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Thread: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Red face NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    Hello everyone,

    I am trying to install an older version of ubuntu on my DELL Dimension 4100. I downloaded and burned ubuntu version 6.06 onto a DVD-R. Now what I am trying to do is install it on my old DELL. I went into the BIOS and changed the boot sequence so that it loads from the CD-ROM first, and it still won't do that. Instead it keeps loading the old Windows version that I have on it. Do I have to remove Windows first or what? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

  2. #2
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    This thread ...

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=878349

    ... has many useful links. 6.06? Although it might be less demanding in terms of disk space and RAM requirements, the latest (8.04) is much better on the installation front AFAIK. How did you burn your 6.06 install disk ... as an image or as data? Image good ... data bad.
    Ubuntu 8.10 x64 & XP Pro x64, Intel DP35DP MoBo, 3.0 GHz E8400 C2D, (2x2) GB GSkill DDR2 800 RAM, BFG-NVidia 8800GT video,
    Koutech PCIe NE222 I/O & PESI300 RAID, M-Audio 2496, DLink 10/100 PCI NIC, and Gateway 24" WS.
    > Linux user #: 476579 <

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    258

    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    Could be a issue with how the disk burned - do you another disk that you could test test with? Like Windows XP, or something that you that you know should boot. That will either let you know that the disk is if it boots off the one and not the other. If neither boot, then it may be that the bios settings were not save

  4. #4
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    Aug 2008
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    I burned it as an image (ISO). I even tried it on my new computer, changed the boot sequence and managed to get the installation menu to appear. But I just have trouble doing it with my old DELL.

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    You said it was a DVD-R...this could be your problem. Does the old Dell for sure have DVD-ROM? My mom has a Dimension 4300 running 8.04 quite nicely (no Compiz though).
    There is no system but GNU and Linux is one of its kernels.
    Join the FSF as an Associate Member!

  6. #6
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    Aug 2008
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    Yes, my old DELL has a DVD-ROM. It looks like this:

    http://
    sycs.eu/images/DELL_Dimension_4100__432992.jpg


    So if I put the DVD-R in the DVD-ROM, then that means I have to make it boot from the DVD-ROM first? I selected the CD-ROM. Is that the wrong one? lol

  7. #7
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    Try a Windows (any flavor) bootable disk to check if your CD drive is any good. System specs (RAM, HD space, CPU)? See if there is a BIOS upgrade available as well. You may want to check into Xubuntu if your machine isn't up to snuff. 256 MB RAM min to run Ubuntu Live proficiently and 2 partitions of 10 GB for system and 2 GB for swap if installed. 20 GB is a more realistic min if you plan on installing much on it.

    edit: We've got 3 of those at work ... good machines. Pent III 700 MHz's?

    edit II: ... Good eye 88. DVD is likely your problem since the Ubuntu iso is in iso-9660 (CD-ROM) format and the DVD requires UDF. Surprised you didn't get burn errors.
    Last edited by xen-uno; August 4th, 2008 at 04:33 AM.
    Ubuntu 8.10 x64 & XP Pro x64, Intel DP35DP MoBo, 3.0 GHz E8400 C2D, (2x2) GB GSkill DDR2 800 RAM, BFG-NVidia 8800GT video,
    Koutech PCIe NE222 I/O & PESI300 RAID, M-Audio 2496, DLink 10/100 PCI NIC, and Gateway 24" WS.
    > Linux user #: 476579 <

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    It is a p.3 @ 866mHz, 256RAM and 60GB HD. How is Xubuntu different?

    So I can only burn the ISO image onto a CD-R then?
    Last edited by ranchie; August 4th, 2008 at 04:37 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
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    258

    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    I found a similar issues in another thread. Basically they had to do a bios update on the 4100 to get some disks to boot. The link below should be where you can get the bios update

    http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ml#post2753176

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    Re: NEWBIE - Trying to install Ubuntu on old DELL:

    Old but still applicable ...

    http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...stions-505390/

    I would still run the latest version of either (again ... 8.04)

    If there is still a Dell tag # on the case, you can go to dell.com, go to Support (I think), and enter that tag (service code?). Updates may still be available that way.
    Ubuntu 8.10 x64 & XP Pro x64, Intel DP35DP MoBo, 3.0 GHz E8400 C2D, (2x2) GB GSkill DDR2 800 RAM, BFG-NVidia 8800GT video,
    Koutech PCIe NE222 I/O & PESI300 RAID, M-Audio 2496, DLink 10/100 PCI NIC, and Gateway 24" WS.
    > Linux user #: 476579 <

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