I've windows xp installed and i've Linux folder(which i copied from linux installation dvd) in c:\linux and i want to install linux from it so i think there r two options,
1.make bootable iso from this folder and write this iso on dvd/cd to install.
2.use windows boot loader to install linux from hard disk.
I tried second option by adding entry c:\grldr="start grub" in boot.ini and copy "grldr in c:\" and copy two files vmlinuz/initrd.img in c:\boot folder and edit entry in menu.lst in c:\boot\grub\menu.lst

title install linux
kernel(hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz
initrd(hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

but it is not installing linux.grub
I will be really appretiate if any body answer this in detail.

I am very confused by what you are asking.

First, If you have a Linux installation DVD, then just boot from that to install Linux. You do not need all those other steps.

Second, you cannot "use the Windows bootloader" to install Linux. First, you install Linux, then you set up the bootloader. (You can configure the Windows loader to point to the Linux bootloader, but not with the steps that you show.)


I'm curious where you got these procedures, but first, just try booting from your Linux DVD to install Linux.

hi
first thanks for reply.
actually i dont have dvd right at the moment.i copied this few months back and i need to create bootable iso from this EL folder.second procedure is availabe on net just write grub4windows and you will see lot of pages,i adopt this from one of them but it didnt install grub.
i hope the problem will be now cleared or feel free to ask.
regards
asim

Agreed!

If I have read the post correctly, what is being asked is how to create a Linux installation cd after copying the installation DVD to a Linux folder on a Windows installation. The second part of the question, is how to dual boot Windows and Linux, using a Windows bootloader.

If those are your questions, then you would have liked to create an iso copy of the installation DVD onto your Windows drive, and then burn that iso to DVD. But, if you have a DVD burner, and it was a borrowed Linux installation DVD, then why didn't you just make a copy of the Linux installation DVD? If you are sure that you have all the files needed, you can make a bootable DVD from the files in the Linux folder...or you can just get the iso image from the Distribution web site and burn that. For the dual boot, you can just load GRUB and add the Windows partition to it...there is good documentation on how to do that and many can help you with it here.

http://www.gnu.org/software/grub/

i only have windows xp installed and have linux folder in c:\linux.
im was unable to create bootable iso using nero burner so if anybody have ideay how to create bootable linux iso kindly reply with detail as im beginner.
or guide me with hard disk installation of linux from windows.

I don't mean to discourage you, but although what you want to do is probably possible, it is not what I would call a beginners task. First of all you need a program mkisofs (make iso filesystem) in a version that will run in xp. I _think_ such a thing exists. Then you need to find out what boot system the original dvd used. There are a few. For a 'livecd' type disk the most common are isolinux and grub, most likely isolinux. You can tell if there is a boot/isolinux or boot/grub directory in you 'linux' folder.

Then you execute a mkisofs command with a lot of switches and paths and options (a real mess). This creates an iso image for a bootable cd/dvd. Because of the way livecd's work one of the important bits of info in that mkisofs command is the volume label to be given to the dvd. And that may be where you're out of luck, because I doubt you know what it was.

You might want to read up on isolinux online. I don't have a link but iirc it's part of the Syslinux project, do a Google and you should find out a lot more.