Ubuntu 11.10 running slow.

[Timeghost]

As no one knows, I've taken an extended break due to some emergency family situations. I've not used a computer for anything but emails and the like since quite some time now. Nearly a year. And I'm glad to be back.

I'm probably over thinking this or something, but I received a computer yesterday, and will be holding on to it for a few weeks. Not quite a good one, but it certainly isn't bad, considering it's only really used for watching movies, emails, and stuff like that. The only games I've found are Minecraft (which doesn't run as well as it should on this system, and some old GB, GBC, GBA, and N64 games)...

The computer is an eMachines El1331G-01W with an AMD Athlon Processor 2850e, 1.80 GHz.
2 GBs of RAM, 1.75 of which are usable.
The main hard drive has Win7 Home Basic, 64-bit.

... Now, instead of keeping the CD/DVD drive, there is another hard drive hooked up to the computer, which has 11.10 on it, 32-bit. It's a fresh installation of Ubuntu... The only thing on it are some updated drivers, if memory serves.

The person who gave this to me wants Ubuntu to be the first thing to load, which is fine.
But loading Ubuntu, and making it handle tasks and things, I feel it's slower than what it should be.
Ubuntu has it's own 250 GB hard drive. Whoever installed Ubuntu made a 50 GB partition to be used as swap.

Other than that, that's about it. This seems like a decent computer, and I can't figure it out. What gives?
Should I try (with the owner's permission, which I can get) installing a different distro of Linux? If so, any particular recommendations?

-- Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:21 am --

Oh. And the hard drive with Windows on it (which is what came with the computer; the second hard drive, containing Ubuntu, did not. It was part of a netbook that, for whatever reason, this person is now using as a second hard drive) has a bunch of applications and other data is running beautifully. The only thing that is installed and doesn't run as well as it should is Minecraft. It runs on pretty minimal settings.

[centip3de]

As no one knows, I've taken an extended break due to some emergency family situations. I've not used a computer for anything but emails and the like since quite some time now. Nearly a year. And I'm glad to be back.

I'm probably over thinking this or something, but I received a computer yesterday, and will be holding on to it for a few weeks. Not quite a good one, but it certainly isn't bad, considering it's only really used for watching movies, emails, and stuff like that. The only games I've found are Minecraft (which doesn't run as well as it should on this system, and some old GB, GBC, GBA, and N64 games)...

The computer is an eMachines El1331G-01W with an AMD Athlon Processor 2850e, 1.80 GHz.
2 GBs of RAM, 1.75 of which are usable.
The main hard drive has Win7 Home Basic, 64-bit.

... Now, instead of keeping the CD/DVD drive, there is another hard drive hooked up to the computer, which has 11.10 on it, 32-bit. It's a fresh installation of Ubuntu... The only thing on it are some updated drivers, if memory serves.

The person who gave this to me wants Ubuntu to be the first thing to load, which is fine.
But loading Ubuntu, and making it handle tasks and things, I feel it's slower than what it should be.
Ubuntu has it's own 250 GB hard drive. Whoever installed Ubuntu made a 50 GB partition to be used as swap.

Other than that, that's about it. This seems like a decent computer, and I can't figure it out. What gives?
Should I try (with the owner's permission, which I can get) installing a different distro of Linux? If so, any particular recommendations?

-- Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:21 am --

Oh. And the hard drive with Windows on it (which is what came with the computer; the second hard drive, containing Ubuntu, did not. It was part of a netbook that, for whatever reason, this person is now using as a second hard drive) has a bunch of applications and other data is running beautifully. The only thing that is installed and doesn't run as well as it should is Minecraft. It runs on pretty minimal settings.

Could you give us some other information? Some things that would help us diagnose the problem are:

1. What Desktop Environment and Window Manager are you using?
2. Are you using composite effects in said DE/WM?
3. Why has it not been upgraded to the current LTS (12.04), or release (12.10)?
4. Is the hooked-up hard drive an external HDD?
5. What is running slow? The OS itself? The applications?
6. How well does Windows 7 run? How well do applications on it run?

[Timeghost]

As no one knows, I've taken an extended break due to some emergency family situations. I've not used a computer for anything but emails and the like since quite some time now. Nearly a year. And I'm glad to be back.

I'm probably over thinking this or something, but I received a computer yesterday, and will be holding on to it for a few weeks. Not quite a good one, but it certainly isn't bad, considering it's only really used for watching movies, emails, and stuff like that. The only games I've found are Minecraft (which doesn't run as well as it should on this system, and some old GB, GBC, GBA, and N64 games)...

The computer is an eMachines El1331G-01W with an AMD Athlon Processor 2850e, 1.80 GHz.
2 GBs of RAM, 1.75 of which are usable.
The main hard drive has Win7 Home Basic, 64-bit.

... Now, instead of keeping the CD/DVD drive, there is another hard drive hooked up to the computer, which has 11.10 on it, 32-bit. It's a fresh installation of Ubuntu... The only thing on it are some updated drivers, if memory serves.

The person who gave this to me wants Ubuntu to be the first thing to load, which is fine.
But loading Ubuntu, and making it handle tasks and things, I feel it's slower than what it should be.
Ubuntu has it's own 250 GB hard drive. Whoever installed Ubuntu made a 50 GB partition to be used as swap.

Other than that, that's about it. This seems like a decent computer, and I can't figure it out. What gives?
Should I try (with the owner's permission, which I can get) installing a different distro of Linux? If so, any particular recommendations?

-- Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:21 am --

Oh. And the hard drive with Windows on it (which is what came with the computer; the second hard drive, containing Ubuntu, did not. It was part of a netbook that, for whatever reason, this person is now using as a second hard drive) has a bunch of applications and other data is running beautifully. The only thing that is installed and doesn't run as well as it should is Minecraft. It runs on pretty minimal settings.

Could you give us some other information? Some things that would help us diagnose the problem are:

1. What Desktop Environment and Window Manager are you using?
2. Are you using composite effects in said DE/WM?
3. Why has it not been upgraded to the current LTS (12.04), or release (12.10)?
4. Is the hooked-up hard drive an external HDD?
5. What is running slow? The OS itself? The applications?
6. How well does Windows 7 run? How well do applications on it run?

Absolutely. I don't use Linux often, but I am sort of familiar with the operating system, so forgive me if I am a tad inaccurate.

1. Unity/Nautilus
2. Yes.
3. I don't know, not my computer. I just moved, and I didn't have internet when I got this computer (I have a tethered connection with my phone, but can't make easytether work. Luckily, I have a WiFi adapter that will work when I run Barnacle)
4. It was from an old netbook that I gave to her, if memory serves.
5. Boot time is semi-decent, could be better. Apps seem to start slowly. It isn't snappy at all.
6. Windows, on the other hand, runs very well. It boots faster, apps run very fast.. It's really nice, in my opinion. She complains about Minecraft, but she doesn't ever play it too much. And I've installed a mod to make it run on even more minimalistic settings, which will be fine.

Thank you kindly for the late reply, and the patience.
Also,here's what I've considered since my post.
I'm thinking about putting in XCFE as a possible DE. I believe this is an older computer, so maybe using a more lightweight desktop environment will help.
Or maybe trying the new Ubuntu 12.10 Mini remix. I think maybe installing a lighter distro may help.

[KthProg]

Well from what I've read Ubuntu's been a lot fatter and more error prone post 10.x.
It could honestly just be the version.
It doesn't run particularly slow on my laptop which has very similar specs, other than more memory, but it does take an inordinate amount of time to open applications.

I would suggest switching to Lubuntu or something similar.
Also, add more memory, you probably have DDR2 so can get up to 4gb if there are two slots.
If you can, overclock the processor, look to see what the highest setting is that someone's achieved with the original cooling system.

Also, there's a little mystery that I dont understand, Ubuntu gives you the option of different sized installs, whether or not this has an impact on performance I dont know, because I dont knwo why there would be different sized installs and it offers no explanation.

[centip3de]

Absolutely. I don't use Linux often, but I am sort of familiar with the operating system, so forgive me if I am a tad inaccurate.

1. Unity/Nautilus
2. Yes.
3. I don't know, not my computer. I just moved, and I didn't have internet when I got this computer (I have a tethered connection with my phone, but can't make easytether work. Luckily, I have a WiFi adapter that will work when I run Barnacle)
4. It was from an old netbook that I gave to her, if memory serves.
5. Boot time is semi-decent, could be better. Apps seem to start slowly. It isn't snappy at all.
6. Windows, on the other hand, runs very well. It boots faster, apps run very fast.. It's really nice, in my opinion. She complains about Minecraft, but she doesn't ever play it too much. And I've installed a mod to make it run on even more minimalistic settings, which will be fine.

Thank you kindly for the late reply, and the patience.
Also,here's what I've considered since my post.
I'm thinking about putting in XCFE as a possible DE. I believe this is an older computer, so maybe using a more lightweight desktop environment will help.
Or maybe trying the new Ubuntu 12.10 Mini remix. I think maybe installing a lighter distro may help.

Well if it has an unsupported graphics card, or just a crappy one in general, this could be part of the problem. Try to turn off composite effects/install a proprietary driver (if it's available and you're not morally against it). Another part is that in 11.10, Unity was still pretty crappy and resource heavy. In 12.04 and up, they've really trimmed it down to just what it needs to be. However, if you're still having issues, or just don't like Unity, another DE (such as XFCE) would certainly help. A lighter distro wouldn't really do all that much in terms of performance, although HDD usage would go down.

[Timeghost]

Well if it has an unsupported graphics card, or just a crappy one in general, this could be part of the problem. Try to turn off composite effects/install a proprietary driver (if it's available and you're not morally against it). Another part is that in 11.10, Unity was still pretty crappy and resource heavy. In 12.04 and up, they've really trimmed it down to just what it needs to be. However, if you're still having issues, or just don't like Unity, another DE (such as XFCE) would certainly help. A lighter distro wouldn't really do all that much in terms of performance, although HDD usage would go down.

I have the recommended proprietary driver installed on Ubuntu already, actually. I've seen good and bad reviews for Unity. I know this person likes aesthetic side of things, and wants everything to be pretty, and neat, elegant, fancy, classy... Whatever.

I think what I'll take your advice, though, which is much appreciated. I'll do 12.04 LTS, with XFCE. I don't really see any cons to using this DE.

Thank you very much for your insight, I'll post a message with results later on this evening. I have to take my little sister to her surgery, as it stands, so I won't have a lot of have time to be on the computer, or to do much... Probably for the week. But results, as soon as possible.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Also... The graphics card, I neglected to mention, is an NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430.

[centip3de]

I have the recommended proprietary driver installed on Ubuntu already, actually. I've seen good and bad reviews for Unity. I know this person likes aesthetic side of things, and wants everything to be pretty, and neat, elegant, fancy, classy... Whatever.

I think what I'll take your advice, though, which is much appreciated. I'll do 12.04 LTS, with XFCE. I don't really see any cons to using this DE.

Thank you very much for your insight, I'll post a message with results later on this evening. I have to take my little sister to her surgery, as it stands, so I won't have a lot of have time to be on the computer, or to do much... Probably for the week. But results, as soon as possible.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Also... The graphics card, I neglected to mention, is an NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE nForce 430.

If they like the asthetics that much, KDE runs slightly better than Unity and has quite a bit more "fluff", I think. Also, check out "www.reddit.com/r/unixporn" (safe for work), it has a lot of recommendations to better customize their Linux desktops.

[Timeghost]

Okay, update.

The computer is now running 12.04 LTS, which did run a little faster. Personally, I'm satisfied. It still wasn't quite as snappy as I wanted it to be, so I changed the DE to LXDE.

As for aesthetics, I like it, but it could definitely be better. I think I'd like to try and make it a little project to customize it. I've already got this idea of how I want it to look... Although I won't lie, my idea probably is already out there somewhere.

Thank you for your suggestions, guys, I very much appreciate it. 12.04 LTS w/ LXDE seems to be wonderful.

But I'm still very much considering switching to a lighter distro. Lubuntu sounds like it would be even greater.

Thank you very much for your help, once again. Opinions, suggestions, whatever, they're always welcome.

[0phidian]

To make ubuntu faster in general you can disable unneccessary startup services with bum(bootupmanager) or sysv-rc-conf available via apt-get. Be careful not to disable something important though.
Also this.

[Timeghost]

Thank you very much for the advice and the video. I'll definitely be using it.