Having problems installing Xubuntu 9.04 to my Dell Latitude CPi (old, I know, but available...). Problem is that the CDROM is not working right and the BIOS doesn't support boot from USB so I can't do a complete live CD install via the CDROM or USB.

What I'd like to do instead is install the ISO to the HD and run the install from that HD. Even with the CDROM problems I am able to load the Live CD installer from CDROM.

With that I think the best option will be to extract the ISO files to the HD (attach to another computer and extract to a FAT32 partition, then replace HD back in the latitude) then direct the liveCD bootloader to find the install files on the HD. Unfortunately I don't know the necessary commands to pass to the bootloader.

Thanks in advance for the help.

If you can attach the hard drive to another computer with a working CD drive, then you can install Xubuntu on the other computer and swap the hard drive back to the Latitude.

To avoid any accidents it's best to unplug the "surrogate" computer's hard drive, so that the Latitude's hard drive is the only drive attached.

FYI here are the Xubuntu system requirements:

Another possible option: Does the Latitude currently have a working operating system (Windows or Linux)? If so, you may be able to use Unetbootin: http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net

Thanks. The Latitude currently doesn't have a working OS. (had a version of slackware, but monkeying with the HD I've since messed that up pretty well). I'll try attaching the hd via USB to another computer with a CDROM and go that route. I'm a bit worried about overwriting the MBR of the (host) windows computer, though. Here goes...

You should unplug the Windows computer's hard drive (as I suggested above) so you don't accidentally overwrite the MBR. Xubuntu will not ask you where to install Grub unless you click the "Advanced" button, so be careful!

Good luck! I have a Latitude Cpx (big brother to your Cpi) and I keep it in my guest room so visitors can check their email.

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Well that worked, and thanks for the tip on the 'advanced' tab. Didn't want to pull out the old windows box to unplug the HD so I disabled it in the BIOS hoping that it would be saved. Turns out that even with the HD disabled in the BIOS the linux partition program still recognized the drive. Bottom line...simple install to a USB HD via the live CD and using the 'advanced' option to ensure the MBR of the USB drive was used vice the windows drive.

Thanks for the advice!

Glad it worked, enjoy Xubuntu!