9 replies to this topic

[Holmes.Sherlock]

I'm trying to install Linux( Fedora 9, to be precise) from installation files kept in directory onto my hard disk. There are lots of tutorials floating around to guide to do this but from ISO files kept in hard disk. This can be done form real GRUB or GRUB4DOS bootloader without any pain. But as u understand, my problem is a bit different. Can anybody help me out?

[Wonko the Sane]

I'm trying to install Linux( Fedora 9, to be precise) from installation files kept in directory onto my hard disk. There are lots of tutorials floating around to guide to do this but from ISO files kept in hard disk. This can be done form real GRUB or GRUB4DOS bootloader without any pain. But as u understand, my problem is a bit different. Can anybody help me out?

There should also be some info about booting the install from USB stick with "flat" directory structure (which should be functionally equivalent to the setup you have).

Like here:
http://fedoraproject..._a_physical_DVD

Try doing this kind of thing in a VM and see in what the files on USB differs from what you have made.

Posting an actual reason why you want to not use the .iso image method would be interesting, however.


Wonko

[Holmes.Sherlock]

Posting an actual reason why you want to not use the .iso image method would be interesting, however.

Wonko. u r always so inquisitive . But I like it, anyway.
I need to do so bcoz my frnd owns a computer which has got no CD/DVD drive. The ISO of Fedora Core 9+ takes ~4GB, means the only way to transfer the ISO is by a USB drive of size >=4GB, which again we don't have. One possible workaround could be to transfer all the required file by a 2GB pen drive in two separate attempts & then create the ISO using ISOLINUX on the destination computer. The are problems with this are:

1) That computer, I mean y friend's house is not within my reach. He lives in a different state & what I have to suggest him is over telephone.
2) He is not as technically proficient as to create an ISO on his own.
3) The process is hectic.

Now, did u get the picture clear?

[Holmes.Sherlock]

Booting to a live environment is not my aim & Unetbootin won't do bcause of the above restriction of the size of pen drive he has.

[Wonko the Sane]

Now, did u get the picture clear?

Alas only a small part of the picture.

HOW did you (or plan to) transfer the files to that machine (that besides having not a CD ROM drive, being in an unfortunately isolated place where you cannot borrow a bigger USB stick or an el-cheapo USB to IDE or SATA converter, it probably has not network or anyway there is NOT another computer available to network it with)?

WHERE (I mean on which media) are currently saved the files (or the .iso)? I mean if they are on your hard disk, and your friend is in another state, short of telepathy or dictating and typing in a hex editor over the phone , HOW do you plan to transfer/transmit them?


Wonko

[Icecube]

I guess your friend doesn't has internet access on that PC, else he could try a net installation of Fedora.
In that case he can also try Fedora 11 via: BKO

Why can't you just split the iso in 2 or 3 parts which can be put on the USB stick. After transfering the different parts, you can "paste" the pieces back together, so you have the full iso. Doing a checksum of the rebuild iso, will be a good idea.

In linux you can easily split the file in for example 1800MiB chucks:

$ split -d -b 1800M fedora9.iso fedora9.iso.part

You can paste the iso together with:

$ cat fedora9.iso.part* > fedora9.iso

You can find filesplitters for windows too.

Or you can use the split function of 7-zip (the compression/decompression step will make it slower of course).

[Holmes.Sherlock]

Alas only a small part of the picture.

HOW did you (or plan to) transfer the files to that machine (that besides having not a CD ROM drive, being in an unfortunately isolated place where you cannot borrow a bigger USB stick or an el-cheapo USB to IDE or SATA converter, it probably has not network or anyway there is NOT another computer available to network it with)?

WHERE (I mean on which media) are currently saved the files (or the .iso)? I mean if they are on your hard disk, and your friend is in another state, short of telepathy or dictating and typing in a hex editor over the phone , HOW do you plan to transfer/transmit them?


Wonko

Can u stop ur foolish jokes? My frnd owns a laptop armed with a DVD drive & also a Fedora 9 DVD. The files can be copied to the hard drive by a 2GB pen drive in 2-3 attempts.

[Holmes.Sherlock]

I guess your friend doesn't has internet access on that PC, else he could try a net installation of Fedora.

Actually he has an Internet connection but not a broadband one. The rest of ur idea is worth considering. Thank u Icecube.

[Wonko the Sane]

Can u stop ur foolish jokes?

They were not at all foolish jokes, they were an attempt (that worked ) of extracting from you the needed info:

My frnd owns a laptop armed with a DVD drive & also a Fedora 9 DVD. The files can be copied to the hard drive by a 2GB pen drive in 2-3 attempts.

without recurring to torture.

Have you ever seen an episode of MacGyver?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacGyver
Before making in an uncoventional way a ground-to-air missile with, say, a few bamboo's, a chichen's bone, a scrapped can of motor oil, etc .... he does an inventory:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory
of everything he can put his hands on and then he finds the solution.

The easiest, (besides the splitting solution posted by Icecube ) would be to connect the two machines together, presuming that both machines do have a network card, all would be needed is a patch cable (or an expendable crossover cable that can be modified ).



Wonko

[Holmes.Sherlock]

The easiest, (besides the splitting solution posted by Icecube ) would be to connect the two machines together, presuming that both machines do have a network card, all would be needed is a patch cable (or an expendable crossover cable that can be modified ).

Sorry for being rude in my previous post. But we have to live within the constraints. He doesn't posses a patch cable, too.