CHALLENGE: Upgrade to latest Ubuntu

[Cabal2122]

Here is the challenge.

Hardware: Toshiba NB255. A ZTE700 Smart Phone, 32 gb Micro Card. 1TB Silicon Power Hard Drive, Important files that can not be deleted. Figure 80 gb left on in.

I wish to update my Net book to the latest version of Ubuntu. It currently runs 11.04. Classic gnome. ;) I can connect to the Internet, repositories no longer work nor does the update button for the applications manager. I have Brasero disk burner installed but no DVD drive installed. I have zero cash and access to only this computer and the smart phone (my real name is Oscar and I live in a trashcan). The smart phone runs Android Jelly Bean.

How do you make this work? If you can install Linux on a potato, this should be no problem for this crew. :popcorn:

******************EDIT****************
here are the specs for the PC, totally zoned out on adding this. my fault.


minigod
description: Notebook
product: TOSHIBA NB255
vendor: TOSHIBA
version: PLL2PU-00701F
serial: YA077465K
width: 32 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
configuration: boot=oem-specific chassis=notebook cpus=1 uuid=84E05D19-DE9A-11DF-95B1-88AE1DFA2094
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: PAV10 DDR2
vendor: TOSHIBA
physical id: 0
version: 1.00
serial: 0123456789AB
*-firmware
description: BIOS
vendor: TOSHIBA
physical id: 0
version: V1.60 (07/30/2010)
size: 99KiB
capacity: 448KiB
capabilities: pci pcmcia pnp upgrade shadowing cdboot bootselect int13floppytoshiba int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb agp smartbattery biosbootspecification
*-cpu
description: CPU
product: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N455 @ 1.66GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.12.10
serial: 0001-06CA-0000-0000-0000-0000
slot: U2E1
size: 1667MHz
capacity: 2048MHz
width: 64 bits
capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx x86-64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm movbe lahf_lm cpufreq
configuration: id=1
*-cache
description: L1 cache
physical id: 5
slot: L1 Cache
size: 32KiB
capacity: 32KiB
capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back
*-logicalcpu:0
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.1
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-logicalcpu:1
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.2
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: c
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 1GiB
*-bank:0
description: SODIMM DDR2 Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
physical id: 0
slot: M1
size: 1GiB
width: 64 bits
clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
*-bank:1
description: SODIMM DDR Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns) [empty]
physical id: 1
slot: M2
clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
*-pci
description: Host bridge
product: N10 Family DMI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: driver=agpgart-intel
resources: irq:0
*-display:0
description: VGA compatible controller
product: N10 Family Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
resources: irq:45 memory:f0200000-f027ffff ioport:18d0(size=8) memory:d0000000-dfffffff memory:f0000000-f00fffff
*-display:1 UNCLAIMED
description: Display controller
product: N10 Family Integrated Graphics Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 2.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
resources: memory:f0280000-f02fffff
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 02
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0
resources: irq:46 memory:f0300000-f0303fff
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:40 ioport:3000(size=4096) memory:40000000-401fffff ioport:40200000(size=2097152)
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:41 ioport:4000(size=4096) memory:f0100000-f01fffff ioport:40400000(size=2097152)
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
vendor: Atheros Communications Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:07:00.0
logical name: wlan0
version: 01
serial: 4c:ed:de:4e:a8:33
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=ath9k driverversion=2.6.35-24-generic firmware=N/A ip=192.168.1.49 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11bgn
resources: irq:17 memory:f0100000-f010ffff
*-pci:2
description: PCI bridge
product: N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1c.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1c.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress msi pm normal_decode bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport
resources: irq:42 ioport:2000(size=4096) memory:40600000-409fffff ioport:f0500000(size=1048576)
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:09:00.0
logical name: eth0
version: 05
serial: 88:ae:1d:fa:20:94
size: 10MB/s
capacity: 100MB/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix vpd bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=2.3LK-NAPI duplex=half latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=MII speed=10MB/s
resources: irq:43 ioport:2000(size=256) memory:f050c000-f050cfff memory:f0508000-f050bfff
*-usb:0
description: USB Controller
product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:23 ioport:1820(size=32)
*-usb:1
description: USB Controller
product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:19 ioport:1840(size=32)
*-usb:2
description: USB Controller
product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:18 ioport:1860(size=32)
*-usb:3
description: USB Controller
product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: uhci bus_master
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:16 ioport:1880(size=32)
*-usb:4
description: USB Controller
product: N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1d.7
bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0
resources: irq:23 memory:40a00000-40a003ff
*-pci:3
description: PCI bridge
product: 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1e
bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
version: e2
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: NM10 Family LPC Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-storage
description: SATA controller
product: N10/ICH7 Family SATA AHCI Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
logical name: scsi0
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: storage msi pm ahci_1.0 bus_master cap_list emulated
configuration: driver=ahci latency=0
resources: irq:44 ioport:18e8(size=8) ioport:18dc(size=4) ioport:18e0(size=8) ioport:18d8(size=4) ioport:18c0(size=16) memory:40a00400-40a007ff
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: TOSHIBA MK1665GS
vendor: Toshiba
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sda
version: GH01
serial: 70N1D04YB
size: 149GiB (160GB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=3125ebe5
*-volume:0
description: Windows NTFS volume
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sda1
version: 3.1
serial: 365e-1e13
size: 1498MiB
capacity: 1500MiB
capabilities: primary bootable ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2010-05-24 20:36:51 filesystem=ntfs label=System state=clean
*-volume:1
description: Windows NTFS volume
physical id: 2
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
logical name: /dev/sda2
version: 3.1
serial: 7676141b-8511-644e-b712-ef8c13374e1c
size: 46GiB
capacity: 46GiB
capabilities: primary ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2010-05-24 20:37:53 filesystem=ntfs label=TI105860W0F state=clean
*-volume:2
description: Windows NTFS volume
physical id: 3
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,3
logical name: /dev/sda3
version: 3.1
serial: aaaa-61d9
size: 7952MiB
capacity: 7970MiB
capabilities: primary hidden ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2010-05-24 20:38:57 filesystem=ntfs label=HDDRECOVERY state=clean
*-volume:3
description: Extended partition
physical id: 4
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,4
logical name: /dev/sda4
size: 93GiB
capacity: 93GiB
capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
*-logicalvolume:0
description: Linux filesystem partition
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/sda5
logical name: /
capacity: 90GiB
configuration: mount.fstype=ext4 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,barrier=1,data=ordered state=mounted
*-logicalvolume:1
description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
physical id: 6
logical name: /dev/sda6
capacity: 2998MiB
capabilities: nofs
*-serial UNCLAIMED
description: SMBus
product: N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1f.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
version: 02
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=0
resources: ioport:18a0(size=32)
*-scsi:0
physical id: 1
bus info: usb@1:4
logical name: scsi4
capabilities: emulated scsi-host
configuration: driver=usb-storage
*-disk
description: SCSI Disk
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sdb
*-scsi:1
physical id: 2
bus info: usb@1:5
logical name: scsi5
capabilities: emulated scsi-host
configuration: driver=usb-storage
*-disk
description: SCSI Disk
product: Silicon-Power
vendor: PHD 3.0
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sdc
version: 0
serial: D100#313001145331131
size: 931GiB (1TB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=6 signature=28b543a6
*-volume
description: Windows NTFS volume
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sdc1
logical name: /media/SP PHD U3
version: 3.1
serial: 1c2b3807-9a2f-de4b-86fe-4e8d79d9a68f
size: 931GiB
capacity: 931GiB
capabilities: primary bootable ntfs initialized
configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2013-12-27 20:17:06 filesystem=ntfs label=SP PHD U3 mount.fstype=fuseblk mount.options=rw,nosuid,nodev,relatime,user_id=0,g roup_id=0,default_permissions,allow_other,blksize= 4096 state=mounted
*-battery
description: Lithium Ion Battery
product: PA3395U
vendor: TOSHIBA
physical id: 1
version: 12/01/2005
serial: 3658Q
slot: 1st Battery
capacity: 31500mWh
configuration: voltage=14.8V

[Bucky Ball]

Welcome. Has it got two USB slots or have you got a USB hub? If so, create a bootable USB of 14.04 LTS, boot from it, when you get to the options choose 'Try Ubuntu', back-up any files you don't want to use to an external device. Do a clean install of 14.04 LTS. There is no upgrade ('update' is the wrong terminology for what you want to do and I have changed the thread title accordingly for clarity) option from 11.04 to any supported release via the machine (net).

You could also boot from the Live USB, Try Ubuntu, launch Gparted and resize partitions as needed then install Ubuntu and choose 'Something Else' when you get to the partitioning section of the install. This option is a possibility if you don't have an external drive to save your personal data to.

The challenge is making sure you upgrade the OS before it goes that far out of support in future. 14.04 LTS is a long-term support release and supported until 2019 which is why I'm recommending it as it might suit your style. The interim releases are now supported for nine months only. :)

[Cabal2122]

Ah thank you Bucky Ball, that is helpful advice. I have 3 USB slots. However I do not have a USB device on hand. In theory I may be able to happen across one. I also am restricted on the programs I can use. I do not have UNetBootin installed. Is there any method in creating a bootable USB device from 11.04 to allow for this work? Keep in mind I can not install new software from repositories (to my limited knowledge). They no longer function for it is sadly no longer 2011. Also just we are clear, I found this thing after someone threw it away in my trashcan. :lolflag: Your help is much appreciated!

[grahammechanical]

You forgot to tell us if that trash can you live in has a connection to an Internet Service Provider. If it does not then you have two options: #1 wait for someone to throw away but into your trash can a USB memory stick with Ubuntu installed on it. #2 Buy one.

If you are able to get an internet connection by means of that smart phone, or some other means, then you can use the web browser in Ubuntu 11.04 to download Ubuntu 14.04.3 ISO image. And then follow this guide.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/create-a-usb-stick-on-ubuntu

I am sure that Ubuntu 11.04 has Startup Disk Creator.

http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

Also, there is a way to do an End of Life upgrade. It can work, it is "fingers crossed" time.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EOLUpgrades

Back up your data.

Regards.

[Bucky Ball]

As above. :)

[coffeecat]

Is there any method in creating a bootable USB device from 11.04 to allow for this work?

Yes, there is an alternative application that is already installed in 11.04 other than the Startup Disk Creator that grahammechanical mentioned. SDC is probably your best bet but a few years ago there was a bug in it which meant it couldn't create a startup disk for a version of Ubuntu other than the version it was running on. Which was a bit silly when you think about it! :) I believe that was fixed long before 11.04 came out, but just in case you find that SDC doesn't work for you, the alternative is the terminal app dd.

Now before someone intervenes telling you that dd destroys disks, causes global warming, eats live puppies and is to be avoided like the plague, let's get it into context. dd will do exactly what you tell it to. Trouble is, if you make an error in the command, it will do exactly what you told it to, not what you thought you had told it to!

The ISO file for all releases of Ubuntu for some years now has been designed so that they can simply be dd'd directly to a USB flash drive to create a bootable drive. You don't even have to format or partition the flash drive. I've used dd for every new version of Ubuntu - and some of the development release milestones - for ages now, and it has never let me down. So, assuming that...

You have acquired a USB drive which you can use for creating a bootable installation/live medium.
That you have access to a separate external USB drive for backing up your important files.
That you are able to download an ISO of a supported version of Ubuntu in your 11.04 system.
That you know the administrator password for your account.


You should have what you need.

In essence you download the ISO, open a terminal and cd to the folder where you have downloaded to, determine the device name of the USB flash drive you want to use as the bootable medium, and then run the following command but modified for your situation:


sudo dd if=filename_of_iso.iso of=/dev/sdx

Where the x in sdx is b or c or whatever the device name for your USB device is. If you make a mistake in the command, dd will blithely write the ISO filesystem to the wrong device - hence its iffy reputation.

If you find Startup Disk Creator doesn't work for whatever reason, post back and we can clarify the details of the dd command you could use.

[Cabal2122]

@Grahmmechanical =Fantastic advice! It was really close to success. So I don't have a USB device but I do have the 1TB external hard drive. I attempted to write the ISO to the drive with the program mentioned. However a critical failure occurred. The program could not install the boot manager. So upon restarting the netbook, I find it can not load anything and prompts me to restart the device again and boot into the native OS. Very close but not quite. As for legacy upgrades, it seems I may not be able to perform these, I have no access to the repositories.

@ CoffeeCat = Very interesting advice. I heard of dd before but was indeed dissuaded from its powers. So I never thought to look into much. Now my question for you is this. If I where to attempt to use the external hard drive with dd would it wipe the data on it that I wish to keep? Could it install the boot manager on the device?

These are very clever things you all are hitting on. I thank you for your time! :KS

[Bucky Ball]

If you have one, better to use a USB for dd and cut down the risk factor. Not sure that you can boot the live installer from a hard drive in any case. I'll leave that to more knowledgeable members.

[Cabal2122]

@ Bucky Ball = You rock man, thank you for your assistance. If I happen upon a USB device I will indeed attempt it. ^_^

[deadflowr]

Not sure that you can boot the live installer from a hard drive in any case.

You can if you have grub installed.
It requires knowing where the iso files is and directing a custom grub file to it.
Reference point here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2/ISOBoot
If in anyway that's what you mean.

I actually ran this type of setup with some development release some time ago, also using zync to update the daily-build iso.
(I was sick of re-burning/ re-copying to disk/stick, at the time)

That's all just a fer what it's worth anyway, and probably moot.

[coffeecat]

Now my question for you is this. If I where to attempt to use the external hard drive with dd would it wipe the data on it that I wish to keep?

Yes. You do not want to dd an Ubuntu iso image to a device that you wish to use as a backup drive. As others have said, keep your external HD for backups and find yourself a separate USB flash drive to make the bootable device. An Ubuntu ISO is only about 1GB in size, so a 2GB flash drive will be ample. Anything bigger would simply be wasted space.

If you were to dd the ISO to an external hard drive, you would probably end up with a bootable device (probably - I've never tried it) but with masses of unusable space on it.

[Bucky Ball]

Yep, dd will give you a live installer bootable USB. The format is done as part of the dd. :)