How can I install Linux without a floppy drive and Windows XP?
 

Since this is Windows XP I can't go to MS-DOS mode and use LOADLIN...and don't have a floppy, so how do I install Linux?

Unless you have a really old system, you should be able to set your BIOS to boot from the CDROM. Usually when you boot up, you should see something like "press delete to enter BIOS" or "press F1 to change system settings" or some type of message that resembles that. So follow your systems directions to change the BIOS settings.

Now BIOS managers will look pretty different, so look for an entry or tab that says "boot options" or something similar. Change the primary boot device to the cdrom. remember what the original setting was because you'll have to change it back once linux has finished installing. Now save and exit the BIOS (usually have to hit F10).

That should reboot your system and it should now boot directly from the cdrom. Once the install is finshed, change your BIOS settings back to the original ones (primary boot device = harddrive)

Good Luck!

Sorry, forgot to mention that I don't have Linux on CDROM, I downloaded it.

Assuming you don't have a CD-burner to burn the images to CD, you may want to really consider investing a few bucks in a floppy drive. If you're using Slackware, you might also check out ZipSlack, which is Linux that boots and runs from a Zip drive. But then again, you may need a floppy drive to get it going.

You can also do a network installation, but there has to be some way to boot up. Again, a floppy drive may be in order.

Also, you could get a CD-bootable distro like Knoppix, or go to CheapBytes and shell out a few dollars for CDs of many popular distros.

SuSE also has a cool linux live cdrom. And also a network installation cdrom: download and burn an approx 30 MB cdrom, boot from that cd, and four or five hours later...

I did the redhat ftp install and it worked great, I booted from CD with the image off the ftp site and it was flawless, didn't even take long cuz there is a mirror near me. But then again, you still need to get past that whole boot issue. Spend the 8 bux for a floppy drive. Or send me 5 and I'll send you a used one lol.

If you have a cd writer, you can turn an image of a bootable floppy into a bootable cd. You might be able to use LILO or GRUB to dual-boot between Linux and XP. What Linux are you planning to install?

I'm installing Slackware 9.1.

I've downloaded the ISO images from the FTP and am burning them to CDs. My question is: will these CDs boot or do I need to burn a "Boot CD"

your cd writer should have an option to burn an iso image. Do that. If you end up with a single file on the CD, you made a mistake.

In no case will you need to specify to make an ISO a bootable cd. all this information is contained within the iso itself so don't even look for this option.