I finally got Xubuntu 8.04 running on a 10 year old Sony Z505RX laptop using the instructions found here and here. It runs OK on the laptop’s meager 128MB RAM and Pentium II processor. Unfortunately, there’s a weird high-pitched tone (capacitor buzz?), but it goes away when I stick a Wifi card in the slot. It is usable, but it takes a very long time to run updates or compile anything. Maybe it’ll run better on my XO laptop.
November 30, 2008 at 1:00 pm |
Hi, I also have an old Sony Z505JE just sitting in storage, and thinking to install linux on it, probably Xubuntu. However, I don’t have the pcicma cdrom drive, is there anyway to work around it for the installation part?
thx.
January 1, 2009 at 1:03 pm |
I think there’s a way to install from the network, but I don’t know how to do it.
April 10, 2011 at 2:01 am |
Hi, I’m actually trying to install linux on an old Sony R505RX laptop right now. I hope you still remember it? The laptop has a pcmcia interface Sony PCGA-CD51 CDROM. I downloaded xubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso and booted from it. I believe I’m suppose to type “linux ide2=0×180,0×386″ at some screen but the first screen I get is one window where I am suppose to choose the language, then I get a screen with the options: Try Xubuntu without any change to your computer, Install Xubuntu, Check CD for defects, Test memory, Boot from first hard disk. Where do I enter that string at? I tried different places but nothing works.
Whenever I try to Install Xubuntu, the installer eventually kicks me out to a (initramfs) prompt. Thanks for any help!
April 10, 2011 at 12:42 pm |
On the main install screen, there should be a way to go to alternative installation modes. Maybe F4? Then there should be a text box where you can type that line in.
April 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Thanks, I was using the wrong version of Xubuntu. I had been using the Desktop version but it turns out I needed to download the Alternate version, xubuntu-8.04.1-alternate-i386.iso, I guess since it only has 128MB of RAM I need that version.
Surprising Xubuntu installs correctly by using the default install without changing anything. I did notice though it doesn’t powerdown all the way when I do the shutdown.