Flavor Of The Month: Xubuntu
Over the past few months, we have shown in this section how simple it is to install Kubuntu and Ubuntu. You will probably have noticed how similar the install procedure is, with roughly the same options, but with a different interface. Rather than show you the same steps again with another interface, this month, we will show you what you should do about older computers if you want a more streamlined Ubuntu.
Written by Robert Clipsham
Xubuntu is Ubuntu's light weight counterpart, which uses less resources, and has the same functionality as Ubuntu. It claims it can run with as little as 64MB of RAM and needsonly 1.5 gigabytes of hard drive space. I decided to push this to the limits, and create a virtual machine with just 64MB of RAM and 3GB of hard drive space. To use 64MB of RAM, you have to use the Alternate Disc. This requires slightly more effort than using a live CD, but produces the same result.
When you place the disc in the drive, it will give you more options than when you use the Live CD. The option you want is “Install in text mode.” Press enter to begin installation (picture above).
If you are using small amounts of RAM, like I am, you will receive this message, warning you that it will use English for the installation language. Press enter to move to the next screen. Use the up/down arrows, which will allow you select your country, to enable the quickest downloads of updates.
The installer will the offer to detect your keyboard layout, which I recommend you do. Select yes, then follow the instructions, pressing the keys it tells you to.
Once your keyboard layout has been detected, it will ask for what encoding you would like to use in the console. If you don't know what this means, the default is fine. After selecting how characters should be encoded, you need to select the character set. Again, the default is fine, unless you have a specific need for more colours on the console.
The installation then detects your hardware, to load the correct drivers then asks some more questions.
It then asks for a host name.
This is the name the computer should display on a network, if you have one. Choose one that will allow you to easily identify it eg: mrmondays-desktop.
As you can imagine, partitioning your hard disk is harder in a non-graphical installer, so you need to be careful to select the right option. As you are using an old PC, as long as you have taken all the important data off it, you should be OK to remove Windows, but if you would like to dual boot you need to take more care. I had no need to be careful, so I went for “Guided – use entire disk”, but you should choose the relevant option.
You can always go back, if you decide that you picked the wrong option (do this before partitioning!) The next screen asks which disk you would like to erase (if you chose the same option as me).
Before the installer allows you to make any changes, it confirms what you want to do.
You should have at least two partitions, one for root and one for swap. You could also make one for home, but this is easier to do through a GUI.
The installer will write the changes to the disk, then ask how it should set up the system clock. You can choose how it does it, but it is easiest to just go for UTC, and change it later.
The next thing the installer asks, is about user accounts. At the screen, enter your full name, then continue to the next screen. Choose your username, then your password, then verify it, so it knows you have entered it correctly.
The installer will then install your system, but be warned: your input is still needed! Part way through, it will ask you to configure the X Server. You can just hit continue, if you don't want to set it up.
It will tell you it is complete, then you should remove the disk, and restart your computer.
At the login screen, enter the details you entered earlier to log on. You will be left with a graphical user interface, which is fully up to date, and capable with anything you throw at it.
Congratulations on resurrecting your old PC!
If you still find your PC goes slowly, there is still hope. There is a Linux distribution called Damn Small Linux (DSL for short, download it from: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org) which will run with just 16 mb of ram and an 486DX processor. DSL is also fully capable. Have Fun!
