hi guys im trying migrate OS. cinnamon. my dell studio 1745 runs win10pro. the screen is broken and i'm using a projector for a screen. i've installed the software. that's as far as i got because i can't make it boot from the usb. this begs the question "can i install linux without having to boot from usb?" i cannot find instructions to do so everything says "boot from usb". i'm a broken FNG. lol even beginning to learn as is everything i do is a challenge.

Pressing f12 should pop up a boot menu
They hide it.

1 members found this post helpful.

You also have to have burned\flashed the image to USB properly, windows should have made this easy by right-clicking on the .iso?

Cinnamon is a desktop environment in GNU\Linux.

If you're installing something like Debian or derivatives, I have seen that it should allow you to mount the .iso and install it from windows? I've not done so, so here's a search: https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Loader

...have fun!

1 members found this post helpful.

Why do you think you cannot boot from USB? That is certainly the easiest way to install an OS. The second easiest is from optical disc, if you have such a drive.

Empathy for the broken screen. I assume you have tried things like:
https://superuser.com/questions/4769...-broken-screen
(web-search: dell studio 1745 how to access bios with broken screen)

I was going to mention VirtualBox, but your 2009 laptop likely lacks vt-x & only has 4GB, so you'd need VB 5 & lightest 32bit guests.

I can appreciate your desire to make this laptop viable via Linux, given a $0 budget!

P. S. +1 #3: Web-search: install linux without accessing the bios
Also, you might edit thread title (edit #1 & "Go Advanced") to something like:
Broken screen: can't get bios on external monitor, to boot linux usb. dell studio 1745

I'm curious what city/area you are in (maybe some locals might help)

The link below indicates that the neosmart utility EasyBCD can boot from an iso on the hard drive so you might take a look at that link. I have not used it myself so don't know the limitations.

https://neosmart.net/wiki/easybcd/po...es/iso-images/

FNGlearning,

Welcome to LQ forums.

Learn more about switching from Windows 10 to Linux:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...al-boot-38956/

Is the problem that you don't see bios on external monitor? If so I can see how that would make it tricky.... if you knew exactly what appeared you might be able to do it blind....

Another idea if that's the issue - can you disconnect the hard drive, maybe then it'll default to USB to boot? Then once booted hotplug the hard drive back in to install linux on it.

1 members found this post helpful.

Okay, first of all, you guys are awesome!
I have learned a valuable lesson about posting a question, second of all.
no virtualization without access to the bios. indeed I cannot make changes to the bios because of the broken screen. without virtualization enabled in the bios, I cannot even use wsl. nor can I use the software to use iso directly from Windows. PROPS TO THE ALMIGHTY GITHUB. JWL247 is my handle in RL.
Dell only says my old arse Studio 1745 is no longer supported. I barely have win10slow(pro) operational, hence the Linux solution, which I found is the common denominator in everything I've been doing.
(NEW DEVELOPMENT) An altruistic soul has given me (to borrow) a brand new Asus Tuff gaming A17. However, Like a dog with a bone, I must continue the endeavor.

I'm looking for educational opportunities in this field suggestions are welcomed wholeheartedly.

THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN TODAY IM GOING TO DISCONNECT THE DRIVE AND SEE IF IT'LL BOOT FROM USB.

I tried searching: screen is broken can't get to the bios on external, which found a few hacks and whatnots,,, maybe they'll help?
🤔🤞

Otherwise a screen replacement may be cheap...