Which version of ubuntu is compatible with my hardware?

Question

I am using an old millennia desktop - here are the specs:

Cpu: Pentium III 866.4 MHz
L1 Cache: 16K 8097 MB/s
L2 Cache: 256K 3686 MB/s
L3 Cache: none
Memory: 320M 343 MB/s
Chipset: VIA Apollo Pro/133/133A

I am trying to install 11.10 server because that is the latest non DVD operating system. However when i try it only gives me a blank screen and the 'Caps lock' and 'Scroll lock' keyboard lights flash.

I looked at the 11.10 requirements and it says I only need:

Ubuntu Server (CLI) Installation

300 MHz x86 processor
128 MiB of system memory (RAM) (256 MiB for a virtual installation)
1 GB of disk space
Graphics card and monitor capable of 640x480
CD drive

what did i miss?

That sounds like a kernel panic. Have you tried Xubuntu 12.04? (There are the alternative install CDs which I have never tried.) You can always boot with PLoP CD then chainload a USB stick to get around DVD restriction. — fleamour, Feb 07 '14 at 20:16
I recommend elementary os which is a flavour of ubuntu and very light and fast. Trust me, you're computer will fly :D — Dusan Milosevic, Feb 07 '14 at 20:22
I have not used Elementary OS, but plan to try when 14.04 ships, but +1 as meana be eye candy as Mac but as fast as LXDE, certainly a winning combi! — fleamour, Feb 07 '14 at 20:25
ok ill try the elementary OS becuse im on a laptop and cannot write to floppy disks lol — user245812, Feb 07 '14 at 20:28

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 07 '14 at 20:43

Let me try to understand what's happens you better. You're trying to install an Ubuntu Server 11.10 from CD.

I'm not really sure why are you installing 11.10 saying this was the last CD installation launched. That's not really true. A few days ago I download from Ubuntu's home site the Ubuntu x32 & x64 server 12.04 LTS and the ISO was only 674 MB. It's fits perfectly in a CD burning with Brasero.

Before to start thinking in a Kernel Panic, i'll try a few things.

1) Enter in BIOS Setup and load defaults. (After of this adjust the specifics options you need to make work your system properly like open your AGP port size, enable the USB Legacy support or change the boot order). (If this fails I'll try to make a CLEAR CMOS).

2) In a working system, download Ubuntu server 12.04 LTS and burn it with BRASERO.

3) Start your system from CD boot loader.

4) At this time, you must to see the installation menu. If you don't see this, perhaps we've another problem. Are you sure that your memory banks are working ok? Are you sure that your Video Card is working correctly? Did you enter on BIOS correctly?

If you answer yes to this questions and you can't get the installation menu, perhaps we must to do an alternative install. There's a way to do it.

I'm writting from memory, and i must to search from the exact command but if after to do all of this continue your trouble, let me know and I try to help you to fix it.

;-) Keep up with the good work!!!

Which version of ubuntu is compatible with my hardware?

1 Answers1