I boot the development test iso's directly from the hard disk.
zsync the .iso and put it into the first directory of a partition.
Example below uses partition 6 on the boot hard drive
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
menuentry "saucy64 13.10" {
set isofile="/saucy-desktop-amd64.iso"
loopback loop (hd0,6)$isofile
linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz.efi boot=casper iso-scan/filename=$isofile noprompt noeject
initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}
save
exit
sudo chmod 777 /etc/grub.d/40_custom
sudo update-grub
sudo grub-install /dev/sda (whatever /dev/sd? you boot from)
sudo reboot
Faster for me than creating a USB. Of course, does not test the ability/inability of whatever you're using to create a USB.
Sometimes it's /casper/vmlinuz.efi and sometimes it's /casper/vmlinuz. With file manager select the .iso, which may allow you to browse the .iso to see which vmlinuz it is.
After rebooting, the grub entry you just made with 40_custom should be on the bottom.
Select & see if it boots....
Play with the live image if you wish.
Then
Ctrl-Alt-t
to get a terminal session
df
to see which /dev is the isodevice, no surprise in this case /dev/sdb6
sudo umount -rl /dev/sdb6 (that's lower case RL)
exit the terminal session if you wish
open the install.
A bit long winded to read about after doing this a bunch of times I usually remember everything...
With test notebook, netbook, and desktop I'm installing every couple weeks - more lately playing with mir & unity8. Conclusion: not ready for my level yet.
Note, I'm testing saucy on a USB hard drive, an SSD.
The pc is set up to boot on the USB so during boot grub thinks the USB is /dev/sda
After boot, file manager, gparted, and install show it as /dev/sdb
Go figure.
BTW, if you intend to boot off a USB hard drive like I do, watch that install puts the boot image on /dev/sdb. Whatever your setup is.
Also you can have multiple 40_custom entries for multiple .iso's. Repeat and modify everything from menuentry to the final }
