Replace Windows XP with linux (preferably Ubuntu)

Solution 1:

If you have an internet connection during the installation, then you can try the net installer for Ubuntu from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/netboot/. First, click on the version you want to install, then click on the architecture, then click on 'mini.iso'. Follow this tutorial to burn the image onto the disk.

Solution 2:

Antix:

antiX is a fast, lightweight and easy to install linux live CD distribution based on Debian Testing for Intel-AMD x86 compatible systems. antiX offers users the "antiX Magic" in an environment suitable for old computers.

So don't throw away that old computer yet! The goal of antiX is to provide a light, but fully functional and flexible free operating system for both newcomers and experienced users of Linux.

It should run on most computers, ranging from 64MB old PII 266 systems with pre-configured 128MB swap to the latest powerful boxes. 128MB RAM is recommended minimum for antiX. The installer needs minimum 2.2GB hard disk size. antiX can also be used as a fast-booting rescue cd.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/antix-linux/files/Final/antiX-13/antiX-13_386-base.iso/download

Solution 3:

Lubuntu (click here to download 14.04 iso) is small enough to fit on a CD and is designed to be used on systems with limited resources.

Also, Ubuntu has a netinstall as well called ubuntu minimal that can be used to install Xubuntu or Ubuntustudio (or lubuntu, gnome session fallback etc.) which both work quite well on old computers (click here for link)

After initial installation, you will boot to a command line prompt. Here, type

tasksel

and follow the prompts to select your desktop environment.

NOTE: because of a bug in tasksel, DO NOT use tasksel to uninstall packages. ONLY use tasksel to install.