I have Orace linux .iso's on a memory stick.
I could burn them to CD's and install linux from the CDs.
However I would rather not waste 5 CDs and just install from the memory stick.
How can I do that? How do I make the memory stick bootable?
I did try changing the boot options but I could find the right one.

i think you will need to image the usb with the .iso's using something like unetbootin.

maybe fdisk/ gparted can toggle the partitions boot flag ?

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With unetbootin would I still be able to partition my machine - i.e. preserve vista and only overwrite my Linux partition?

^ you have windows vista running from a usb drive ?

it really depends on how orace[sic](did you mean oracle ?) programmed their installer.

most recent linuxes i used (e.g.- fedora live usb) will prompt the user if it found another os and whether to install grub in the mbr or not...

The only way to use the iso's on a flash is to mount them to a nfs (or other share like iscsi) to some networked computer then boot to some media then point to that location.

I would simply install a virtual machine and use the iso's as sources changing the images along the way.

Well, no, I'd download the Oracle VM then just run it.

It might be possible to use grub4dos or grub24dos to get the first iso to boot then in the installer switch to a different tty and then mount the other iso's in a loop device.

Long way around to buy pass buying a few cd-rw's.

^ would dd work to put the iso image to the usb ?

cd ISO image is very easy

/dev/sdx is usb drive. make sure it is NOT /dev/sdx1

Use this command with EXTRA caution. It may overwrite the other good partition having valuable data. This command will erase everything on the USB device

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Only a few hybid iso's can be put on a card and be expected to boot and run.

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Thanks for the help everyone.