Install Mandriva-2007 Linux Distro Without Any Dvd

[kpicindia]

This method is applicable if you have already got Windows installed in your PC and want to dual boot with Linux.

The purpose is to automate an installation of Mandriva without using any DVD (even for booting!). You will agree- installing from Hard Disk is the wiser option from many angles.

Step 1. First of all, you will have to copy the Mandriva installation ISO files to your hard disk, say under C:\.. As far as Mandriva-2007 is concerned its installer can detect iso-s in even NTFS partitions. So need not worry about this point.

Step 2. Now use winrar (or UltraIso) to open the ISO file .
Extract the files “vmlinuz” and “all.rdz” from the alt1 (or alt0) folder inside isolinux of installer iso.

Copy these to your C:\boot.

Hint: You have to enable ‘ show hidden files and folders” and disable “ hide protected operating system files” from the folder options to view the C:\boot folder . If there is none, create one.

Step 3. Now, download “grub4dos” from www.sourceforge.net/projects/grub4dos.
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:\.

Add the following lines in the “menu.lst” file (open it in notepad) in the grub folder under C:\boot.---


title Mandriva Install
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz vga=788 splash=silent automatic=method:disk
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/all.rdz

Step 4. Now you have to add grub to your C:\boot.ini file. Open boot.ini and add this line in the end:

C:\grldr=”Start GRUB”

Save boot.ini file.(if you cannot save, “disable” the “read only” attribute in properties)

Step 5. Restart. From the windows boot menu pick “Start GRUB” and from the GRUB menu “Mandriva Install”. Select option of installation source -”Hard Disk”- step by step select the specific disk and partition and enter the name of the Directory where you have kept the iso. Next, select the name of the iso file as source file of installation from in the last menu.

The installation will now continue as per your choice.

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.

I have successfully installed MANDRIVA-2007 from a DVD iso with this method.

Happy exploring!!!

[DukeNukem]

there is a thread for what you did, already.
(Install fedora core/suse without CD's ) from blackpearl

[Ramakrishnan]

one of our esteemed members have already written about this method.