Install Fedora Core 5/Suse 10 without burning CDs

blackpearl · 13-10-2006, 08:37 PM

Burning 4-5 CDs to install any modern distro like Fedora Core 5 or Suse 10 is a big pain in the neck. This tutorial will teach you how to install FC5 or Suse or any other distro without burning a single CD!!! This method, however, will only work if you already have Windows installed on your system and want to dual boot with Linux.

1. The first thing you will have to do is copy all the ISO files to your hard disk. Make sure that you copy all the files to the root of the partition and the partition must be formatted in FAT32. If you do not copy the ISO to the root of the partition (i.e. keep inside a folder) the setup will not able to detect the files.

2. Now use winrar to open the first ISO file (disc1). Go inside the folder "isolinux" and copy the files initrd.img and vmlinuz to your c:\boot. You will need to enable viewing of hidden and system files in order to locate c:\boot.

3. Now download the file called grub4dos from here. Extract the folder "boot" and the file "grldr" from the downloaded zip file. Inside the folder "boot" is another folder called "grub"; copy this folder to c:\boot. Copy the file "grldr" to c:\

4. Then open c:\boot\grub\menu.lst and add these following lines.

Code:

title Fedora Core 5 Install
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img

5. Now you have to add grub to your c:\boot.ini file. Open boot.ini and add this line in the end:

Code:

C:\grldr=”Start GRUB”

6. You are now ready to install FC5. Restart your PC and from the boot screen select "Start GRUB". This will load GRUB.

7. From the grub screen select "Fedora Core 5 Install". The setup will now start and you can now select the hard drive partition where you copied the ISO files.

Now sit back and let it install. No more burning and wasting discs and even no more changing CDs during install. After the installation is over you can delete the folder c:\boot\grub as well as c:\grldr and also the reference to this file from your boot.ini file, as these are no longer needed.

I just installed FC5 by this method so I can guarantee you that it will work. Enjoy!!!

UPDATE:

For Suse its a bit different. Instead of initrd.img and vmlinuz, you have to copy initrd and linux. So the changes to c:\boot\grub\menu.lst will be this

Code:

title Suse Install
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/linux
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd

Also you have to type the full name of the first ISO when it asks for the path. So write it down before you begin installation.

mediator · 13-10-2006, 09:26 PM

Nice work blackpearl! But it wud have been better if u had structurised it in steps in a well defined manner!

Pathik · 13-10-2006, 09:31 PM

kool thx

adit_sen · 13-10-2006, 10:24 PM

thankx bro...this deserves to be a sticky. been wanting to do this for ages

blackpearl · 14-10-2006, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mediator

Nice work blackpearl! But it wud have been better if u had structurised it in steps in a well defined manner!

Done.

Ankur Gupta · 14-10-2006, 06:36 PM

hey hw do i install FC5 if i have a iso dvd image of it?

gary4gar · 15-10-2006, 10:23 AM

something similar to this http://fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=107298
__________

Quote:

Originally Posted by ankurgupta.me

hey hw do i install FC5 if i have a iso dvd image of it?

then u need to extract the whole image with winrar & keep the orinal image intact! and rest is the same.

and if this fails u can convert dvd into cd's and install with this method

DukeNukem · 19-10-2006, 03:14 PM

though its a nice tut.

I cant install suse usin this method.

blackpearl · 19-10-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeNukem

though its a nice tut.

I cant install suse usin this method.

Read the 2nd part of the tutorial, the "update" part.
If you are not able to install then tell me what problem you have faced.

DukeNukem · 20-10-2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackpearl

Read the 2nd part of the tutorial, the "update" part.
If you are not able to install then tell me what problem you have faced.

thats what i did initially but failed to install SUSE

cant move after choosing HDD as Installation MEDIUM with ISO NAME DEFINED

blackpearl · 20-10-2006, 01:19 PM

Maybe you chose the wrong partition or gave the wrong path. The partitions appear as sda1, sda2, etc. Do not rename the filenames of the ISO. If you have copied it inside a folder you should also specify the folder name like

/folder/disc1.iso

If you copied it to the root of the partition, then just type the file name. I m sure you have mixed up the partition or the filename. It should work.

You might face another problem during the installation so might clear that as well. During installation go into manual partitioning mode. The setup will automatically assign various partitions so don't worry. Just highlight the partition where you have copied the iso files and click "Edit". Now click on the tab "fstab option" and check the box that read "do not mount at startup" or something similar. If you don't do that the installation might fail to proceed.

DukeNukem · 20-10-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackpearl

Maybe you chose the wrong partition or gave the wrong path. The partitions appear as sda1, sda2, etc. Do not rename the filenames of the ISO. If you have copied it inside a folder you should also specify the folder name like

/folder/disc1.iso

If you copied it to the root of the partition, then just type the file name. I m sure you have mixed up the partition or the filename. It should work.

You might face another problem during the installation so might clear that as well. During installation go into manual partitioning mode. The setup will automatically assign various partitions so don't worry. Just highlight the partition where you have copied the iso files and click "Edit". Now click on the tab "fstab option" and check the box that read "do not mount at startup" or something similar. If you don't do that the installation might fail to proceed.

initially i've done same as directed by you but it hasnt helped
then
i extracted all the iso's in a folder and given its path as installation medium path BINGO installation is on its way.

Thanks for prompt replies.

Tech Geek · 20-10-2006, 02:41 PM

A nice one

~Phenom~ · 20-10-2006, 09:20 PM

I have enabled all hidden/system files but there is no "boot" folder in my C:drive.

blackpearl · 21-10-2006, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Phenom~

I have enabled all hidden/system files but there is no "boot" folder in my C:drive.

Uncheck "Hide protected system files (Recommended)"

Nimtshey · 25-10-2006, 12:00 PM

I have FC5 in DVD, now i want to burn this DVD into CD as i don't have DVD ROM in my PC, i have CDRW with ahead nero, ur valuable suggestion and help is highly respected and valued.

Thanks from BHUTAN

hard_rock · 27-10-2006, 03:18 PM

A nice alternative to start grub..

raquez · 30-10-2006, 09:14 AM

I cant view the folder c:\boot even after disabling "Hide protected system files (Recommended)"
I am using WinXP SP2

DukeNukem · 30-10-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raquez

I cant view the folder c:\boot even after disabling "Hide protected system files (Recommended)"
I am using WinXP SP2

Because there is no "Boot " (i cant find it too, don know where blackpearl

had it) folder there. MAKE one yourself

blackpearl · 30-10-2006, 12:16 PM

OK. If you don't have the "boot" folder then you can create it. OR just copy the folder "grub" to c:\ and then add these following lines to c:\grub\menu.lst

Code:

title Fedora Core 5 Install
kernel (hd0,0)/vmlinuz
initrd (hd0,0)/initrd.img

mihirvashist · 30-10-2006, 08:10 PM

hey will it work on a NTFS partition......
besides thnx...
but i won't be able to use it if it can't work in NTFS

crazy_sumi · 30-10-2006, 10:01 PM

Nice one there.........
Someone else in this section told how to burn a single DVD of the images.....
but this is way better!!!!

your reputation just increased!!

blackpearl · 31-10-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihirvashist

hey will it work on a NTFS partition......
besides thnx...
but i won't be able to use it if it can't work in NTFS

I think it will work with NTFS because the setup was able to detect my NTFS partitions. Not sure though. The best way will be to try it out.

mAYHEM · 31-10-2006, 03:31 PM

Mandriva can also be installed from hard disk.Shouldn't the menu.lst file be placed in C:\ [(hda0,0)/menu.lst] ,when using latest versions of GRUB4DOS

DukeNukem · 31-10-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mihirvashist

hey will it work on a NTFS partition......
besides thnx...
but i won't be able to use it if it can't work in NTFS

what r u talking about here installin on ntfs partition or using NTFS partition as source partition
if using NTFS partition as source then answer is "yes it will work"

i've done it througn "GRUB for WINDOWS"

Else

Answer in is NOOOOOOOOOO

SUKHI99 · 31-10-2006, 10:39 PM

plz can u tell me where to find c:\boot.i can't find this one!
help me!

DukeNukem · 02-11-2006, 09:39 AM

its not "boot.i" brother its "boot.ini"
and it is present in the Primary Partition i.e the Boot drive which is usually and always your "C" drive

to see it enable "show hidden files" from folder option or
simlpy
right click on my computer choose "Properties"
then Choose "Advanced" tab (Dont play with it thats why it is called Advanced)

click "Setting" button of "Start up and recovery"

now here you have a "Edit" button which open the "Boot.ini" file for you

Once again dont play with it untill u have proper resource to restore it (in case of #$%^ up

)

AND ONE QUESTION FOR blackperl

I CANT INSTALL FROM ISO's USING THIS METHOD
WHAT CAN BE THE PROBS (and its solu)

TRIED BOTH ON FAT/NTFS PARTITIONS(as Source) AS DIRECTED BUT TO END UP LOOSING FEW HAIRS EVERY TIME.

Though able to install after extracting all iso's in one directory and givng its path at the time of installation both on fat/ntfs drives (as Source)

blackpearl · 02-11-2006, 10:34 AM

@DukeNukem: At what point does the installation terminate? Does it show any message? Also are you trying to install FC5 or Suse? For FC5 installation should be a breeze, but for Suse you might have to tweak a few settings. Look at my following reply earlier

Install Fedora Core 5/Suse 10 without burning CDs

DukeNukem · 02-11-2006, 12:32 PM

forgive me oh mighty lord (blackpearl)

but i have done everything as per your holy Directions

which fails
i am tryin to install SUSE 10.1
installed grub through "Grub for windows"
copied the iso's to root "C" (hd0,0)
enter only iso name (not found is what i get) when asked
when no use
entered as (hd0,0)/iso.iso (not found is what i get)

then oh mighty lord(blackpearl) an idea hit me
i extracted all iso's in a single folder then
when prompted for source
entered folder name and Holy cow Installation begin with your grace after all it was you oh mighty lord, using whose idea i am able to use the beauty of SUSE

once again Thanks oh Mighty Lord(blackpearl)