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Pheonix
Asked: 2016-01-07 11:16:05 +0800 CST

How to install old Ubuntu on an old desktop [duplicate]

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For a while now, I've been trying to think of a way to install some distro of Ubuntu on an old tower I have.

The tower is running dual Xeons, with a Quadros graphics card, 4GB RAM and SCSI type hard drives. It originally came with Windows XP installed, and might be 32 bit.

I attempted loading a Live image of Ubuntu 14.04, but it failed. I'm under the impression that 14.04 is too new for the machine.

Anyone have suggestions?

Edit: The machine in question is an IBM IntelliStation Z Pro, Type 6221-47U. Components: CPU: x2 Xeon 3.06 GHz RAM: 2 GB DDR (1? 2?) GRAPHICS: unspecified

It does have a DVD drive (two actually) so booting from a disc shouldn't be an issue. If I remember correctly, that's what I tried before.

A couple specific questions I have:

Does Ubuntu have any trouble handling multi-CPU systems, or should I expect it to work as normal?

Does Ubuntu natively support SCSI drives?

This machine will hopefully be used for a CNC mill control station, so it just needs basic functionality.

boot

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You don`t want an old version, you just want a light version.

    Old version have no updates or support (here or official) and the repository’s are off-line.

    I would recommend Xubuntu or Lubuntu for your hardware, both are official Ubuntu, have light weight desktops (L is a bit lighter than X), they are modern and fast and designed for exactly your kind of dated hardware.

    To answer your two direct questions in the edit

    Does Ubuntu have any trouble handling multi-CPU systems, or should I expect it to work as normal?

    If you are referring to physical chips, Ubuntu will handle them just fine.

    Here is a question with a detailed answer on the subject of multi cpu.

    Does Ubuntu natively support SCSI drives?

    Yes it does there is a driver built right in to the kernel, should work out of the box on 14.04 or 15.10

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  2. You could try Ubuntu MATE or Lubuntu, (I prefer MATE) because they are especially designed for old PCs (Besides the Nostalgia of old versions of Ubuntu Mimicking) and also they are lightweight enough that they even run on PowerPC(s) and Pi(s). The easiest way is to just right-click on the downloaded ISO, get a blank DVD disk, hit Burn to Disc (Or open in Brasero Disc Burner if your on Ubuntu) and then follow the steps there and once done, then insert it into your OLD Computer, boot into the CD/DVD Drive (Search how as it depends on what PC you use) and then install from there...

    Though if you want old (dead) Ubuntu releases, go into the old Ubuntu release download page at http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/ (Little Warning: Very old versions of Ubuntu (4.10, 5.04, etc) had the CD in 2 parts, the Live ISO and the Install ISO so be aware of that when downloading the ISO of an old Ubuntu release that didn't have Ubiquity on it)

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  3. If you need an older version of Ubuntu you can get one at http://releases.ubuntu.com

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