Which version of Linux?

[tell-me-more]

First of all, I must say a big thank you to VHG and Ethel, without whom I would not even have got to the stage of asking this question.

So, THANK YOU!

Full question to follow...

[tell-me-more]

Here's my new question in full:

I have a 667MHz PC with 256Mb RAM running Windows Me.

I've been advised not to use the Co-operative's online banking facility until I've downloaded a patch for IE, but MS are not supporting Windows Me any more, so I'm not even sure that's possible.

I'd like to keep the machine active rather than chuck it, and it's been suggested that I might try a Linux OS such as ubuntu, which I'd like to do, but I'm quite nervous about.

Baring in mind I'm already running Windows Me (if indeed it's necessary to bare that in mind), which version of Linux do you recommend and why?

[Ethel]

You'll find this interesting:
http://blog.btbroadbandoffice.com/archive/it-s ystems-and-support/revive-an-old-pc-with-a-lin ux.php

They recommend DSL:
http://linux.softpedia.com/get/System/Operatin g-Systems/Linux-Distributions/Damn-Small-Linux -908.shtml

I haven't used it, but have read good things about it.
I recommend you go to your library and get Ubuntu for Dummies, and use that cd to boot. It will be a good, stress free way for you to try a different OS

[badlad.biz]

I've used Linux for years, and tried many different versions (or Distro's as the tech's call them). What I can say is, Yes, Linux is good, but it may not work on some PC's and Laptops. Graphics and Audio are sometimes a stumbling block, and ActiveX dosn't allways work.
May I suggest you download one of the versions that run direct from a CD/DVD to test it out first. It may take away some of the heartache if you wipe your pc and it dosn't work.

[tell-me-more]

Thanks BLB. Good point.

Ethel, is the book you recommend called "Ubuntu for Dummies" rather than "Linux for Dummies"?

I've found a book called Linux for Dummies available from my local library service, but it comes with a DVD-rom rather than CD-rom apparently, and my PC 99 has no DVD drive.

[tell-me-more]

I'm now using another machine that's been rescued from the scrap heap. It has XP installed and I had intended to start using it but if anything it seems slower than Win Me running on the 1999 PC.

I'm going to attempt to download Ubuntu 8.10 to the HDD of this PC, then write it to a CD when I can find one and "install" it onto 99 if that's the right word for test-driving it. Not quite sure how that works, but seems sensible to download it overnight.

[tell-me-more]

*I'll be downloading Xubuntu, rather than Ubuntu 8.10 I think.

[tell-me-more]

I'm confused.com

Sounds like I'll need Xubuntu rather than Ubuntu 8.10 but how to download it?

I hope it's worth the effort of installing an operating system myself. There are a few people who think I'm wasting my time, and probably won't be able to do it anyway and I'd quite like to prove them wrong on both counts!

[Ethel]

You can do it.

I did. :)

If you get a good working machine out of an otherwise useless pc, that has got to be a good thing, even if you only use it as a spare.

[tell-me-more]

Thanks for the encouragement.

Any ideas how to download Xubuntu rather than Ubuntu 8.10 or will it be part of that download?

I believe Xubuntu is the appropriate system for my machine.

[ChuckFickens]

For a lowish powered machine Xbuntu would probably be a better bet than Ubuntu.

Get it from

http://www.xubuntu.org/

[tell-me-more]

Quite exciting, but I have some concerns still.

I plan to download Xubuntu 8.10 onto the HD of my supposedly faster XP PC, then copy it onto a CD-R, then use that CD to run Xubuntu on my Me PC - do you think that will work? And if so, would I need to back up all my data on the Me PC first?

[tell-me-more]

I'm planning to download the PC (Intel x86) CD from here...

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/8.1 0/release/

[Ethel]

Excellent - keep us informed. :)

[Ethel]

Sorry - didn't read the first part of your post.

To stop yourself fretting, back up all your important files and take a screenshot of your passwords and print that out. There is nothing worse than not having the passwords to all the sites you visit.

[tell-me-more]

Thanks F.

I don't have any of my passwords for websites written down anywhere, I just memorise them, or not as the case may be.

If I don't remember, then I should be able to get them e-mailed to me, no?

I suppose I should make sure I know the one for my internet connection then, but apart from that I'm safe.

<<To stop yourself fretting, back up all your important files>>

I'm not sure I'd know which ones were important, but I'd quite like to keep my e-mails, photos and all the documents I've produced. Anything else important that I should back up?

<<There is nothing worse than not having the passwords to all the sites you visit. >>

Oh, come on F, I can think of several things worse than that. :-D

[Ethel]

There would be nothing worse for me than to be locked out of the websites I use :( It would make me cry.
I probably don't use the same email address for a lot of them. :)

I think you've just about covered it and I am impressed at your prolific memory for passwords. :)

[tell-me-more]

My memory's quite good most of the time, but I do forget them sometimes. I just find the idea of writing passwords down to be a bit strange.

"If it's important enough, you'll remember it." My Dad (although he may not have been the first to say it.)

I found that the look on people's faces at work when I told them I'd forgotten my password was quite good motivation for not forgetting my password again. Although ultimately it was the threat of having my password re-set to something that was felt to be more appropriate for me that seemed to do the trick. That and the look of contempt I got from one of the directors.

[tell-me-more]

I'm just backing up photos at the moment (well, deleting stuff so there's less to do).

I've got about 5GB worth and I can't be sure, but I don't think I've ever backed up anything before.

I've got a few memory sticks for my stills cam and one for my phone. I'm thinking the best thing to do might be to copy all the images on to them via USB, although that might end up severely restricting my ability to take photos over the festive period! I know I'm not backing anything up to floppy disks. Ooh, CD. I must find those things.

Backing things up doesn't excite me :( I hope my PC's gonna be grateful for its gift.

[fo3nix]

Ubuntu isn't the best choice for your system; it needs 512MB RAM or more really.

Xubuntu, as you've found, is far better suited.

You're best sticking to one of the mainline distributions (i.e., Ubuntu and derivatives like Xubuntu, or even Fedora or OpenSuse).

Once you've downloaded the .iso file and burnt it as an image to a CDR, you can try it in any machine. You may have to set the CD to be read before the hard drive though; if this is the case, change it in the BIOS, by pressing F2 or ESC or DEL or something just as you turn the machine on (it'll say), then setting CD to be read before hard drive. That way, when you turn the machine on, it'll read the Xubuntu disc first.

It acts as a live CD, meaning that it doesn't touch the hard drive inside the machine. So once you've played about, you can take the disc out and restart, and it'll boot back into Windows as usual. Or, you can install from the CD, and it will resize your Windows setup to be able to fit Windows and Xubuntu side by side. This is a more dangerous prospect, and it's well worth backing up your personal files to CD before.

But it's important to just try this stuff --- it's not as hard as many think, and every 6 months it comes on leaps and bounds with ease of use and compatability.

The forums ubuntuforums.org are great too, ask questions there.

[tell-me-more]

Thanks Foxy.

I'm in the process of backing stuff up at the moment, but from your post it would appear that this may not be necessary before downloading and trialling Xubuntu.

Is that right?