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Thread: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    6

    Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Hi All

    I want to install Ubuntu on a PIII laptop, which version of Ubuntu should I use?
    Desktop or Remix version?

    Thank you.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    Baker, OR USA
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    887
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    I would use the desktop version. Remix is for netbooks.
    I don't want to Live in a Life without Walls-too many viruses get in...
    Ubuntu user 23101 Linux user 472132
    Two ways to live: the choice we all face

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    6

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Thanks. But the problem with this laptop is, it does not come with an optical drive and the BIOS does not support USB boot. The laptop is currently installed with Windows XP and I am wondering whether is it possible to copy the contents of Ubuntu CD into a USB pendrive and install via Windows. Or are there other ways to install for such machine?

    By the way, this laptop has only 256MB RAM.

    Thank you very much.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    West Hills CA
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    10,044
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    Ubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    linux mint xfce. 256 MB is minimal, but see if you can upgrade to 512.

    You should be able to install using wubi.
    -------------------------------------
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    Unumquodque potest reparantur. Patientia sit virtus.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    Baker, OR USA
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    887
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    Ubuntu Development Release

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Quote Originally Posted by a4su_skyhawk View Post
    Thanks. But the problem with this laptop is, it does not come with an optical drive and the BIOS does not support USB boot. The laptop is currently installed with Windows XP and I am wondering whether is it possible to copy the contents of Ubuntu CD into a USB pendrive and install via Windows. Or are there other ways to install for such machine?

    By the way, this laptop has only 256MB RAM.

    Thank you very much.
    Use can use this -> http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/downloadmirrors#wubi . It will let you install ubuntu or even Xubuntu IIRC. Xubuntu is a little different from ubuntu because it uses a lighter desktop environment, so that it will run better on older hardware.
    I don't want to Live in a Life without Walls-too many viruses get in...
    Ubuntu user 23101 Linux user 472132
    Two ways to live: the choice we all face

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Portland, OR
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    38
    Distro
    Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    This is what I would do. If the P3 supports cd roms, which I'm sure it does. I'd take my drive from another computer, throw it in that for the install & use crunchbang. It runs the OpenBox WM & is super fast on minimal machines.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
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    7,744

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    256mb is borderline for either Ubuntu or Xubuntu. Crunchbang is a pretty good choice. If you can't get a CD-Rom drive working, you can use Unetbootin to install from the .iso image on your hard drive.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    Hidden!

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Quote Originally Posted by snowpine View Post
    256mb is borderline for either Ubuntu or Xubuntu. Crunchbang is a pretty good choice. If you can't get a CD-Rom drive working, you can use Unetbootin to install from the .iso image on your hard drive.
    ditto on crunchbang
    "The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it" .... A. Glasow

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Beans
    6

    Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Thank you all for the your valuable suggestions.
    Managed to get Ubuntu installed into the laptop.
    Got an old external cd-rom and install via Wubi. The Wubi that come with the Live CD has issue and alway stuck at the 'Formatting swap space......" screen. Solved the problem with Wubi r134.
    After that I just moved the Wubi installation to the Windows one using this guide
    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=438591

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    India
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    Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat

    Arrow Re: Install Ubuntu on old PIII laptop

    Xubuntu or Spri linux
    --- I am what I am because of what we all are ----

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