I currently have it installed on.

Well, thanks anyways! :thumbs:

-MRG

 

[AtomicSpark]

System requirements yes, but drivers are another issue. It's hard enough getting the companies to release the damn things.

In any case, I hope you find them drivers. I've been very happy with Ubuntu and I'm glad I made the switch to Linux. Once a few games get better support (mainly ATI issues), I probably won't get on Windows again.

 

[-Psy-]

I'm quite fond of Xubuntu. It might take some getting used to compared to Windows but I think it's pretty damn snazzy and if game developers start supporting the platform then I would make the switch. Unfortunately I don't think this is going to happen anytime soon...

 

[Oreolek]

Xubuntu can be used on a very old software.
Ubuntu in its text mode - on an ancient software.
But if you've got an ancient PC,I recommend Slackware.My Pentium 386 with its 1 GB hard drive just loves Slack.
Okay,about Ubuntu: get yourself a fully functional internet connection.You may need to configure your Ethernet card..it's pretty fast jobWithout the Internet,Linux is hell for ex-Windows user.

 

[Asus]

It only works on current hardware which has Virtualization tech in the CPU.
But ATM I'm running Ubuntu but it's all virtualized running on Windows inside VMware server (free). Ubuntu doesn't know the real hardware specs besides the CPU. It even thinks I'm running SCSI drives. But I just have the default Ubuntu drivers installed and everything works. VMware uses my Windows drivers to control my network card etc for Ubuntu. Can run in Windowed mode or Full screen. I can even close the VMware program and Ubuntu doesn't actually shut down but is running in the background (virtualized).

 

[Oreolek]

Oh,you can't test the system hardware compatibility with VMWare.
VMWare drivers are on Ubuntu CD,it works with them perfectly.
The real computer with the real system is a completely other story.Try to plug and configure a softmodem,for example.Or a multifunctional device (scanner+printer).Or a scanner with slide-module (you can configure it to work as a scanner,but you won't be able to make slide module work like my Canon CanoScan 4200F).
Linux isn't limitless.Most of the device manufacturers don't develop Linux drivers,and usually this means you won't be able to use these devices in Linux unless you'll write a driver for yourself.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Hehehe, trying to run a .exe

Alright, there's one thing you should probably know as well. Anything without an extension in Linux in many cases (not all!) tends to be a text file. For example there will be files called simply "README". Windows has spoiled people a bit into thinking that there are a whole crapload of different types of files out there, when in reality there are two. Text and binary files. For binary files, the only difference is what program is used to open them, and that is why we have extensions, to be able to tell the OS what sort of file it is so it know which program to try to open it with.

I also highly suggest just joining the ubuntu IRC channel and asking stuff there. I've rarely had to install a driver, and when I do, it's typically a proprietary graphics driver. The one other time was when I had a wireless card which refused to work otherwise, but there's an application that will allow you to install windows wireless drivers under Linux (can't recall of the name right now...)

Have fun with it man. Oh, and don't break it Linux will usually try to protect you from doing really, really bad stuff since you aren't root in Ubuntu, but it's still easy to mess things up, such as xorg, which I've done a few times unfortunately. It's a real pain to try to get working again too.

 

[Oreolek]

oh yes - when the system says "warning" it's really a WARNING.If the system asks a root password,you really should know WHAT you're doing.

 

[AtomicSpark]

Have fun with it man. Oh, and don't break it Linux will usually try to protect you from doing really, really bad stuff since you aren't root in Ubuntu, but it's still easy to mess things up, such as xorg, which I've done a few times unfortunately. It's a real pain to try to get working again too.

dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

:thumbs:

 

[MRG]

Thanks to all here for the info in regards to Ubuntu.

Being as I have no clue as to what I was doing & not really all that driven in the first place to learn all there was to know about Ubunto, ( after all I DID click on an .exe & wonder why nothing happened) I have since cleared off the HDD of the old PC. Not sure what i'll do with the old system....

I know, i'll set it up & give it to my step-dad. While he has a newer laptop that he uses for when he teaches at the college or when he is in school to become a deacon for his church, he still uses his old P2 350mhz on a daily basis. He bought it new in 1998 & has only allowed me to reinstall Win98SE once since, as he has been extremely lucky & has never had any problems with Win98 craching or otherwise. I know he has been wanting a new(er) desktop PC for years, but did not want to spend any money on one. Always telling me that he would rather spend the money on taking my mom out somewhere special. A great man, my step-dad is. They have been married for over 20 years, & he still treats her like they just got married. I'm very lucky to have him as a step-dad.

Anyways, thanks all for the info. I appreciate the help that was given.

-MRG

 

[Oreolek]

I recommend not to try Ubuntu on such an old system.
Because of:
1) Without the Internet,you can't install a new program automatically.And you'll have to install a new program one day..I think it would be Wine.The list of dependencies...I don't think you'll have a patience to download all the dependencies and install them.
2) Old PCs have no USB.So you can connect with them only by a local network, or swapping and burning CDs or floppies.
3) Gnome and KDE are extremely big and they're not running on old PCs.Use xUbuntu.Or configure blackbox as desktop manager.This would accelerate the system a lot.
4) i386 architecture isn't supported anymore.This isn't a problem for you,but don't try to install Linux on Pentium 386. Pentium 486 at least.

On the other hand,drivers would not be a problem.
Anyway,working on a 2003 or 2004 PC is easier because you don't have to manually accelerate the system.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I've heard good things about XFCE (xUbuntu) on older systems. Hell, on my actually fairly low spec nowadays PC I still want to get it.

Also, you could get FluxBox.

I'm also not sure if this was said, hell maybe I said it, but you can technically have all of these window managers running at once. You can install Gnome, KDE, XFCE, Fluxbox, etc all on one install. No need to keep reinstalling. All it is, is a simple checkbox you make at the login screen which one you want to use. It's really nice for deciding which window manager is best for you.

 

[Oreolek]

xFCE,Fluxbox,Blackbox,IceWm.

 

[AtomicSpark]

He's failing because of driver issues. The things you listed will just run faster on his machine. Lol.

 

[Oreolek]

No,I just keep going with Iced_Eagle post line.