I just downloaded the iso image for Mandrake 9.0. I'm trying to install from the hard disk (NOT BURNING TO CD). What do I do? Everytime I try to go near it my PC crashes!

Here's some system info if that helps out:

Current OS: Windoze 98
RAM 64 MB
500 MHz Intel Celeron
10 GB HDD (3.25 GB used)

An ISO image is just to be burned to a cd, it's the image of the flats and pits on the cd surface, to reconstruct the binary data on it.
If you want to install via actual accessable files, try installing via ftp or LAN

A iso that is as you downloaded it on hard disk doesn't work.What do you got there? One big file that is called mandrake-bla.iso?
You can mount the iso with loop and then copy it to the drive but I don't have the slightest idea how you do that with M$.Plus you need to have a partition setup for it plus I got no idea how you go about installing it then - did a install like that with gentoo but from a linux partition not from M$.
Just burn the thing and go ahead with the CD.

if you use somethign like winace (apparently) you can get inside the iso image, and then just copy everything out of it to your drive, then install it from there suing the harddrive install floppy image which will be in there somewhere

Too late! I deleted the iso image. Now, I'm downloading the files and folders individually instead. I think it would be easier on me to have all the files there in one folder for easy access. Thanks anyway!

A word of warning, with the iso, you could have easily checked there'd been no errors in downloading via the m5d checksum, but if you're getting every seperate file, you need to check each one downloads correctly, and I dunno if you can find checksums for each and every one.

Cant you burn the iso to disk or something?

you can mount and use iso images in windows using a small program called daemon tools you can download it from www.daemon-tools.com (it's free) I've been using it for a long time and it works great mounting a handfull of different image types. the program makes virtual drives on your pc allowing the image to act as a normal disk on your computer. I use it to store some games for quick access just by mounting the image and off I go. Hope that helps in the future

I don't know about mandrake installation iso's but if there is only one symlink in there the files wont do a thing for you.

Just had to say I don't own a CD burner. I stated this in an earlier thread but I failed to mention it here. That's why I need to install from the HD.

I'm gonna try that Daemon thing and the iso image...

If you filled in your location in your user control panel, we could tell you if it was only a few bucks to order the cds from MandrakeSoft.
The PowerPack is well worth it, saves having to download many updates, and configure fonts and drivers on your own.

Do you have a howto for installing it when you get it on the hd?I did something like that with gentoo (putting the files from CD on a hd and install it) but you needed a running Linux system to do this.There you have to use chroot to get to the new OS and install it - don't know if something like this is available for M$.Where the fsck do you live - I send you a CD.

Not sure what you're talking about but I have to thank you for the great link to Daemon tools!

As soon as I mounted it the Mandrake Linux 9.0 screen came up!

But I'm trying to install it inside a Windows folder. (To do this:

1. Launch installation w/ boot floppy
2. Press F1 when the screen comes up
3. Type lnx4win at the prompt and press Enter
)

There it asked me where the iso image was and when I typed the pathname it said it couldn't find the distribution! I tried this for the iso file AND the mounted drive. What did I do wrong?

By the way, I live in Virginia, USA. Do you want my email address?

Linux needs to be installed in it's own (3) partitions, not in a windows subfolder.
I think Cyrix142's link will only enable you to extract the files from the cd, and as crashmeister said, you need a working Linux install on the pc already to install/upgrade with a new distro.

I'm guessing that if you just re-downloaded the iso, and so quickly deleted it last time, that you have broadband. Thus cant you afford $15-20 for the 3 cds to be posted to your home?
You can attempt to install via hd once you're more experience with Linux and know exactly what you're trying to do.

Well, I got as far as the installation step where you have to partition your hard drive. But I could find no way to change the partition! Nothing!!!

The install.txt clearly says that you can install Linux in a Windows folder by avoiding any partitioning! Is this in an older version? I would rather have done it this way because, if I don't like linux I could get rid of it and keep win98.

But, I give up! 6 hours for nothin'!!! Thanks for the help, though, but it was for naught. Have fun with Linux!

danger . . do not read

use your hard drive burner to burn
the iso image to your hard drive.
iso is an abbreviation for
ipselem sorelum opsilim,
which is latin for idiot standards organization.
be careful though to defragment first or
that iso will use all your hard drive memry up.