Ubuntu on an old pc running slow

wulfsburg · 06-04-2012, 11:18 AM

Good Morning,

I am using a 1.6 single core laptop, with 512 mb of ram. I recently installed ubuntu, but installed "xubuntu" to try it out. I have come to the conlusion that it is exremely slow and "chugs" up alot. I want to use ubuntu due to my familiarity with it, but was wondering if anyone can tell me what I can do to speed this thing up? Or some other kind of distro? All I want it for is a netbook style of laptop. Internet and browsing.

I have heard of going "arch" but am intimidated by the install.

TobiSGD · 06-04-2012, 11:44 AM

Try Bodhi, it is based on Ubuntu and extremely lightweight. Should run fine on your hardware.

wulfsburg · 06-04-2012, 05:26 PM

I have just installed it, and it is running very smooth. Thank you so much for the recommendation.
I am a linux noobie, what is a good media player that has a "library" style of view like Windows Media Player, or Itunes, but also plays a variety of codecs?

Thanks!

TobiSGD · 06-04-2012, 06:27 PM

I do not know much about that type of audio players (I prefer the simple ones, like Audacious), but may be this will give you some hints what to try: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/6-linux...lace-songbird/

wulfsburg · 06-04-2012, 06:38 PM

Ok, great thanks again. I need to put Open Office on it, but I am not sure which variant/package to install to. Is this technically the "X" desktop? I am not sure.

Thanks

TobiSGD · 06-04-2012, 06:52 PM

"X" is the complete graphical environment.
Bodhi (like most newer Ubuntu derivatives) uses LibreOffice instead of OpenOffice. LibreOffice is a for of OpenOffice and fully compatible. You can either use the web-based AppCenter to install it, or you can use the Synaptic package manager (you will find it under Main Menu -> Applications -> Preferences -> Synaptic Package Manager).

nixblog · 06-04-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wulfsburg

I have heard of going "arch" but am intimidated by the install.

Actually, it's not that bad. I always refer people to Wills How to setup Arch Linux with Openbox. This is what I referenced when I installed Arch for the first time, it's easy to follow and to the point. Best to use it with the Arch Installation Docs as a backup.

Lexus45 · 06-04-2012, 11:22 PM

Try to install and configure Fluxbox as your window manager.
It helped me to go on using my ~8 y.o. hardware :-)
I also open some 'heavy' websites in Opera, it works much faster then Firefox, which in fact is more convenient to me.

scorpioofthewoods · 06-11-2012, 11:06 AM

+1 for Fluxbox

I am probably going to have to install Fluxbox on my 9 year old computer. It was good in its day but is showing its age now. I will either use Fluxbox to continue using Ubuntu or maybe try out Bodhi. I might even get really crazy and run Puppy on it.

Ubuntu isn't really for the old computers, atleast not the default install anyway.

rkski · 06-12-2012, 02:05 AM

Check out Lubuntu. I installed it on an old computer and it runs well. It is designed to work on older computers and low-power netbooks. Has the same core system as Ubuntu.

drawkcab · 06-15-2012, 02:55 PM

Linux Mint Debian Edition xfce desktop. You won't be disappointed.

tommcd · 06-16-2012, 03:14 AM

I would second the recommendation for Lubuntu. It is the lightest and fastest member of the Ubuntu family.
Bodhi should also work well on an older computer.
As for audio players, Aqualung is very light on resources (even lighter than Audacious) and can play just about anything.

drawkcab · 06-16-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommcd

As for audio players, Aqualung is very light on resources (even lighter than Audacious) and can play just about anything.

Does that include Jethro Tull?

tommcd · 06-17-2012, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drawkcab

Does that include Jethro Tull?

Yes it does! I have played Jethro Tull's Aqualung on Aqualung!
The Jethro Tull album Aqualung was the first thing I thought of when I stumbled upon the Aqualung music player.

frankbell · 06-17-2012, 09:11 PM

Another +1 on Fluxbox. I went to it when KDE was getting too heavy for my old laptop with Slackware 10.x and 256 MB RAM.

I learned how to configure it (all text files, no GUI configuration), and it has become my window manager of choice. Every Linux box I have defaults to Flux, regardless of distro.