I've used Ubuntu with NO problems on my 3000 n100.
Ubuntu has changed to the garbage Unity interface. I can change the interface through terminal but it still doesn't seem the same as the old familiar.

I installed 7 and it is just horrible. I've used 7 on others ...
X31 PM1.3GHz, X31 PM1.7GHz, X60S DuoCore, T41 PM1.6GHz, Fujitsu P1510D PM1.1GHz with NO PROBLEMS.

On my 3000 n100 and on a CF-51 DuoCore Toughbook, 7 locks-up for no reason.
Audio playback hangs. Many browser tabs with flash adverts causes lockups. Youtubes cause lockups.
Even with only one tab open, it locks up. I've used IE, FF and Chrome browsers.
When not using a browser it locks up.
All devices in Device Manager are OK with no driver problems.
Memtest shows no RAM problems.

I noticed on my 3000 that if I put the 2GB stick of RAM in Slot 0 and the 1GB stick in Slot 1, it doesn't boot.
It does boot with the 1GB stick in Slot 0 and the 2GB stick in Slot 1. Both 7 and Ubunt show 3GB RAM available.

Hi there.

I would try different RAM sticks from a different manufacturer. The reason being that certain systems can be very particular with certain manufacturers' RAM. I don't know why but Hynix brand seems to work perfectly in my T60/R60 systems but some Samsung (IIRC) sticks gave me a hassle. I've learned through pure experimentation that a T60 and R60 I had would not boot with 1GB and I think also a 2GB stick I had, which were good and worked perfectly on another laptop requiring DDR2 memory. So Memtest may not show any problems, and the stick of memory may work perfectly on another system or in one or the other slot (that is, in a certain configuration), but there seems to be something in the nature of the construction of certain RAM sticks from certain manufacturers interacting with certain memory configuration requirements on certain systems which seems to cause problems either not booting up to begin with, or booting just fine but and then causing random freezing on certain systems but not others ??

This is just an educated guess on my part.

Good luck and have a great day
Daniel.

Also see this (seemingly) unrelated thread: viewtopic.php?f=30&t=90116

Seems to be a different issue (and indeed it is) because presumably your CMOS battery is not at fault here, but I point you to that long thread and long-winded explanation from Thinkpad Lover (yours truly) because I think there may be a connection with the memory configuration requirements on these systems.

And I wish that some experts here who understand the memory slot construction of these systems and have some knowledge of the construction of RAM sticks from different manufacturers would chime in , as I think it's a very important issue.

It may explain your Windows 7 lock-ups and help many others with systems constantly crashing into the dreaded BSOD.

Daniel.

I think the various RAM over the two laptops with problems in7 are Samsung and Patriot.
Some were purchased used from users on this forum and some were purchased new on Amazon.