Ubuntu installation problems

My Ubuntu Linux project has not been going well. I spent about five or six hours on it yesterday (while simultaneously doing other things) but I was not able to get it up and running on my ThinkPad i Series type 2611-472.

The first problem was I used the standard graphical installer for Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). I was able to get the welcome screen and run some of the basic utilities (check disc, check memory) but when I attempted to run Linux from the boot CD or install it, it froze about 5 minutes into the process with a blank screen.

I then figured out that the problem was insufficient memory -- the machine I am using was state-of-the-art in early 1999, but 64 MB RAM doesn't even come close to meeting the minimum requirements for Ubuntu.

I then tried the alternate install CD, which can be used for low-memory systems. I also defragged the C and D drives on the target machine and ran a disk check using the Windows 98 utilities. The alternate Ubuntu boot disc definitely went more smoothly, and was even to (apparently) set up a working network connection using the automatic configuration utility. But then it got hung up on the "Starting up the partitioner" step. I tried it three times, including one time waiting about 45 minutes, but it seemed frozen at the 50% mark. On the Ubuntu help forums, I found someone with a similar problem, and the apparent solution is this:

Manual partitioning isn't that hard to do,but it can be a little intimidating the first time you use this.
If your hdd is empty and there is no need for a dual boot hdd,try the next steps.
When the partitioner starts up,choose manual,create a partition 10GB and set it to format as ext3,turn bootflag on and mount it as /
Create a partition 2GB,set it to format as swap,and mount it as swap.
Create a partition as big as you want [/home] set it to format as ext3,mount it as /home.
If there's space left on your hdd you can create another partition for data or what ever,but this can be done later if you like.
If your done creating partitions,scroll down, and choose to write the changes to the hdd.
Continue the install.

"Intimidating"? How about terrifying? I don't want to screw up the machine, so I really hope this works. I didn't even realize there was an option to select "manual" when the partitioner starts up, but I'll apparently need to try that.

Or try a diffent distro. I've also downloaded Mandriva and Kubuntu, maybe I'll give each a spin before playing doctor on my old ThinkPad.