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View Full Version : [all variants] [GUIDE] Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on Pentium 200Mhz below 48MB RAM (32MB minimum) Server & CLI



Panties
September 28th, 2011, 04:26 AM
Editor note: After weeks of trying to get this machine to work, I finally did it. I am an Ubuntu Noob, I hope this guide will be some of help, to those who wants their Super-Legacy machine to work with Ubuntu. (Somehow, arch linux or Gentoo, won't work under 32MB RAM)


Compaq Presario 4506

Pentium 200 Mhz - MMX
3 ISA slots or 2 ISA slots with 1 PCI slots
16MB RAM Build-In + 32MB RAM 1 slot = 48MB
Primary IDE:
PM 3.2GB
PS CDROM


PCI SLOT:
Wireless G(Belkin RTL8185L) - F507000
http://www.belkin.com/support/article/?lid=en&pid=f5d7000&aid=6001&scid=221


ISA Slot:
ISA - 3COM 3c509 10Mbps



Download & Burn the following files links:
1.
(Recommended for system below 48MB Ram and Framebuffer issues!
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/breezy/ubuntu-5.10-install-i386.iso

2.
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/dapper/ubuntu-6.06.1-alternate-i386.iso
Alternative
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/dapper/ubuntu-6.06-alternate-i386.iso

3.
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/hardy/ubuntu-8.04-desktop-i386.iso
Alternative
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/hardy/ubuntu-8.04.3-alternate-i386.iso

4.
(This part, is optional, but recommend using apt-get instead)
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ubuntu-10.04-alternate-i386.iso
Alternative
http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/ubuntu-10.04.1-alternate-i386.iso


BIOS

Large Disk Access : Other / DOS (DOS recommended)
Floppy Disk: Disable(Unless you are still using Floppy Disk!)
Serial Ports/Parallel Port/SoundCard/GamingPort: Disable (Unless you need them)
PNP OS: NO
PCI bus master: Enable
32-Bit Access: Enable for CDROM and Harddisk.
BIOS Order: CDROM 1st. (able to boot up CDROM.)

The rest, is up to you.

Ubuntu 5.10

Upon CD boot-up, type 'server' without '' and press enter. The installer will load "Low Memory" mode. Follow the step-by-step on screen.
Partition wise, this is my personal recommendation:-
SWAP = 768MB
/ = The remaining harddisk.

Of course, if your Harddisk is bigger than mine (3.2 GB), by all means, increase the SWAP, as this system is only 48MB RAM or 32MBRAM.

During the Installation, it will Eject the CD and hit enter to reboot.
Insert the CD back after the reboot! (Required to complete the installation)

Once you see the Login & Password, proceed with login.
Do this
sudo passwd
Enter password: ****
Enter root password : 123456 (we are setting your root password, using 123456 as example)

than type 'Logout'.

Now, do the following
Login: root
Password 123456

You'll be login in root enviroment. From here on, everything is done in root, to ease the installation.

Ubuntu 5.10 to 6.06LTS
More info: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DapperUpgrades

Since this is a delicate process as this is really an antique machine, insert the burned ISO for 6.06 Alternative version, and than type:-

apt-cdrom add
apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade

All is automated. At any prompt, select 'Y'.

To ensure all is proper, type:
lsb_release -a
uname -a

It should show the correct 6.06 dapper drake release. You can type these commands at any time after each distro upgrade.

Ubuntu 6.06LTS to 8.04LTS
More Info: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HardyUpgrades

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O4zeuRDdHU

Thanks to the youtube uploader, I manage to install without any problem. Just like the step above, insert the 8.04LTS CD and proceed.
Here's the steps:-

apt-get remove dmsetup
apt-get cd-rom add
apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade && apt-get -f install && apt-get -configure -a

(Play xbox or something, hit 'Y' in most cases)

dpkg-reconfigure locales
pico /etc/kernel.img.conf

(add /usr example:-)
postinst hook /usr/bin/updategrub
postrm hook /usr/bin/updategrub

save and quit the editor by pressing "ctrl-x" and hit Y to save.

(again)
lsb_release -a
uname -a

reboot the machine.

Ubuntu 8.04 to 8.04.3 (or 8.04.4) <IMPORTANT>

More info: http://articles.slicehost.com/ubuntu-hardy

For those who are using 3c509 network card, you are require to do this before proceeding below, as most 3c509 3com network card, are not detected yet.:-
modprobe 3c509
dhclient

You may need to do this everytime you reboot. You can load this on startup, google it up. As for now, I'm only emphazing on how to upgrade Ubuntu.

This is, by far, the most important step. In any attempt to try to upgrade directly, from 8.04 to 10.04 directly, you will face problems. What works for me, is by doing this:-

sudo pico /etc/apt/sources.list

comment everything there, including the CD, by adding just # at the beginning for each line!

Now, for new line, just put this in:-
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy main restricted universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ hardy-updates main restricted universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy-security main restricted universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy-security main restricted universe


Alternatively, You can delete everything there, and just add the above. Is entirely up to you. Hit Ctrl-X and 'Y' to save. Than type:-

aptitude update
aptitude safe-upgrade

Note: You can use aptitude full-upgrade, but it is risky, as you are downloading and replacing everything. Due to 3.2GB Harddrive limited space, safe-upgrade updates only upgrades what is necessary. Works well with me.

Everything should go well up to this point, reboot the machine. final steps:-
apt-get update
apt-get -f install
apt-get upgrade

If all goes well:
apt-get full-upgrade


8.04.04LTS to 10.04LTS <CRITICAL>
More info: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LucidUpgrades


Up to this point, this is the hardest upgrade for me. Unfortunately, I couldn't even upgrade using alternative Cd/DVD method, as listed in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LucidUpgrades.

The best way that works for me, is below:-

pico /etc/apt/sources.list

Just like above, change everything to Lucid. Alternatively, I put here for you:-

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid main restricted universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid main restricted universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates main restricted universe
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates main restricted universe

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu lucid-security main restricted universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu lucid-security main restricted universe


Hit Ctrl-X & 'y' to save. Than type:-
aptitude update
aptitude safe-upgrade
(If you want, you can reboot here if you want to. type in release -a to be sure, than follow by below)
apt-get update
apt-get -f install
apt-get upgrade

again, if all goes well, than:-
apt-get full-upgrade


This is all the guides. You also upgrade to Ubuntu 10.10 by repeating the step above. Just make appropriate changes to sources.list and you are good to go. This method works, as of today. I hope Ubuntu don't make changes to their site, otherwise, it is hard to determine where is their update located (URL http:// ..etc), and you'll have to update sources.list again, to get the correct http://! (http://%21)


That's all ubuntu noobs!

P/S: I am a noob, teaching another noob! :)