I wish to install lubuntu on an old DELL INSPIRON 1525 dating about 2007, and I wonder which latest version would fit, since I don’t know whether I should chose 32 bits or 64 bits version. Thanks in advance for your help. On that old DELL, I have 2 systems : Windows XP, and Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron), and lubuntu will replace Hardy Heron
Lubuntu hasn’t provided 32-bit images since Lubuntu 18.10’s release (ie. 2018-October), excluding respins of older releases of LTS releases (18.04.5 being the last).
Ubuntu no longer produces i386 or 32-bit x86 images for any releases beyond 18.10, and packages (of the full system) were disabled after 19.04 reached EOL (as Lubuntu, Xubuntu provided alpha images of the disco or 19.04 release; so installs of these got updated, but official media was ever released)
If you want a 32-bit ISO, Ubuntu only supports 32-bit ARM (armhf), so you’ll have to try Debian (which have already stopped producing newer kernels for 32-bit x86 anyway; but currently released products are still supported).
Ubuntu’s releases are year.month in format, so the 24.04 release tells you its the 2024-April release, 24.10 tells you its the 2024-October release, so release format is useful in letting you decide which has newer software, but you’ll also want to consider LTS if you’re planning on using your system for years and not just a months.
Ubuntu’s first [new] release on an even year is the LTS; eg. 24.04 LTS is the LTS, which means three years of fixes/updates for flavors like Lubuntu, but 5 years for the main Ubuntu Desktop, Server, Cloud etc products. Consider that too. Release for a non-LTS is 9 months from release, LTS is 3 (flavors) or 5 years (main Ubuntu ISOs).
With older hardware, I do very much consider the graphics hardware you’re using, and what kernel stack will give you best performance. For newer hardware you want the newer kernels, but for older hardware the oldest kernel stack is often best (which for a LTS release may mean you want the initial or .1 media, not .2 & later - though post-install you can change that; but you need to have the screen functional in order to change packages post-install).
You mention fit, but sizes vary little between releases, the difference being newer or older software within the release. Sure there is some creep as software gets newer features & can better deal with newer hardware (higher resolutions, newer touch/gesture features etc) but that’s been an issue since the 1970s and hasn’t changed.
I’d suggest downloading and trying them out on your hardware live. As you mention Ubuntu 8.04 (a very old release), I’d expect you’re familiar with this anyway.
FYI: Lubuntu to me is a Ubuntu system, thus my frequent mention of Ubuntu, and LTS support is longer than 8.04 had; but that’s mostly the main Ubuntu Desktop/Server/Cloud products.
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As usually, guiverc came with a very complete and accurate story 
My reaction to the question posted is: it seems to me your system is old, but perfectly suitable for running Lubuntu 24.04 LTS.
There are a few limiting factors though, considering the age of the machine:
- by default when you bought it, it got a mechanical hard disk (slower than modern SDD)
- it has DDR2 type memory (slower than modern DDR4)
- which is only 3 GB of RAM
- screen resolution is widescreen (1680x1050, unusual, but OK)
If possible, you should consider buying a cheap replacement SSD. This is where you get true improvement: the system will be much more responsive. This will be a serious migration, because you insist on keeping Windows XP (why?)
Don’t bother about having only 3 GB of memory. My dorm laptop which I use now, has only 2 GB and runs perfectly. For the rest, only 64 bit OS, of course, and recent. You should keep Linux up to date, always.
If the Dell you refer to is just an extra machine, nice to use in the shed or in bed, perhaps it is not worth investing in a new SSD. Disk performance will improve a lot, but for the rest it will remain an old aging machine.
If you really want a second or third laptop, just because you can, spend a few more bucks (compared to upgrade to SSD), and you will have a new cheap laptop with bigger faster disk, larger and faster memory, slightly bigger screen, better battery, better WiFi, and lighter weight.
In my part of the world, when you go budget, the starter models of Asus, no OS installed, have very reasonable specs for about 220 Euro. Excellent for running Lubuntu!
As I said, I agree with guiverc. Graphic support is important, but not that important on aging hardware. I’m pretty sure Bernardj will not be using his Dell for gaming. So, in general stock drivers are very well for old laptops as well. Don’t worry about it.
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Thanks to Guiverc and Fritz for your replies.
My system can’t run LTS, since it is 32 bits. However, I tried to run it Live… but the media was not even being reckognized for booting… while the same media did boot in live mode on two other machines : a desktop running Debian 11, and a laptop running Ubuntu 14.04.
This being done, I tested Lubuntu 18.04 32bits. This version did boot on my DELL Inspiron 1525… and I have been able to hard install it… It does operate…, but a few problems remain (system crashes after awhile if left idling…). However, I am not willing to spend more time with this, knowing that 18.04 is not maintained and that I’d have problems installing applications on it.
Fritz truly says that I could find cheap laptops running 64 bits… but, the idea was not that I was really in need of that old DELL… but still reluctant to ditch it.
Instead, I will now think about installing lubuntu 24.04 on my other laptop.
Which is a CLEVO x86_64
32-bits, 64-bits
Little Endian
CPU 2
Guenine Intel, family 6, Model 42, revision 7,
2200 MHz
HDD 477 GB
running Ubuntu 14.04
This machine works perfectly… except that Ubuntu 14.04 is no longer supported. I have been using it for about 10 yrs or so, with only two Ubuntu updates.
Nowadays, the latest mainstream Ubuntu is 24.04… According to the characteristics of my old Clevo, I suppose that I should be able to install 24.04 instead of my 14.04 (memory DDR3 – 4096 MB)… but I wonder if this new system might happen to be slower or otherwise problematic on such an old machine… ??,
So, I may decide to install lubuntu 24.04 instead… provided that I can download a suitable version of Darktable that does not require GNOME.
I see. If you persist in your quest to use the old hardware… There are still several distro’s out there that keep supporting 32 bits at least till June 2028. My personal choice would be the dedicated 32 bit version of Arch Linux, and then Debian. Both OS’es support your favorite LXQt desktop.
It’s a bit awkward to promote running LXQt on Arch or Debian in a Lubuntu forum, but so be it. On modern hardware it takes about 5 minutes to install either of them. In your case my guess will be that it will take 20-40 minutes (after having saved all your files, pictures etc to stick or another disk).
Don’t be scared if you haven’t done it before. Installing the base system of Arch is very easy thanks to a simple but nice and elaborated install program. Installing Debian is sometimes a bit more tricky, but also easy. After that, installlng LXQt takes another five minutes. Both ways, you will end up with a system that is almost like Lubuntu (with a different package manager, but no snaps ofcourse). After a few more minutes of effort, the desktop looks and feels exactly like Lubuntu (if you need that). Arch and Debian have their merites, but both are OK.
If you need help with either of them, give me a PM or just ask here.
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