OK I have an older system that I want to set up as a fileserver but that doesn't matter. Is there a way to install redhat 8 without a cd or floppy drive? I have the 3 cds for installing on a 12 gig hd with a 2 gig fat partition and the rest unalocated. SO is there a way for me to install it ? Or will i need to rip apart my xp machine to use the floppy from it?(don't want to do it)(hp's have no room inside)

Oh yea I can make the 12 gig hd bootable with dos can I do it for redhat? Obviously this is my fist try at linux.

I don't think so. There is an "Install from Hard Drive" option but you still need a boot diskette to do it. You have to boot from that to be able to choose this option.

If the old system will boot from a CD, the easiest thing to do would be to pop-in a CD or DVD for the install. If you won't, you'll need a boot diskette and a CD drive.

nope it wont boot from cd .. how about this if i were to set it up in my xp machine and then move the hd to the other system after its finished? If I do that with windows it nothing but trouble. how will linux take it?

You mean put the 12 gig dirve in the XP box and install Linux on it?

I don't think that will work. RH will want to put its boot records in the MBR on the master drive on the first IDE channel (we are talking IDEs I assume) or on the linux boot partitionn (the temp HD). In the latter case, I think you will have to have a linux boot diskette to start up. In the former, the MBR with the linux boot info is going to be on another machine so it won't work..

You can buy floppy and CD drives for about 20 bucks each. Save yourself the pain.