mounting an iso image to a partition

bjamison · 02-08-2010, 11:00 PM

I wanted to know if it is possible to mount an ISO image to a partition and boot from that instead of a CD or DVD. I know it is easy to do it from a CD but I would like to know if I can also do it this way. Thank you.

Mr-Bisquit · 02-08-2010, 11:09 PM

Code:

mount -o loop /path/of/x.iso /path/of/mount point

I know it can be done with a vm because the image is treated the same way for disk, image,etc. It's a compressed system.

worm5252 · 02-08-2010, 11:45 PM

I do not know about mounting an iso to a partition to boot from it but you could use dd to copy the iso to the partition.

Code:

dd if=/location/of/iso/file.iso of=/dev/partition

for example if I want to load linux.iso on partition 1 of SDA

Code:

dd if=linux.iso of=/dev/sda1

Not exactly sure how you would make the machine boot from that particular partition istead of another partition. you might be possible to modify grub or lilo to point to the partition I guess.

j1alu · 02-09-2010, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjamison

I wanted to know if it is possible to mount an ISO image to a partition and boot from that instead of a CD or DVD. I know it is easy to do it from a CD but I would like to know if I can also do it this way. Thank you.

i would say:rather not.
you mount it, you reboot, and it ain't mounted no more. you need to do more than just mount it.

for sure you may mount it and chroot into it (perhaps using xnest if you need a gui). scroll down to "methods to customize the iso":
http://www.debe17.com/web_pages/dean...apr08.php.html
or check this:
http://sidux.com/index.php?module=Wi...g=Grub2isofrom
which i don't know.
or, from what i have heard, search if grub2 is able to do so and how.

using a virtual mashine is anyway a method which is more easy (sure: depends on what and why you want to do it). just point it to the iso.