I have ubuntu 10.04 since 2010..almost no problems, maybe missing some programs/features from windows but no regrets.. but recently it starts to slow down, to even stop sometimes, and i need to restart it. sometimes i need to take off the battery to restart. the problem is that it gets too hot sometimes, usually when I watch some video already in my laptop or when I use mozilla firefox (but also with other web browers; especially when i check facebook, emails, or using youtube) I need to add that I use boinc manager all the time to help science, so maybe it makes it hotter I have enough space in both partitions: programs and data (respectively 5gb for programs and 30 for personal data) I have some hypothesis: 1_the computer is too old (3 years) and maybe the fan inside is not working properly anymore 2_1Gb ram is not enough anymore to support ubuntu 10.04, I mean after all the updates and the programs I downloaded in 3/4 years, especially when running firefox and video players 3_boinc makes it too hot 4_simply firefox is too heavy to run properly 5_simply vlc (or other media players) is too heavy to run properly (or maybe the videos I try to watch are too much high definitions)
I need to say that now it's working a little better (but not too much), but I dont know if it's because the weather here it's a little bit cooler now, or because I use other web browers for different things, or because boinc now runs at lower % of usage... So...after this long exposition of facts, what I want to know is: what do you think should I do to makes my computer working well again? I mean: I do not like spend money for a new computer or for a new fan if it's not absolutely necessary. at the moment I'm thinking about other options like using a different OS, like Lubuntu or puppylinux, because I read they are lighter. but I think if I install the same programs on Lubuntu (for example) I will have the same problem, right? because it will become of the same weight, or am I thinking in the wrong way? and the case I install one of them (puppylinux or lubuntu), will I be able to use the same programs I use to use? especially firefox, boinc manager, vlc player, and others from ubuntu?