.iso installation
 

how can i install a .iso image in linux without burning it to a cd

You can use grub2.

(1) By mounting it on a loop back device to expand the filing system at a terminal or a ready-made tool from a desktop, like to open as archive in Ubuntu.

(2) Copy the files to a partition.

(3) Replace the isolinux boot loader, which boots only from a CD or DVD, with a hard disk based boot loader like Grub or syslinux.

The above steps works satisfactorily. However not all distro iso have been arranged bootable from a hard disk. Many could fail because the installer could keep going back to to find the files from a cdrom.

More details in here with examples. The thread was originally written to put several iso into one DVD and then later transferring the lot into a USB jump drive.