Need help installing Linux on second computer

When you boot off the Ubuntu disk, one of the options is memtest.

i didnt see memtest option for Ubuntu but when i boot in xubuntu i see the memtest option, ill do that now. But still i only get as far as the welcome screen asking for my language, i click english and the cursor loads for about 10 minutes then just stops. And nothing happens.
 
@Dardra
I would run memtest overnight and see what's what in the morning.

Your PC is clearly struggling to run it unfortunately. You might be able to get around that with a full text based installer (e.g. not using a live CD) though. 'Buntu is pretty darn good at detecting hardware old and new alike, so something is clearly upsetting it. It might well be faulty RAM, or lack of it.

If you were local I'd come and look at it myself.
 
strange. i put the disk back in and booted and to my surprise its loaded and on the linux desktop. it has the time, firefox icon, "places" and a desktop, its laggy and i cant click anywhere so i guess its still loading.
 
well it says ***Pass complete, no errors, press Esc to exit*** but its still running the test, does it keep repeating the test?
 
well im "trying" ubuntu without install and it seems to be wroking, jutnot used to it, i dont see the install now option, where is it?
 
It'll sit on the top left of the screen on the dekstop. Its a icon labelled "Install Ubuntu Linux 10.04 LTS"
 
You still using Xubuntu? I'll download and run it so I can see how its laid out if you are.
 
Right, I had a look, and running in Live mode (if you choose the top option when the live cd loads) this is the main screen I get:

Xubuntu_live_desktop.jpg


If your not getting this, have you tried the second option, to install linux straight off of the bat? Reason I ask is it will be less demanding. If your unsure, I'm happy to provide some assistance with it.
 
well i dont have any of those desktop icons , none at all actually when i "try" xubuntu, and yeah i did try installing it off the bat, i dont get any further then step 1 of 7 where it asks me for the language to use, ill click english and click next it just loads...like ill come back an hour later and its still loading :/
 
Can you check the disc for defects (its on the Linux menu) just to confirm the disc is OK please.

Assuming it is OK, your obviously having problems with your computers hardware in one way or another.

Its possible you can install a much lighter version of Linux on your hardware though. Something like Damn Small Linux will work OK on older hardware. Its a shame, because I feel you'd have found it very rewarding for you once it was working. :(
 
you find it a shame? D: its rewarding because im still learning all this new stuff and i've gotten it to work.. semi :)

and the smaller linux is called damn small linux?

i dont think anythings wrong with the hardware or cd, besides it being very old XD, i just dont know why the icon to install it isnt on the desktop.

where can i get this small linux version and would you recommend it? what are the differences?
 
I have to pop out now I'm afraid (father in-laws car to fix!), but I'll check up on this later this evening.

Link to DSL is here: http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/

Have a good read up on it, and see if its your sort of thing, and let me know, and we'll go from there. I'm determined to get it working for you one way or another. :)

Have a good day, and speak to you later. :)
 
Hmmm, it seems pretty interesting, but it runs from a live cd? can i still install it to the HD? And its only 50mb D: thats like 650mb pulled from it, what am i loosing anything important like commands etc? again i've never used linux and want to learn and dont know if i should do it or not 0.o i mainly want to use this computer for networking and testing between the 2 computers with like Nmap, Cain, etc and test vulnerabilities and exploits and just experiment, and well just learn :)
 
I know we've (well mostly Leeky) have been working with you installing Ubuntu or a variation of it this whole thread. But, I've been thinking, maybe Ubuntu isn't what you want on there anyway....

Sometimes, for whatever reason, a flavor of linux just won't work on a specific computer..

For a computer that old, I really think you should try PuppyLinux. I've actually ran it on a P2 350 like yours before, and its incredibly fast.... Until you browse the web. Modern webpages actually use enough CPU that you'll notice it on a 350, but its not unusable (except for flash). Should work out well for you if it will install.


I think DSL will be too difficult because I think it is a lot more command line based.
 
@SNGX
Thanks for the input mate, and for the recommendation. DSL, and other small distro's aren't really something I'm massively used to, as I've always run them on current hardware.

PuppyLinux sounds very good though; I think I'll have a download of it and see what it is like. :)

@Dardra
I would go with SNGX's recommendation.it sounds a safe bet.

I do however hear what SNGX is saying; some times despite continious efforts, you just can't get it to work for some reason. Linux is extensively supported in regards to hardware, but there is the occasional items that aren't/can't be supported. Though (rather ironically) I'm yet to find something that isn't myself personally.
 
well .. its all fine so far im at the part where it wants the language and says (Select the keyboard layout: (UP/DOWN arrows then ENTER key) )

... The blue tab thing is on us (USA) and there are other countries bellow it... im pressing enter and nothing is happening, same as for switching to other languages... ugh :/
 
So the keyboard isn't working?

Have you tried restarting the PC just to see if its a driver glitch on the install disc?
 
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