Installing without burning the iso?

[Minyaliel]

I've run out of cd's... Well, I know it's possible to install directly from the iso file without burning it to a cd first, but I'm not entirely sure how to do it. Could someone please explain this to me? I'd be eternally grateful.

[renzokuken]

i think you can do it with something called a "Network Install", not sure how though, never tried it myself

[mips]

You should me able to install from the iso or the net. you will have to mount the iso.

I have never done this but there are guides out there if you search.

[Minyaliel]

Well, I did find http://www.paulisageek.com/wordpress/2006/03/22/install-linux-without-burning-a-cd-dvd/, but I don't understand a thing :P

[fuscia]

unless you're really interested in learning how to do this, i say drop the other shoe and go buy some cds.

[steven8]

unless you're really interested in learning how to do this, i say drop the other shoe and go buy some cds.

What do shoes have to do with it? :popcorn:

[M_the_C]

Well, I did find http://www.paulisageek.com/wordpress/2006/03/22/install-linux-without-burning-a-cd-dvd/, but I don't understand a thing :P
This only works if you have a Linux OS already installed.

I think it works like this:

Create a directory on a hard drive.
Type:
mount -o loop nameofiso.iso /mnt/cdrom
to mount the .iso so it appears as a CD\DVD.

Then copy these files:
cp -a /mnt/cdrom/isolinux/vmlinuz /boot/FC2-install
cp -a /mnt/cdrom/isolinux/initrd.img /boot/FC2-install.img
this way copies it to the /boot/ folder, I'm not so sure this is such a good idea. Fortunately you can just put it anywhere. Simply substitute /boot/ for another folder.

Then unmount the .iso:
umount /mnt/cdrom

Open grub.conf which is found at /etc/grub.conf in a text editor.

Go down to where you see a similar entry to below, with the title of the distro. (i.e. ubuntu 6.10) Then add the following lines:

title justpickaname
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/FC2-install
initrd /boot/FC2-install.img
You shouldn't need to but you may need to change 'root' to whichever drive you are installing from.

Change the 'kernel' and 'initrd' to the location of the files you copied earlier.

Then reboot your computer and install.

This should work, but post back if it doesn't.

[Minyaliel]

Thanks! *hug for M_the_C*

So which folder would you suggest instead of the boot folder, and why? (I'm really doing this to force myself to use the command line and to learn a bit about Linux, apart from the cd problem, so please bear with my questions...)

[fuscia]

What do shoes have to do with it? :popcorn:

that's a little like asking "what would a snowball be doing in hell? :confused: "

[steven8]

that's a little like asking "what would a snowball be doing in hell? :confused: "

But. . .a snowball would melt in hell. :popcorn:

[fdrake]

to mount your iso image :
sudo apt-get install mount
mount /isopath/isoname.iso /media/cdrom

isopath=the location of your isofile
isoname=the name
after you mount the iso you shuld see a cd loaded on the desktop.