How do I install Linux directly to a hard drive?

traceii · 01-13-2008, 12:52 PM

I am really confused. I have an old computer that I want to but Linux on, but I am a total newb and I don't have a CD burner. I currently have the hard drive in my working computer and I'm wondering if there is some way I can simply paste the Linux files onto it. If I can, can someone post the files?

AceofSpades19 · 01-13-2008, 12:58 PM

You could do a Debian netinstall with floppies, or you could order free ubuntu cds

traceii · 01-13-2008, 01:07 PM

Can't I just copy all the files I need onto the hard drive?

Emerson · 01-13-2008, 01:15 PM

How old is that old computer. What CPU, how much RAM?

traceii · 01-13-2008, 01:19 PM

It's a Dell Dimension XPS T600 with 768 megabytes of RAM. I don't know how fast the processor is.

marciobarbalho · 01-13-2008, 01:25 PM

well, ask for a friend of yours to download some iso cd image (fedora 8 for example, Ubuntu 7) and burn it. You could also perform a net install, but it's not easy for a newbie. You can't just copy the files, it doesn't work like that!

traceii · 01-13-2008, 01:35 PM

I have two hard drives. Could I make one look like a CD drive?

Mark7 · 01-13-2008, 01:48 PM

Look on Sourceforge.net for a program called Unetbootin. It allows you to install any of several Linux distros direct to your HDD without having to use a CD player or burner.

I've used it and it works.

omeraygor · 01-13-2008, 01:49 PM

it is not possible. you have download on the int. and carry with flash drive other computer that have cd rw. than u burn cd. finally u can setup on your pc own linux. i hope u can do.

Emerson · 01-13-2008, 01:52 PM

http://marc.herbert.free.fr/linux/win2linstall.html

Mark7 · 01-13-2008, 01:54 PM

http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...roup_id=198821

geek745 · 01-14-2008, 06:52 PM

I would say just order the CD's from linuxcd.com or something. Look on http://www.distrowatch.com/ if you haven't already to research a good distro. I would recommend Fedora 8 if you're really serious about starting out; Ubuntu or one of its variants if you're not that crazy. Eventually you'll try slackware - it's inevitable!

Jalis · 01-15-2008, 03:36 AM

Hi,
I'm having a probs with my linux enterprise edition 9 and i cant intsall it on my PC. i have boot CD of linux entriprise edition but once i put my 1st boot CD inseide DVDCombo drive and once i select the installation method whether text/Gu mode and then after error comes up saying that insert the bootimage media But mY boot CD is okay i did tested it last time with My CD-ROM

But now it seems to me that it cant recognized my DVDcombo

Bz i tried with CD-ROM it works fine.

Please help so that i can intall linux enterprise on my PC.

Currently i have windows Vista amd Windows XP service pack2.

My PC is doul core and ram is 512MB+256MB and AGP is Rendion ATI1600X 256MB

Thanx in advanced

Emerson · 01-15-2008, 08:34 AM

What is "Linux Enterprise Edition 9". If it is SuSE 9 then forget it, it's too old. Linux developers are not gods, they cannot foresee future and include support for future hardware. You may as well try to install Windows 95 on your rig.
Also, please do not hijack threads, start your own.

Jalis · 01-16-2008, 04:16 AM

Hi there,
thnx for your reply but it seems to me that enterprise version9 having booting isue with detect the DVDcombo drive.

So, is there anything i can do to detect my DVDcombo drive.

and actually, i dont want to degreat my OS . bz i'm running Windowns XP and Vista. So, its not easy to intstall windows 95 as u ased me to try with.

So, any other help cuold be appreciated.