Can I install Ubuntu on this old Computer? and Driver ?

[ComputerWizKid]

So I want to learn linux and I got a free computer so this is the perfect chance for me to learn I have a few questions before I start first

1. Will in work on this computer *
2. Drivers Do where do I download Linux Drivers or does Linux just work and configure most common devices?

* System Specs
Aopen AX34-U
Intel Celeron 850MHZ
128 MB SD-RAM
Hercules 3D Prophet 4000XT 64MB Ram 4X AGP (Video Chip Unknown)
Creative 12 X DVD-ROM Drive
RealTek 8139D Nic

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Might want to get something a little more slim. Its really the ram that's bringing you down. Unless you add another 128 stick I'd say try Xubuntu or DSL.

Answer to second question, everything should just work and configure most common devices. Especially since its an older laptop.

 

[pkme2]

I used a older eMachine with an older Celeron w/ 128MB RAM and Ubuntu installed AOK.

You find that Ubuntu should find all the drivers needed on your rig quite well. That the primary reason its getting to be the most popular Linux O/S available. Very user-friendly.

In checking my resources after install, it said that Ubuntu was using up 60% of RAM, a little slow maneuvering around. Enjoy your Ubuntu.

 

[drag]

Gnome will run ok with 128 megs of RAM.

With a 128 megs of RAM you need to use the 'alternative install cd' which is text-based. The install cdrom for Ubuntu is a live cdrom and boots off of the cdrom directly into a fully functional operating system which you can use to install Ubuntu to your harddrive. Unfortunately they say it requires you to have 192 megs of RAM to use it. I think you may get away with 128, but I am not sure. The alternative install cdrom isn't as user friendly, but it doesn't have this problem.

If Ubuntu is to slow then check out Xubuntu (you shouldn't have to reinstall it to run it, just adding the Xubuntu repos should be enough (after using Ubuntu for a while that sentence will start to make sense)). Xubuntu uses the XCFE desktop which is a lot like gnome but tries to make it lightweight enough to run on older hardware without sacrificing much functionality. Worth trying out, it's based on Ubuntu and should be completely compatable.

Also for older video cards with limited amounts of video-ram try running at 16 bits display color and disabling anti-aliased text. This should give a good performance boost if your video card is limiting you.

edit:
oh and the drivers are supplied by default with the system. Sometimes certain hardware requires drivers for support but that's not common except for newer ATI and all Nvidia video cards which you want to use proprietory drivers for 3d acceleration.

 

[htne]

Hercules 3D Prophet 4000XT 64MB Ram 4X AGP (Video Chip Unknown)

This is almost certainly a Kyro chipset. Kyro based graphics cards will NOT work with any Linux 2.6 kernel, so you are SOL.