The Elvidge Family

Installing Ubuntu Lite on an old PC

Update - since writing this guide UBuntu have released a new version install specifically for netbooks - I have not used this version yet - but it should be an easier install. (see here)

Ubuntu is great as a 2nd OS on any system either just for back-ups or as an alternative system for browsing and office, plus a lot more. There are plenty of 'lite' distributions to choose from. I've used Mepis-lite in the past with success. Here is how I installed Ubuntu-lite on an old Pentium 3 PC and added some extra functionality. I found I had to do a few work-arounds different from other install guides - (these are the sources main & blog) To prepare your PC - if you plan to have Windows aswell on the PC - install that first and leave some spare unformatted disk space for the linux partition (>3 GB).

1. Download the Ubuntu “mini” iso image from Ubuntu’s archive site and burn a CD.

2. Boot the CD and type “cli” (followed by Enter) at the initial prompt.

3. Respond appropriately to the installer’s half-dozen-or-so prompts. (If you have opted for the windows mult-boot option, here select the installer to use your unallocated disk space).

4. After the installer’s process completes, remove the CD and hit Enter at the prompt to reboot the system, and then login with your user name. (Note: At this point, 693MB of the system’s hard drive was occupied by the core Ubuntu OS.)

5. At the resulting command-line prompt, download the UbuntuLite installer script using the following command: (ps. this didn't work for me and when I rebooted it only went to the command prompt and not the GUI)

• wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/ubuntulite/nouveau/install_ubuntulite_nouveau

NB: At this point, it did not work for me and so I did the following at the command prompt:

• sudo wget http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntulite/ubuntu/pool/main/u/ubuntulite-repository/ubuntulite-repository_0.1-0ubuntulite1_all.deb

now type the command:

• sudo dpkg -i ubuntulite-repository_0.1-0ubuntulite1_all.deb

this should install the .deb file. After this type at the command line:

• sudo bash install_ubuntulite_nouveau

This may take a while - then return OK

• sudo shutdown -r 0

You should now be able to boot in the Graphical Interface of Ubuntu-Lite If you wish to add more functionality, use the 'Synaptic Package Manager' to find and select more programs like: Firefox Open Office programs Samba (windows network shares)