Install Mandriva Without A CD

[tuxcantfly]

Note to mods: I don't see an Mandriva subforum here, so I'm posting here, move this to wherever it's appropriate. This isn't a duplicate of my other thread at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3400831 since this covers Mandriva specific instructions, though I also posted this in the mandriva forums at http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?p=371030

Main Website At http://lubi.sourceforge.net/unetbootin.html

What This Does

It's an installer for Windows or Linux users that lets you install Mandriva 2008 without a CD. The way it works is that a small (8 MB) installer places the PXE (netboot) version of the Mandriva installer on your hard drive, and configures your boot loader, either NTLDR if using Windows, or GRUB if using Linux, to boot from the PXE installer, and downloads and installs Mandriva from the net.

Requirements

You will need to either have a Windows (95-Vista) or Linux (any distro that uses GRUB) install already on your hard drive. You'll also need an internet connection. Apart from that, the requirements are the same as the standard Mandriva 2008 requirements.

Instructions

First, you'll need a spare, 4GB partition to store the ISO file in temporarily for the installer, and another partition to install Mandriva in. If you're using Windows Vista, just open the Drive Management utility and that'll do it for you; otherwise you will have to use the PartedMagic Partition Manager (download)

Then, visit the Mandriva Download Page and download "Mandriva Linux Free 2008" to the new 4GB partition. Do NOT download the "One" version; it will not work.

Then, download the appropriate installer package (UNetbootin Mandriva 2008.0) from http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...roup_id=198821

If using Windows, download the .exe file, if using Mandriva, Fedora, or another rpm-based distro, download the .rpm file, if using Ubuntu, Debian, or another deb-based distro, download the .deb file, and if using a distro that doesn't support rpm or deb, download the sh file.

Then, install the package, and reboot. A menu entry should appear in the boot menu, titled "UNetbootin". Select that entry, and boot. When asked for a source of installation media, select "Hard Drive" as your install option.

Then, select the hard drive you have the ISO file stored in, and specify the directory in which it is located.

Then, the main installer will start, and wait as Mandriva is installed.

More

UNetbootin also supports Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Fedora, Arch Linux, and Debian. Post a reply if you need any help, new features, or another supported distro. The website is located at http://lubi.sourceforge.net/unetbootin.html

[tuxcantfly]

I also posted this thread on the Mandriva Forums at http://forum.mandriva.com/viewtopic.php?p=371030 and the main UNetbootin thread with instructions for Ubuntu is at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3411879

[tuxcantfly]

also, in case any of you don't know the server info, use this:

select FTP

server: ftp.nluug.nl
folder: pub/os/Linux/distr/Mandriva/official/2007.1/i586

[tuxcantfly]

Ignore this, I'm subscribing to this thread.

[mindtrick]

Thanks, I will try this now. Let's install Mandriva 2007 without wasting blank CDs.

[tuxcantfly]

Mandriva 2008 was recently released, so I've published a new UNetbootin build that can install it.. see the usual download spot at http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...roup_id=198821 and instructions are at the unetbootin site at http://lubi.sourceforge.net/unetbootin.html

Basically, follow the same instructions as with 2007, only for the server info, input this:

If installing Mandriva, select "FTP" as the installation source, and for the server, specify:

ftp.free.fr

and for the folder, if using the standard (32-bit) version, specify:

mirrors/ftp.mandriva.com/MandrivaLinux/official/2008.0/i586

or if using the 64-bit version, specify:

mirrors/ftp.mandriva.com/MandrivaLinux/official/2008.0/x86_64

[Antman]

Sweet, Thanks for this thread. I need to use the iso in order to install 2008 unto my dell (only boots to CD not DVD and i don't feel like changing the cabling).

[tuxcantfly]

Originally Posted by Antman Sweet, Thanks for this thread. I need to use the iso in order to install 2008 unto my dell (only boots to CD not DVD and i don't feel like changing the cabling).

Note that if you have the actual DVD, and just want to boot from it, this'll get the job done too: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...79#post3510679

Also, remember to store the iso/package files on a different partiton than one you'll be resizing/wiping out.

[tuxcantfly]

I've added support in the Mandriva 2008 UNetbootin packages for installing from Windows Vista. Usual download spot at http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...roup_id=198821

[Frak]

Thanks tuxcantfly for the great applications