possible to install from virtual dvdrom?
 

alright, so i can use daemon tools or magicdisc to load an iso onto a "virtual rom" but those wont work until windows has loaded of course... is it possible for me to install onto a 2nd hardrive through and while running windows on the first?

thanks

I've heard some "geek" did succeed in installing Linux (perhaps without a 2nd HD even?) without using any physical cd/dvd disc, by using VMware player and iso file..of the exact instructions I cannot say much, but yes, I'm pretty sure that is possible. I'd suggest you take a look at VMware player (or some other VMware product).

Hmmmmm what dist. are you talking about, specifically?

Depends on the distro but many of them will allow you to do a "hard drive install" where you point the install program to the directory where the iso files are located and the install program will read them and install directly from the isos. You don't need a windows program to read an iso file as linux has that capability natively built in. Linux can natively create virtual drives like cdroms by using "loop". It's all done automatically in these install programs but that's how it works.
You will have to read the distro documentation but many of them tell you to make a special boot floppy or boot cd with the right "image file" and they may have seperate ones for doing network installs, hard drive installs, installs from usb cdroms, etc. Sometimes all the image files are on one boot cd iso and you get a menu when you boot as to what kind of install you want to do. Check out your documentation for the distro you are interested in but that capability is commonly included. I know you can do this with mandriva and fedora for example.

Ok, here it is what I used to do when I didn't have any CD-RW drive. Let's suppose that your .iso is in the folder "isos" of /dev/hda1

1. Create floppy bootdisks to enter into the setup program. They should found in your linux dist. ftp and can be written using "rawrite" program, which should also be found in your dist. ftp.

2. Boot to the setup program using your floppyes. When you are in the program, use the keys Ctrl + Alt + F1, F2, F3...FX to go to the console mode.

3. Type the following commands:

mkdir /mnt/sourc
mkdir /mnt/hda1
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1
cd /mnt/hda1/isos
mount Your-Dist-Iso.iso /mnt/sourc

4. Run the setup program and try to choose your source directory as /mnt/sourc. It worked for me in some dists.