castaway
11-16-2006, 03:13 AM
22 November 2006: Directions for non-standard Windows-XP installation added. See Notes #4 and 5.
Installing Debian Etch with Windows-XP -- no Floppy, no Cdrom Required
After bhobjj's post:
http://www.linuxagora.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=465
I used "GRUB for NTLDR" to install Sarge, Etch, SUSE and Ubuntu. It is an easy process for neophyte and pro alike. The details are described by Herbert:
http://marc.herbert.free.fr/linux/win2linstall.html
His article describes how to use GRUB for NTLDR (NT LoaDeR) to install linux directly to your hard drive using only an internet connection. (If you want to use his procedure, see Note #6 below for an easier way to edit Win-XP's boot.ini file.)
The process has been automated and is available as instlux:
http://instlux.sourceforge.net
Of the three available instlux versions, only one (Ubuntu) installs directly from the internet. The two other versions are simply cdrom-installers for Ubuntu or SUSE.
By combining Herbert's method with instlux, you can install ANY linux distribution with minimal file preparatory file downloads. Directions for Debian Etch are given below.
***PROCEDURE***
1. Install a boot manager. (See Note #1.)
2. Create root and swap partitions for your linux installation. Use a DOS/Windows partitioning program such as Partition Magic. (See Note #2.)
3. Create a folder, labeled "Debian", on you Desktop.
4. Download the program "instluxNETUbuntu6_06english.exe". Copy it to your Debian directory.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=151507&package_id=192787&release_id=424139
5. Obtain the netboot installer files for Debian Etch:
http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-i386/rc1/images/netboot/debian-installer/i386/
..1) Download two files, "linux" and "initrd.gz." Copy them to the Debian folder.
..2) Navigate to the pxelinux.cfg subdirectory.
..3) Download "default". Copy it to the Debian folder. The default file contains the entries needed for the Debian menu.lst file.
6. Run "instluxNETUbuntu6_06english.exe".
7. Navigate to the C:\instluxNETUbuntu6_06 subdirectory. Delete both files. Replace them with "linux" and "initrd.gz" from your Debian folder.
8. Modify the version of C:\menu.lst installed by instalux.
(See Note #3 for versions of menu.lst. )
..1) Replace the title line with "title My Debian Etch Installer". (Do not use quotation marks.)
..2) Delete the distribution_specific_options modifiers "root=/dev/ram0 devfs=mount,dall ramdisk_size=17000" used by Ubuntu.
Your Debian-specific version of menu.lst should read as follows:
title My Debian Etch Installer
kernel (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/linux
initrd (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/initrd.gz
See Note #4 to determine if you must change the grub partition references (hd0,0).
9. Reboot Win-XP and select "Ubuntu 6.06 installer" from the Win-XP boot menu. Then choose "My Debian Etch Installer" from the grub boot menu. Installation will begin.
If installation does not begin and you get an error message instead, see Note #4. You most likely are using an incorrect grub partition reference for your WinXP partition.
10. During the linux installation procedure:
..1) Choose manual modification of partitions. Select the partitions you have created as installation sites for the root and swap partitions.
..2) Install grub on the ROOT partition, NOT the master boot record (MBR).
11. When you have successfully completed the installation of Etch, remove your automated installation program files:
..1) Choose to accept the "Uninstall instlux" message when you first log on to Win-XP. (You can safely ignore it until you are ready to remove the program.) This will completely remove all vestiges of the instlux program and return boot.ini to its original version. Or:
..2) Right click Start, then select Open > Programs > Startup. Click on the "instlux-uninst.exe" icon.
***NOTES***
#1. You should install a boot manager that resides in neither linux nor windows if you are going to experiment with different operating systems. On IDE drives (it will not work on SATA drives) I use an old version of OSL2000 installed on the MBR. With SATA drives I use Partition Magic's boot manager installed in its own primary DOS 7.1 partition. If you must use a boot manager that resides in NTFS, I heartily recommend AGAINST Acronis boot manager.
#2. If you are installing linux on a hard disk with Win-XP as the sole operating system, or a disk which has been previously partitioned with DOS, then you MUST set up your new linux partitions with a DOS or windows partitioning program. If you perform this task in linux, there is a good possibility than linux will overwrite the end of your Win-XP partition. You will then damage BOTH partitions.
#3. The menu.lst file.
Herbert's generic menu.lst:
title My Linux installer of choice
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/your_linux_kernel_filename distribution_specific_options
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/your_ramdisk_filename
Ubuntu's menu.lst:
title Ubuntu 6.06 installer
kernel (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/linux root=/dev/ram0 devfs=mount,dall ramdisk_size=17000
initrd (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/initrd.gz
Debian's menu.lst:
You must modify C:\menu.lst (Step #8 above) so it contains the Debian linux_kernel_filename and the Debian ramdisk_file name. (This is not necessary since they are the same for Debian Etch and Ubuntu.) Delete the distribution_specific_options modifiers since Etch has none.
#4. The grub reference to the partition on which WinXP is installed, hd0,0, is for the "standard" installation where WinXP is on the first partition. If your WinXP installation is non-standard, you will get an "Error 17: File Not Found" message when you try to run "My Debian Etch Installer" from the instlux WinXP boot menu. (If you are using incorrect linux boot files, you will also get an error message.)
To determine what the correct grub entry should be (familiar linux users see Note #5 instead):
1) Remove the instlux program. See Step # 11.
2) Reinstall instlux. See Step #6.
3) Make NO modifications in the instlux files. You are going to use the original Ubuntu installation procedure which is "guaranteed" to be correct.
4) Reboot your computer and select "Ubuntu 6.06 installer" from the instlux WinXP boot menu.
..1) If installation of Ubuntu starts, hit the computer's Reset button to stop. YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE HARD DRIVE REFERENCE hd0,0 IS CORRECT.
..2) If you receive the Error 17 message again, then YOUR GRUB HARD DRIVE REFERENCE hd0,0 IS DEFINITELY INCORRECT.
5) Use the trial & error method to determine the correct reference:
..1) Modify c:\menu.lst, and change both references for hd0,0 to hd0,1. Make no other changes. Then reboot. If that doesn't work,
..2) Change the two references to hd0,2. Reboot. Continue to repeat step 5.1, using hd0,3, etc. until successful.
6) Once you have the correct grub reference for you WinXP partition, return to the original Debian directions above. This time, when making changes to menu.lst in Step #8, ALSO change the two partition references to the correct references determined in Note #4.5 in this section.
#5. The familiar linux user can quickly determine the correct partition reference for instlux by running linux's cfdisk. Identify the partition on which WinXP is installed. Then while you are modifying menu.lst in Step #8 above, also correct the two grub partition references. Remember to use the grub partition format for the partition: change from the cfdisk format, hda2, to the grub format, hd0,1, by adding -1.
#6. Herbert's procedure can be simplified for those unfamiliar with DOS. You can edit Win-XP's boot.ini file by clicking Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup & Recovery > Settings > Edit. After you have finished installing linux, repeat the above sequence and remove your supplemental text.
Installing Debian Etch with Windows-XP -- no Floppy, no Cdrom Required
After bhobjj's post:
http://www.linuxagora.com/vbforum/showthread.php?t=465
I used "GRUB for NTLDR" to install Sarge, Etch, SUSE and Ubuntu. It is an easy process for neophyte and pro alike. The details are described by Herbert:
http://marc.herbert.free.fr/linux/win2linstall.html
His article describes how to use GRUB for NTLDR (NT LoaDeR) to install linux directly to your hard drive using only an internet connection. (If you want to use his procedure, see Note #6 below for an easier way to edit Win-XP's boot.ini file.)
The process has been automated and is available as instlux:
http://instlux.sourceforge.net
Of the three available instlux versions, only one (Ubuntu) installs directly from the internet. The two other versions are simply cdrom-installers for Ubuntu or SUSE.
By combining Herbert's method with instlux, you can install ANY linux distribution with minimal file preparatory file downloads. Directions for Debian Etch are given below.
***PROCEDURE***
1. Install a boot manager. (See Note #1.)
2. Create root and swap partitions for your linux installation. Use a DOS/Windows partitioning program such as Partition Magic. (See Note #2.)
3. Create a folder, labeled "Debian", on you Desktop.
4. Download the program "instluxNETUbuntu6_06english.exe". Copy it to your Debian directory.
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=151507&package_id=192787&release_id=424139
5. Obtain the netboot installer files for Debian Etch:
http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-i386/rc1/images/netboot/debian-installer/i386/
..1) Download two files, "linux" and "initrd.gz." Copy them to the Debian folder.
..2) Navigate to the pxelinux.cfg subdirectory.
..3) Download "default". Copy it to the Debian folder. The default file contains the entries needed for the Debian menu.lst file.
6. Run "instluxNETUbuntu6_06english.exe".
7. Navigate to the C:\instluxNETUbuntu6_06 subdirectory. Delete both files. Replace them with "linux" and "initrd.gz" from your Debian folder.
8. Modify the version of C:\menu.lst installed by instalux.
(See Note #3 for versions of menu.lst. )
..1) Replace the title line with "title My Debian Etch Installer". (Do not use quotation marks.)
..2) Delete the distribution_specific_options modifiers "root=/dev/ram0 devfs=mount,dall ramdisk_size=17000" used by Ubuntu.
Your Debian-specific version of menu.lst should read as follows:
title My Debian Etch Installer
kernel (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/linux
initrd (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/initrd.gz
See Note #4 to determine if you must change the grub partition references (hd0,0).
9. Reboot Win-XP and select "Ubuntu 6.06 installer" from the Win-XP boot menu. Then choose "My Debian Etch Installer" from the grub boot menu. Installation will begin.
If installation does not begin and you get an error message instead, see Note #4. You most likely are using an incorrect grub partition reference for your WinXP partition.
10. During the linux installation procedure:
..1) Choose manual modification of partitions. Select the partitions you have created as installation sites for the root and swap partitions.
..2) Install grub on the ROOT partition, NOT the master boot record (MBR).
11. When you have successfully completed the installation of Etch, remove your automated installation program files:
..1) Choose to accept the "Uninstall instlux" message when you first log on to Win-XP. (You can safely ignore it until you are ready to remove the program.) This will completely remove all vestiges of the instlux program and return boot.ini to its original version. Or:
..2) Right click Start, then select Open > Programs > Startup. Click on the "instlux-uninst.exe" icon.
***NOTES***
#1. You should install a boot manager that resides in neither linux nor windows if you are going to experiment with different operating systems. On IDE drives (it will not work on SATA drives) I use an old version of OSL2000 installed on the MBR. With SATA drives I use Partition Magic's boot manager installed in its own primary DOS 7.1 partition. If you must use a boot manager that resides in NTFS, I heartily recommend AGAINST Acronis boot manager.
#2. If you are installing linux on a hard disk with Win-XP as the sole operating system, or a disk which has been previously partitioned with DOS, then you MUST set up your new linux partitions with a DOS or windows partitioning program. If you perform this task in linux, there is a good possibility than linux will overwrite the end of your Win-XP partition. You will then damage BOTH partitions.
#3. The menu.lst file.
Herbert's generic menu.lst:
title My Linux installer of choice
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/your_linux_kernel_filename distribution_specific_options
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/your_ramdisk_filename
Ubuntu's menu.lst:
title Ubuntu 6.06 installer
kernel (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/linux root=/dev/ram0 devfs=mount,dall ramdisk_size=17000
initrd (hd0,0)/instluxNETUbuntu6_06/initrd.gz
Debian's menu.lst:
You must modify C:\menu.lst (Step #8 above) so it contains the Debian linux_kernel_filename and the Debian ramdisk_file name. (This is not necessary since they are the same for Debian Etch and Ubuntu.) Delete the distribution_specific_options modifiers since Etch has none.
#4. The grub reference to the partition on which WinXP is installed, hd0,0, is for the "standard" installation where WinXP is on the first partition. If your WinXP installation is non-standard, you will get an "Error 17: File Not Found" message when you try to run "My Debian Etch Installer" from the instlux WinXP boot menu. (If you are using incorrect linux boot files, you will also get an error message.)
To determine what the correct grub entry should be (familiar linux users see Note #5 instead):
1) Remove the instlux program. See Step # 11.
2) Reinstall instlux. See Step #6.
3) Make NO modifications in the instlux files. You are going to use the original Ubuntu installation procedure which is "guaranteed" to be correct.
4) Reboot your computer and select "Ubuntu 6.06 installer" from the instlux WinXP boot menu.
..1) If installation of Ubuntu starts, hit the computer's Reset button to stop. YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE HARD DRIVE REFERENCE hd0,0 IS CORRECT.
..2) If you receive the Error 17 message again, then YOUR GRUB HARD DRIVE REFERENCE hd0,0 IS DEFINITELY INCORRECT.
5) Use the trial & error method to determine the correct reference:
..1) Modify c:\menu.lst, and change both references for hd0,0 to hd0,1. Make no other changes. Then reboot. If that doesn't work,
..2) Change the two references to hd0,2. Reboot. Continue to repeat step 5.1, using hd0,3, etc. until successful.
6) Once you have the correct grub reference for you WinXP partition, return to the original Debian directions above. This time, when making changes to menu.lst in Step #8, ALSO change the two partition references to the correct references determined in Note #4.5 in this section.
#5. The familiar linux user can quickly determine the correct partition reference for instlux by running linux's cfdisk. Identify the partition on which WinXP is installed. Then while you are modifying menu.lst in Step #8 above, also correct the two grub partition references. Remember to use the grub partition format for the partition: change from the cfdisk format, hda2, to the grub format, hd0,1, by adding -1.
#6. Herbert's procedure can be simplified for those unfamiliar with DOS. You can edit Win-XP's boot.ini file by clicking Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup & Recovery > Settings > Edit. After you have finished installing linux, repeat the above sequence and remove your supplemental text.