Have a similar problem with an 'old´ Athlon 1GHz -1GB ,old Nvidia graphics
card (AD2002). Ubuntu 12.04 won´t run but 11.10 does and so does Lubuntu
10.04 I 'll keep using the machine on the latter distro.

In the Linux Format mag I read about a successful recycle centre in
Portland OR ,where ´Free Geek´ (mainly volunteers) refurbish old PCs and
re-sell these cheaply with Ubuntu installed . Do you have these centres in
Canada and in the UK ?
If there would be one in the north of Scotland I would be happy to
participate as a volunteer .