How to install http://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/13835.html ">ubuntu (Pentium III or earlier, machine with 32-192MB memory) on a low memory system
Installing Ubuntu on any system requires at least 32MB of RAM: A character-based installer included in the alternate (install) CD that requires at least as much space to run reliably. Smaller memory configurations can be problematic, although not impossible, but if memory is less than the minimum requirement, it is difficult to complete the installation.
Depending on the hardware requirements, a streamlined Ubuntu system can start and run the graphics desktop on a computer with a memory of 19Mb to 54Mb. This requirement will float as the system needs to increase when the system is active. Swap partitions are important for low memory machines, so don't petty them when you set them up.
There is no real demand for the speed of the processor, but the low speed processor will take more time to complete the installation. Some Pentium machines will take several hours to complete the installation, simply because the CPU spends too much time. According to the usual benchmark, a 75Mhz machine takes 4 hours to complete the installation of Ubuntu 7.04 based on the command line, with a 120Mhz less than one hours. 200Mhz or faster machines will have a stronger boost.
If you do decide to install Ubuntu on an old machine, be patient. There may be times when you think the machine has stopped or hangs, but it is running, albeit slowly.
Disk space can be reduced to 500Mb with absolutely minimal installation. The installation of a clean Ubuntu 7.04 server typically requires only 3 00Mb, with little change for different hardware.
The Ubuntu Server Edition is a streamlined command-line system with no graphical elements. It is a plain text version below an advanced graphic element, which is also the starting point for minimizing the installation.
Ubuntu 6.06
Boot your computer with the alternate (install) CD and select Install a server. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Ubuntu 6.10, 7.04, or 7.10
Boot your computer with the alternate (install) CD and select Install a command-line system. Follow the prompts to complete the installation.
Add Software Warehouse
Change Source
After installing the Ubuntu server version, you may need to edit your sources.list file.
sudo nano/etc/apt/sources.list
Remove the "#" at the start of each line to eliminate comments to the official repositories. Do not erase the comments in the Description section of the file, that is, the line starting with a two # sign (# #).
Update and upgrade your system
Now you should update your system (update apt software source). Back to command line input:
sudo aptitude update
It's also a good idea to upgrade your system. Upgrade your system with the following command.
sudo aptitude upgrade (or, for Gutsy:sudo aptitude Safe-upgrade)
Now you should be able to install the window manager and some applications.