I have downloaded and burnt the Ubuntu 14.0.4.4 desktop amd 64bit dvd. The md5 of the disk matches the source md5.

Running it as a live cd, everything begins perfectly with normal graphics. But shortly after I start Firefox, the screen turns into garbage, with the image repeated sideways about seven or eight times and as if looking though Venetian blinds. It is impossible to use it.

But when I press the power button on my computer to turn it off, a window or overlay then appears over the garbage with normal graphics, briefly offering me options about shutting down etc before the computer switches itself off.

What is wrong with the graphics please?

The computer is a Dell Dimension 5150. The graphics have not been a problem with any other Linux distros I have tried. I thought Linux was good at supporting ageing (but still very usable) computers. Does Ubuntu only cater for new computers? I have an HP 930c Deskjet printer that I like to use that is even older.

Although it is 64bit I only have 4GB of computer memory. I will probably buy more memory in the future, so I'd prefer to install a 64bit OS in anticipation of that.

Thanks

The minimum hardware requirements to run Ubuntu 14.04 at the link below. You need to scroll down the page to find the requirements for the Unity Desktop which is the defualt.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...emRequirements

You mention "ageing computers" but don't say what it means, how old is it? And not, Ubuntu with the Unity Desktop is not a good choice for older computers.

As far as the graphics, it would help if you indicated which graphics card you have.

The graphics are Intel 829456G/GZ Integrated Graphics Controller, according to the Linux Mint System Info.

The spec is far in excess of that in the Ubuntu link. I have just found out I have 3GB memory not 4GB as I thought. The computer dates from 2006 and used to run WinXp. As mentioned above it is a Dell Dimension 5150.

It is very difficult to give exact specs as I have not found anything in Linux Mint that gives a thorough listing of the hardware specs. The System Info above was only five or six lines.

Is the hardware on the computer 64bit? You can get that if you're not sure by running the following command from a termianl:

You should see "x86_64" somewhere in the output if it is 64bit

Running the following command from a terminal will get you deteailed info on the hardware.

Just post it here.

Thanks. It is 64bit.

The results from typing in the commands:

user-Dell-DM051 ~ $ uname -a
Linux user-Dell-DM051 3.19.0-32-generic #37~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu Oct 22 09:41:40 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

user-Dell-DM051 ~ $ inxi -F
System: Host: user-Dell-DM051 Kernel: 3.19.0-32-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
Desktop: Cinnamon 2.8.8 Distro: Linux Mint 17.3 Rosa
Machine: System: Dell product: Dell DM051
Mobo: Dell model: 0HJ054 Bios: Dell v: A05 date: 03/31/2006
CPU: Dual core Intel Pentium D (-MCP-) cache: 1024 KB
clock speeds: max: 2660 MHz 1: 2660 MHz 2: 2660 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel 82945G/GZ Integrated Graphics Controller
Display Server: X.Org 1.17.1 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1280x1024@60.0hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel 945G GLX Version: 1.4 Mesa 10.5.9
Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k3.19.0-32-generic
Network: Card: Intel NM10/ICH7 Family LAN Controller driver: e100
IF: eth0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full
mac: 00:13:72:e8:ba:7b
Drives: HDD Total Size: 1500.3GB (1.0% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: TOSHIBA_DT01ACA0 size: 500.1GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: TOSHIBA_DT01ACA1 size: 1000.2GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 456G used: 11G (3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 3.21GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: None detected - is lm-sensors installed and configured?
Info: Processes: 147 Uptime: 23 min Memory: 757.7/2999.5MB
Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.28

Any solution please?


Thanks

Cinnamon is probably a bit much for that computer. Mate should be much better.
And if Linux Mint 17.3 Mate shows problems, try 17.2 - (different kernel and different xorg)

grumpyskeptic,

I agree with TxLonghorn.

MATE or Xfce desktop editions will probably help in this situation.

Try Ubuntu 16.04 MATE, Linux Mint 17.3 MATE, Xubuntu 16.04 or Lubuntu 16.04.

@grumpyskeptic, does it happen to look something like this? If so, what is the temperature of your GPU?

Thanks for the suggestion about Cinnamon being too much for this computer, but several weeks ago I installed Linux Mint 17.3 Cinnamon on it and have been using it daily since then as my main computer without any problems. I only get some flickering very very rarely, as far as I recall only when I am watching videos from the BBC news site in full-screen and it tries to automatically run the next video when the current finishes.

It was the Ubuntu Live Cd (actually a DVD) that had the problem described. Am I right to think that Ubuntu would offer a wider range of software and be equally or more up to date as Linux Mint? Although Distrowatch records more hits for Mint than Ubuntu, I understand that other measures such as the proportions of OSs using Wikipedia show far more Ubuntu using it than Mint, suggesting that people eventually prefer Ubuntu.

I would be interested to hear people's opinions on the relative merits of Ubuntu and Mint. Is Mint merely a watered-down version of Ubuntu, or is there new stuff in Mint that is worth having? Up until several weeks ago I was using WinXP, so I am a Linux newbie.

The graphics garbage does not particularly look like the image provided by Ihavewindows522. My particular garbage includes a lot of thin black bars all over it, and with the ghost of the image repeated several times sideways.

Mint is based on Ubuntu, and offers the same range of software, plus the Mint programs - like Mint Update.

Your graphics glitches with Ubuntu may be due to the different kernel used.

Mint has made some choices that result in Mint being more stable, and a bit less cutting edge than Ubuntu. Personally, I like that.

I've tried Mint, and I find it to be bloated...but it's mostly bloat you end up installing anyway. I've never really cared for it, it never felt...not really not polished, it is...but...it never felt like mainstream material.

I use Ubuntu because I prefer Unity over MATE or Cinnamon. Last time I used Cinnamon it felt like a sluggish and half baked fork of GNOME. That was years ago, it's probably changed.

I also like Ubuntu because they're innovating and going places, unlike so many distros that are just stagnating with the status quo. Just one of quite a few is/are the Snaps vs conventional packages.

EDIT: I have a not-too-fond memory of Mint, using it for reading DVDs because I was having some issue with libdvdcss, and I had to uninstall the vast majority of the bloat on the virtual hard drive to make room for DVD images. Then there was the matter of getting them off. I'm glad I no longer have that issue.