install without CD

Ben Cobb · 01-01-2009, 07:45 AM

One of my 3 computers doesn't have a CD, could put one in but am intrigued to find out how to install without one. I used partimage and copied 12.1 from another machine and that worked but is a bit laborious.

seems like all I need is the setup program to run on my 12.1 and I could copy the files to the HD then install 12.2 on an empty partition while running 12.1 But I can't figure out how to find the setup program.

has anybody done this?

will explore kiso (available from slacky.eu) a gui for extracting an iso

Didier Spaier · 01-01-2009, 09:56 AM

See my answer to a similar question in this thread

guanx · 01-02-2009, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Cobb

...
seems like all I need is the setup program to run on my 12.1 and I could copy the files to the HD then install 12.2 on an empty partition while running 12.1 But I can't figure out how to find the setup program.

has anybody done this?
...

The install ramdisk "isolinux/initrd.img" is a gzipped cpio archive. Extract it to a convenient place, chroot to it and continue as if you booted from an install CD.

I've replaced a Fedora with Slackware 11.0 in this way.

Ben Cobb · 01-02-2009, 08:01 AM

thanks - had been confused by various other ways - thought there might be a simpler (more elegant) way.

Ben Cobb · 01-02-2009, 03:00 PM

had a bit of adventure finding the syntax:
I put initrd.img in a temp directory, cd'd there then...

gunzip < initrd.img |cpio -i --make-directories

then change to a console (alt f1), chroot and find the setup program

/usr/lib/setup/setup

then a familiar screen pops up.

guanx · 01-02-2009, 03:33 PM

I'm sorry I forgot the followings:

gzip -dc ... | cpio ...
chroot ...
------>8-------
mount proc
source etc/profile
------>8-------
setup

There maybe other tricks, but I think these are enough for a normal setup.

Ben Cobb · 01-03-2009, 08:31 AM

right - the steps I tried give me the setup screen but I have no access to the rest of the HD.

(don't know why I am exploring this as there is a CD reader sitting right on my desk - all I need is another cable)

Gslacky (which installs all the gnome stuff) comes with a script that does all this to install all the gnome programs)

Can't figure out from your additional hints what I am suppose to type could you fill in the blanks.

thanks

guanx · 01-03-2009, 01:27 PM

init 1
mkdir installrd
cd installrd
gzip -dc ../slackware-12.2/isolinux/initrd.img | cpio -i
chroot .
mount proc
source etc/profile
mkdir install
mount /dev/PARTITION_CONTAINING_YOUR_INSTALL_FILES install -o ro
setup

Ben Cobb · 01-05-2009, 12:22 PM

thanks - am buried for the moment will post (in a while) to report success
(hope springs eternal)