How do I install Mandrake 9.1 without cdrom?
 

Hi all!

I've been meaning to download and install Mandrake for awhile now. I've never used any type of Linux system before, so I'm a super noob.

I downloaded Mandrake 9.1 in the form of 3 cd's that are compressed with as .rar files.

So I unpacked the files to 3 directories. cd1/cd2/cd3 and i figured I could install from windows XP pro. However, non of the cd's seem to have a setup run file that i can find. I have a cd burner, but I have no cd's right now, and I will go through any lengths to install mandrake 'without' having to buy more blank cd's.

Is this possible without using my cdrom/burner? I don't care if its time consuming, or i have to download 20 other programs to do it, I would just REALLY like to not have to go out and buy more cd's lol. I kinda live far away from the nearest stores...

Any help would be appriciated.
Thanks

Regg

P.S - Also, here are my system spec's. Give me a head's up if anyone knows of any conflicts I might experience with mandrake and my current hardware.

Athlon XP 1800+
1028mb DDR pc 2100 ram 2x 512mb sticks
Aopen AW-840 Cobra 5.1 sound card
ATI Radeon 7500 64mb DDR video card
K7S5A mother board with on board LAN and sound
(On board sound is disabled in bios so I could get my other sound card working without issues)
Lite-On 40x12x48x Cd burner

Thanks again

Read the file install.htm OR INSTALL.TXT in the first cd-rom. Read the third section, It may contain the answer to you post.
;)

Linux doesn´t use .exe files like windows, so you wont find them on a linux disc. Disc no.1 is a bootable disc, so you need to burn them to a cd-r and start the computer with the disc 1 in the drive.
Make sure your computer can boot from a cd-rom, you may need to go into your cmos settings and enable cd-rom booting

You can install Mandrake from the HD using a boot floppy disk. Usually the files are ISO so not sure if this will work with them being rar. The iso files need to be located on a FAT32 formated partition.

If you extract the 1st cd you can create the boot floppy from the rawritewin.exe located in the /utils directory using the hd.img file located in the /images directory.

If you have a broadband connection you could install via nfs, ftp or http. You still need to create the boot floppy disk using the net.img file.

For more info see the Mandrake's web site.

Alright thanks guys. I'll try making a boot floppy and see how it goes. I do have a broadband connection DSL as well. I'll post again after my attempt about how it goes. Wish my luck! ;)

Alright, after a few more tries I got Mandrake 9.1 installed. Thanks everyone.

Learn something new everyday, i didn know you could boot of a hard drive. Linux is full of suprises