Thinking of trying Ubuntu 9.04

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-05-2009 12:38AM #1

I have a laptop with only Win2000 - 1Ghz Intel, 512mb memory.

I'm trying to get some extra speed out of it and try linux. Will Ubuntu improve its speed on start up firefox etc?

Also I have a wireless logitech laser mouse which uses a bluetooth dongle and a logitech wireless keyboard which I connect to the laptop using a bluetooth adapter.

I understand that ubuntu is apparently good at recognising different hardware and drivers, will it be able to recognise and use these? Will it take some program writing to get to work or anything?

Also would it be benficial to install it using virtual desktop and keep win2000?

Orion · 05-05-2009 01:20AM

Don't know about bluetooth but I believe it will work - haven't tried it myself.

That's a fairly old laptop tho - I'd be tempted to go with a low-spec-targetted distribution like PuppyLinux or DamnSmallLimux on that one. Ubuntu might be a bit heavy for it. You could try Xubuntu tho - XFCE has a lower footprint than Gnome (default desktop for Ubuntu).

Dartz · 05-05-2009 01:49AM

Try it as a live CD first. That'll tell you, and save you the bother of installing if it doesnt. Also try Xubuntu.... which is the same but with a lightweight window manager, that'll do well on your laptop

Johnboy1951 · 05-05-2009 02:49AM

Also would it be benficial to install it using virtual desktop and keep win2000?

You do not have sufficient memory to give a good experience with two operating systems running, so I would say not a great idea.

Check DistroWatch listings for "lightweight" distros. Puppy would fly on that rig ..... but it is a little 'odd'. Nonetheless it would work well I expect.

ynotdu · 05-05-2009 02:56AM

You could try wubi,search for it on download.com.

It installs ubuntu as a programme on windows(700MB)

no partition needed(it will suggest 6gb as comfortable on your hard-drive,i gave it 8)only problem i have is i cannot configure wireless on it but only installed it two days ago and if i cannot get it working on wireless can get free tech support from my isp)works fine with ethernet connection.

The beauty of it is gives the whole ubuntu experiance and if you dont like it ya can just remove it by windows add/remove.

once installed when you boot-up your computer it goes to windows OS unless you use arrow down to boot to ubuntu.

one minor thing at set-up(only took me 40 mins from start of installation to having it fully installed)you enter a user name and a password.
when you boot to ubuntu after entering username you then press enter,
same with password,it really is that easy to try out linux based OS and is just simply downloading a file like any other.

Khannie · 05-05-2009 06:53AM

I'd also recommend xubuntu. Try the livecd first. I'm running it here on a relatively low end laptop. Even with a fair few apps running it's only using 330MB of ram. Bluetooth worked out of the box for me (though I don't use it).

syklops · 05-05-2009 07:33AM

If I were you I would ditch the idea of using a virtual implementation of linux, while on a Win2k machine, With a higher spec machine - ok, but with what you have I would say no.

Many here have said try a Live CD, I would recommend that first. Also, I am not sure if I would try the latest version of Ubuntu. I was not mad about 8.10 either. Too many things i had to fix after install. If I were you, and bearing in mind you have an older laptop, I would try a live CD of 8.04, and if you like it, install it on your harddrive. You will have less memory going to your VM, and more memory for Linux.

Also remember that the Ubuntu installer will see that you have a windows install and allow you to continue using it.

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-05-2009 11:29AM

Khannie wrote: »

I'd also recommend xubuntu. Try the livecd first. I'm running it here on a relatively low end laptop. Even with a fair few apps running it's only using 330MB of ram. Bluetooth worked out of the box for me (though I don't use it).

OK I'll try Xubuntu. It is straightforward to setup a wireless internet connection with it though?

My main question is will it be worth it trying Xubuntu? Will I get a decent improvement in speed of startup and using firefox?

Dartz · 05-05-2009 03:53PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

OK I'll try Xubuntu. It is straightforward to setup a wireless internet connection with it though?

My main question is will it be worth it trying Xubuntu? Will I get a decent improvement in speed of startup and using firefox?

Wireless can be a bit of a gamble, but the older the hardware, the more likely it will work. 9/10 it does.

Speedwise, it will boot faster than Windows, espcially since you're not loading an AV, or any bloatware.

Khannie · 05-05-2009 03:56PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

OK I'll try Xubuntu. It is straightforward to setup a wireless internet connection with it though?

I didn't have to do anything. I just turned on my wireless card, it scanned for networks. I picked mine and stuck in my password. Here's a screenshot of the network manager.

You'd just select "my network" and it'll ask for your password.

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

My main question is will it be worth it trying Xubuntu? Will I get a decent improvement in speed of startup and using firefox?

Yes and yes (both IMO).

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-05-2009 04:01PM

Dartz wrote: »

Wireless can be a bit of a gamble, but the older the hardware, the more likely it will work. 9/10 it does.

Speedwise, it will boot faster than Windows, espcially since you're not loading an AV, or any bloatware.

Right so i've downloaded the zip file, all I do is unzip it and rip the image onto a CD? Pop the CD in the drive on startup and I can choose to run it or install it?

velocirafter · 05-05-2009 04:30PM

From experience I wouldnt recommend going with a virtual machine, not for any technical reason I just found that I kept using windows because I knew my way around it better. I put no effort into trying to get linux working and eventually stop using it all together.

When I switched completely to linux, most everything worked straight away, I had all the major issues sorted with a couple of hours work and after a couple of months I was comfortable doing most things.

The best thing you can do is google searches and using the ubuntu forums because there is always someone else who has had the same problem and you usually get it solved quicker than waiting for a microsoft patch.

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-05-2009 04:39PM

velocirafter wrote: »

From experience I wouldnt recommend going with a virtual machine, not for any technical reason I just found that I kept using windows because I knew my way around it better. I put no effort into trying to get linux working and eventually stop using it all together.

When I switched completely to linux, most everything worked straight away, I had all the major issues sorted with a couple of hours work and after a couple of months I was comfortable doing most things.

The best thing you can do is google searches and using the ubuntu forums because there is always someone else who has had the same problem and you usually get it solved quicker than waiting for a microsoft patch.

Yea me using a virtual machine was more of a thought den a serious consideration.

If I was to change to Xubuntu what media player would I use?

ynotdu · 05-05-2009 05:02PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Yea me using a virtual machine was more of a thought den a serious consideration.

If I was to change to Xubuntu what media player would I use?

A lot highly recommend VLC media player it has a very plain look but plays virtually every video file format known and no need to go searching for codecs.

Dartz · 05-05-2009 08:19PM

Seconded for VLC. Also look at Rhythmbox for music. VLc is better suited to movies and such. Just be aware that by default Ubuntu distro's don't include multimedia codecs, you have to install these manually yourself.

This is easy enough to do.
Just open a Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

It's ask for your login password, which you type in. It won't appear on screen (this threw me a bit when I started lol). Then it'll go away and install those codecs for you, along with other useful things like Flash and Java for Firefox.

Installing vlc is the same,

sudo apt-get install vlc...

Always remember, if you have problems, Google is your friend.
99/100 your answer is there, somewhere. If you have a problem, chances are somebody else has had the same one and solved it.

<problem> <distro> <version> <computer>

That'll usually get you the information you need.

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-05-2009 09:01PM

Dartz wrote: »

Seconded for VLC. Also look at Rhythmbox for music. VLc is better suited to movies and such. Just be aware that by default Ubuntu distro's don't include multimedia codecs, you have to install these manually yourself.

This is easy enough to do.
Just open a Terminal and type:

It's ask for your login password, which you type in. It won't appear on screen (this threw me a bit when I started lol). Then it'll go away and install those codecs for you, along with other useful things like Flash and Java for Firefox.

Installing vlc is the same,

sudo apt-get install vlc...

Always remember, if you have problems, Google is your friend.
99/100 your answer is there, somewhere. If you have a problem, chances are somebody else has had the same one and solved it.

<problem> <distro> <version> <computer>

That'll usually get you the information you need.

Cool thanks for the help.

So I've downloaded Xubuntu & Puppy, will I just try both out for myself or will this take too long? Which one would be more user friendly? More useful?

Dartz · 05-05-2009 09:38PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Cool thanks for the help.

So I've downloaded Xubuntu & Puppy, will I just try both out for myself or will this take too long? Which one would be more user friendly? More useful?

Xubuntu by far.

Puppy is really for people with either very low-end hardware, or who are very mobile with it.

I have Xubuntu 9.04 working on a 600mhz pentium, with 192Meg of RAM. It'll run quite happily on your laptop, and be much more convenient to use

An Fear Aniar · 05-05-2009 10:13PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Right so i've downloaded the zip file, all I do is unzip it and rip the image onto a CD? Pop the CD in the drive on startup and I can choose to run it or install it?

Dunno why is it a .zip file? You should have a .iso file which is a CD image file: like this one here:

http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/jaunty/release/xubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso

.

AIR-AUSSIE · 07-05-2009 04:48PM

An Fear Aniar wrote: »

Dunno why is it a .zip file? You should have a .iso file which is a CD image file: like this one here:

http://cdimages.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/jaunty/release/xubuntu-9.04-desktop-i386.iso

.

Sorry it is a iso file, but WinRAR is my default program to open it. Do I just burn this file to a CD?

bushy... · 07-05-2009 05:16PM

When WinRAR was installed , it usually makes itself the default program to open .iso files for the craic.

http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download will burn it for you .

AIR-AUSSIE · 07-05-2009 05:22PM

bushy... wrote: »

When WinRAR was installed , it usually makes itself the default program to open .iso files for the craic.

http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download will burn it for you .

Think I'll just use wubi. probably a stupid question but can I use Wubi to uninstall windows? Or do I need to do that using a Xubuntu CD?

bushy... · 07-05-2009 05:25PM

It'd be better to make an install cd , if it fails halfway through ( possible given Ubuntus legendary "quality control" ) you may be left high and dry.

An Fear Aniar · 07-05-2009 07:23PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Sorry it is a iso file, but WinRAR is my default program to open it. Do I just burn this file to a CD?

Yeah, browse to the .iso file and burn it to CD as an image.

.

ynotdu · 07-05-2009 07:40PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Think I'll just use wubi. probably a stupid question but can I use Wubi to uninstall windows? Or do I need to do that using a Xubuntu CD?

AIR AUSSIE hi!

Trying wubi as a first resort can do no harm,as i said it gives you the UBUNTU experiance whilst no need for to create a partition.wubi will install it to windows as a programme you can boot to at start-up or chose your windows operating system instead(like one arrow down press to get the Linux experiance)It will not delete your windows operating system,but if You end up preferring Ubuntu You can overwrite the partition containing windows with an UBUNTU installation cd,its like taking Linux/ubuntu for a test drive!

There are posters here who know much more than me,but like anything somebody is expert at sometimes computer terms they assume are common knowledge leaves a newbie scratching their heads.:)

try wubi if *Live cds*or iso etc etc is something you dont fully understand.

good luck

Hydrosylator · 07-05-2009 07:55PM

If you are using Ubuntu or Xubuntu, I wouldn't use 9.0 or Jaunty Jackalope, just yet.

I'm still on Hardy Heron (8.something) and it works fine. It's often best to wait for the dust to settle, on any new version of an OS including Linux, before installing.

I had a disaster when I upgraded to Gutsy Gibbon, and didn't use Linux again for about nine months.

I'm all about it these days though. I'm a web developer and it's got loads of handy software and does things a lot quicker than XP.

I still use XP for Photoshop and Skype. (64-bit Ubuntu doesn't have a Skype, but 32-bit does).
You can run Photoshop in Wine, but I wouldn't bother, the program is severely retarded in Wine. If you want to do something with an image and it's not worth booting into Windows, just use the Gimp.

AIR-AUSSIE · 10-05-2009 08:51PM

hey

Was trying wubi and I also made a image CD. I've two questions:

1) I want to stop using the wubi version of the Xubuntu, do i have to uninstall this? Or is this automatically uninstalled after it is finished?

2) I don't think Xubuntu has the driver for my wireless internet card. What would be the best way to find this? Google? I tried downloading something which i thought was the driver but I could not get Xubuntu to recognise it.

An Fear Aniar · 10-05-2009 11:31PM

In Xubuntu, run

lshw -C network

In the product line, you will see the name of your wireless card. Google for this along with the word "ubuntuforums". This is the quickest way to see if other ubunteros have got your wireless card working.

.

AIR-AUSSIE · 11-05-2009 08:40PM

Khannie wrote: »

I didn't have to do anything. I just turned on my wireless card, it scanned for networks. I picked mine and stuck in my password. Here's a screenshot of the network manager.

You'd just select "my network" and it'll ask for your password.

Yes and yes (both IMO).

Hi I don't seem to have the VPN option in that menu. And when I go into edit connections and the VPN tab I cannot click on the option to add a VPN..

What should i do to get this working?

AIR-AUSSIE · 11-05-2009 08:44PM

An Fear Aniar wrote: »
In Xubuntu, run
lshw -C network
In the product line, you will see the name of your wireless card. Google for this along with the word "ubuntuforums". This is the quickest way to see if other ubunteros have got your wireless card working.

.

I've been reading some posts on the issue, except to be honest what they're talking about goes over my head... I dont really know my way around the 'run terminal' tto start doing what they are outlining..

Dartz · 11-05-2009 08:53PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

I've been reading some posts on the issue, except to be honest what they're talking about goes over my head... I dont really know my way around the 'run terminal' tto start doing what they are outlining..

Might help if you told us what they were telling you to do or what model card you have?

I'm annoyed because I did the same thing with my other laptop about a month ago, and forgot just how I went about doing it. In that case though, I had a specific error code for the wireless failing. If only I could remember what it was... goddammit

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/67649

Have a look at this thread.

It should be easy enough once you figure out the model of your Wireless card though.

lspci -v

An Fear Aniar · 11-05-2009 08:56PM

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

I've been reading some posts on the issue, except to be honest what they're talking about goes over my head... I dont really know my way around the 'run terminal' tto start doing what they are outlining..

I know it looks a little scary, I've been there (just last year). You don't have to understand it, just follow instructions and copy and paste command into the terminal. In Linux, the terminal really is your friend - it can do a whole lot of things with a few simple commands.

The command I asked you to run is simply to ask the terminal to display your network hardware - it's like going into the Device Manager in Windows. So please, run the command, and copy and paste what you get into your next reply. Then we can start helping you get your wireless up and running.

You can find the terminal in Applications/Accessories in your menu. Just copy and paste the command and press return.

We'll help you as much as we can.:)
.

Thinking of trying Ubuntu 9.04

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