2.49 install issue Ubuntu

I have just about given up on fixing the damn UI problem I'm having with 2.49 in windows, so I installed ubuntu on a spare drive and am running it now, but I am getting an error when i try to install 2.49 that says (basically) that Python 2.5 isn't there. Does anyone have any idea how to work around this? I did however have no issue getting Blender 2.61 to install on ubuntu. At least I think I installed it. Its so much different that windows, but I downloaded the latest blender and manually saved it to the home directory in its own folder. I'm seeing now though that when you put a new program on ubuntu you get a special install page pop up.
Lil Help? Thanks guys.
Lil Help? Thanks guys.