convert old laptop to ubuntu

[kbear09090]

I have a circa 2003 Toshiba laptop. 1.2 GHZ, 256M memory, 30 GB HD. It is slow and buggy. I had the bright idea of erasing everything and doing a clean install of Ubuntu. I was going to just put in an OS, antivirus, browser, and something to play DVD's or music CD's. Basically convert it into a portable DVD player + a little more. Any advice?

[NikTh]

Hi ,
Lubuntu 12.04 32 bit
that’s my advice .

Thanks

[nothingspecial]

That won't run Ubuntu.

You might have success with Lubuntu

You will need to use the alternate iso https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Lubuntu/Alternate_ISO

[mastablasta]

if you are only after a few basic components then ubutnu minimal istall might be a good option and thenchoose a light desktop environemnt such as LXDE or e17 or maby only a window manager (liek IceWM). here is a nice howto: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/minimal

[techvish81]

if you can upgrade just the ram, you will enjoy your system with lubuntu, otherwise it will run but will not be very responsive. fair chances are that it will be lagging.

[robert shearer]

I have a circa 2003 Toshiba laptop. 1.2 GHZ, 256M memory, 30 GB HD. It is slow and buggy. I had the bright idea of erasing everything and doing a clean install of Ubuntu. I was going to just put in an OS, antivirus, browser, and something to play DVD's or music CD's. Basically convert it into a portable DVD player + a little more. Any advice?

By chance I had to install a Linux distro on a Toshiba laptop, with the same specs and age you have, just last week.

Standard Ubuntu would not even load and Lubuntu loaded but ran slowly.

However, Bhodi Linux....
http://www.bodhilinux.com/download.php
http://www.bodhilinux.com/index.php

installed and ran sweetly.

It is built on Ubuntu and runs the Enlightenment Desktop as mentioned by an earlier poster.

It installs a minimal selection of applications then allows you to add and customise as you wish.
For a resource limited machine such as yours this makes a lot of sense.

Tested and recommended.

Regards, Bob.

[Cheesemill]

I always go for Crunchbang on low spec cmachines.
http://crunchbanglinux.org/

[techvish81]

By chance I had to install a Linux distro on a Toshiba laptop, with the same specs and age you have, just last week.

Standard Ubuntu would not even load and Lubuntu loaded but ran slowly.

However, Bhodi Linux....
http://www.bodhilinux.com/download.php
http://www.bodhilinux.com/index.php

installed and ran sweetly.

It is built on Ubuntu and runs the Enlightenment Desktop as mentioned by an earlier poster.

It installs a minimal selection of applications then allows you to add and customise as you wish.
For a resource limited machine such as yours this makes a lot of sense.

Tested and recommended.

Regards, Bob.

is it compatible to ubuntu? (repos)

[Wim Sturkenboom]

I always go for Crunchbang on low spec cmachines.
http://crunchbanglinux.org/

My choice as well

[robert shearer]

I always go for Crunchbang on low spec cmachines.
http://crunchbanglinux.org/

For what the o/p wants to run vanilla Crunchbang may not be the best fit...
see Snowpine's post #3 here... http://crunchbanglinux.org/forums/to...-requirements/

Given the o/p is a first time poster and perhaps new to Linux then something that works out of the box may be an easier install hence my recommendation of Bhodi. ( and I have tested it on the o/p's hardware)