installing iso linux from another HDD

Dominik · 12-15-2003, 08:59 AM

Hi,

I have dowwnloaded the iso linux on an hdd and plan to install it on a second HDD (i have no cd burner).

How should I proceed?

thanks

ac1980 · 12-15-2003, 10:50 AM

Unlickly it's not so easy as it should be, since AFAIK loadlin doesn't allow to boot from a iso image.
I never actually tried it, but this should work, however no warranties of course:
1) be sure the iso image has no whitespace in path nor filename (for ex, name it C:\linux.iso)
2) get a GRUB boot floppy (from a friend with *unix) or the dos version from here http://newdos.yginfo.net/grubdos.htm
DONT INSTALL GRUB ON YOUR MBR NOW
3) run grub from floppy or dos prompt and type this commands to grub prompt:

Code:

chainloader --force (hd0,0)/linux.iso
boot

4) cross your fingers
5) if it boots, give /dev/hdb as target partition.

As an alternative, you can boot from your distro floppy, then mount your iso image and run the installer from there... what distribution r u going 2 install?

Dominik · 12-15-2003, 10:59 AM

Hi ac1980,

thanks for the answer.

i plane to install slackware 9.1 as single os.

ac1980 · 12-15-2003, 11:38 AM

Then, even if the previous didn't work, you'll have no problems: download a boot and root disk from slack site, use them to boot into a console, then type

Code:

mkdir /mnt/win
mount /dev/hda1 /mnt/win
mount -o loop /mnt/win/iso-filename.iso /mnt/cdrom

You now have a (fast!) cdrom in /mnt/cdrom

Code:

cd /mnt/cdrom
setup

> i plane to install slackware 9.1 as single os.
if you have some spare disk space, consider leaving a 2gb partition unused to experiment other distros/os (e.g. *bsd, debian) later on