Converting old notebook

[Lloydb39]

I have an Asus notebook/tablet with clunky Windows 8.1. Can I install a light Linux such as Xubuntu or Elementary OS on it? If so, can I do it directly from the Web? It has no CD drive. I don't want to dual boot. I want it to run just Linux. It only has a 50 gig drive.

[sudodus]

See the general set of instructions via this link,

Install Ubuntu desktop (https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-install-ubuntu-desktop#0)

Standard Ubuntu might not be the best for an old computer. You can try some Ubuntu community flavours with a lighter desktop environment, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu MATE and Xubuntu.

You find the corresponding iso files via the following link

Ubuntu and Community Releases (http://releases.ubuntu.com/)

and I suggest that you make a USB pendrive into a live drive with Ubuntu and some Ubuntu community flavours, and install the one, that works best for you in your computer.

[Lloydb39]

Thanks. What does "live drive" mean?

[sudodus]

A DVD disk or USB pendrive, that you can boot into and run Ubuntu (or some other operating system) without installing into the internal drive is often called a 'live drive'.

See this link for more details,

Try Ubuntu (Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, ...) before installing it (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2230389)