HOW TO:Install Linux without a cd or local source,

Install Linux without a cd or local source, straight from the internet -

'' Ever wanted to install a linux distro but didn't have the cd ?
put this tool on your usb stick that you allways carry around so that
you can make a boot menu like you might know from windows and install
the distro straight of the internet

Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSuse, Arch Linux, or Debian are the
distro's to choose from

bootmenu if you run windows XP :

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]


bootmenu if you run Linux :

[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

ubuntu screenshotbased guide -
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

fedora screenshotbased guide -
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

sourceforge url -
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]


UNetbootin
Introduction

UNetbootin allows for the installation of Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSuse, Arch Linux, or Debian to a real partition, so it's no different from a standard install, only it has the advantage that it needs no CD. This is meant for people who want to install Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSuse, Arch Linux, or Debian but don't have a CD-R to burn, lack a CD writer, or they want to install on a computer that doesn't have a CD-ROM drive, like an ultra-portable laptop.

UNetbootin uses a Windows or Linux-based installer to install a small modification to the bootloader (grldr and boot.ini for NT-based systems, grub.exe and config.sys for Win9x, or grub on Linux), uses the bootloader to boot the netboot initrd and kernel, then uses that to download and install Ubuntu directly from the internet, no CD required. After Linux is installed, the modification to the bootloader is then undone.
Requirements

* Linux, or Microsoft Windows 95-XP (Vista support is in the works)
* A broadband internet connection (dial-up will take way too long to download)
* 3GB or more of spare hard drive space to install Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSuse, Arch Linux, or Debian in

Installation Instructions

HowtoForge has a guide for installing Ubuntu or Fedora using UNetbootin.

Before installing, remember to back up all your data, in case you do something wrong in the partitioning stage of the installer.

1. Download the appropriate file for the distro and version you want to install; if using Windows, use the exe files, if using Ubuntu, Debian, or a deb-based distro, use the deb files, if using Fedora, Suse, or an rpm-based distro, use the rpm file, if using another Linux distribution, use the sh (self extracting) files: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
2. If using Windows, run the file, and click "OK" to reboot.

screenshot
3. If using Linux, install the package, and reboot.

screenshot
4. After rebooting, select the UNetbootin entry from the menu list as the system boots up. If using Windows, this should appear:

screenshot
5. If using Linux, select the UNetbootin entry in the GRUB menu, as shown below:

screenshot
6. Answer the questions asked by the netboot installer, and wait while it downloads and installs 650 MB of packages
7. Reboot, select your newly installed Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, OpenSuse, Arch Linux, or Debian system.

Removal Instructions

1. To undo the changes to the Windows bootloader, simply boot Windows, and the uninstaller should begin. Press "OK", and it will undo the changes, or uninstall manually from "Add/Remove Applications". If using Linux, remove the "unetbootin" package.
2. To remove Ubuntu itself, see this guide: [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Supported Distro Versions

This has only been tested on Ubuntu 7.10, Ubuntu 7.04, Ubuntu 6.10, Ubuntu 6.06, Fedora 7, Mandriva 2007.1, OpenSuse 10.2, Arch Linux, Debian Sid, Debian Lenny, and Debian Etch, though it should work on any other distro that has a netboot/PXE version; simply download the UNetbootin source at the launchpad page, and replace the netboot initrd and kernel files with those of your own distribution.
Ubuntu Instructions

There is a screenshot-based guide for installing Ubuntu or Fedora using UNetbootin at HowtoForge.
Fedora Instructions

If installing Fedora, select "FTP" as the installation source, and for the server, specify:

download.fedora.redhat.com

and for the folder, if using the standard (32-bit) version, specify:

pub/fedora/linux/releases/7/Fedora/i386/os

or if using the 64-bit version, specify:

pub/fedora/linux/releases/7/Fedora/x86_64/os

A Fedora specific guide is available here and here. There is also a screenshot-based guide at HowtoForge.
OpenSuse Instructions

If installing OpenSuse, select "Network -> HTTP" as the installation source, and for the server, specify:

download.opensuse.org

and for the folder, specify:

distribution/10.3/repo/oss/

An OpenSuse specific guide is available here, here, and here.
Mandriva Instructions

If installing Mandriva, select "FTP" as the installation source, and for the server, specify:

ftp.free.fr

and for the folder, if using the standard (32-bit) version, specify:

mirrors/ftp.mandriva.com/MandrivaLinux/official/2008.0/i586

or if using the 64-bit version, specify:

mirrors/ftp.mandriva.com/MandrivaLinux/official/2008.0/x86_64

A Mandriva specific guide is available here and here.
Arch Linux Instructions

If installing Arch Linux, start the installer by entering at the console:

/arch/setup

Then, select "FTP" as the installation source, go to "Network" and configure your network interface, then select a listed FTP mirror in the "Select Packages" section. An Arch Linux specific guide is available here and here. More instructions are also available at the Arch Wiki and Official Installation Guide.
Offline Installation Using Pre-Downloaded Installation Media

Some distributions, such as Fedora, OpenSuse, Mandriva, and Arch Linux, allow you to use packages from your hard drive as the installation media. If you already have the installation (not livecd) iso file downloaded, simply extract it to your hard drive, install UNetbootin, and select "Hard Drive" as the installation source after rebooting. Note that the partition that contains the packages cannot be resized during the installation, so do so beforehand using a tool such as the Partition Manager (download).
Installing Other Distributions Using UNetbootin

Since UNetbootin allows for the usage of unmodified netboot kernel and initrds, it is possible to install any distribution that provides one, such as in the form of a mini-FTP-install iso. If installing another distribution on a one-time usage basis (for packaging and mass distribution, see the section below), first install another distribution using UNetbootin, download the netboot version of the desired distribution (generally available on the FTP server), extract the initrd and kernel files, and replace (on Windows) C:\unetbootin\ubnkern and C:\unetbootin\ubuninit, or (on Linux) /boot/ubnkern and /boot/ubninit with the netboot kernel and initrd files, respectively, then reboot and the installer for the desired distribution should start.
Packaging UNetbootin for Other Distributions

Thanks to UNetbootin's portable architecture, it is easy to add support for other distributions. If you would like to create UNetbootin packages for other distributions, first make sure you have installed the "bzr", "alien", "fakeroot", and "wine" utilities, which are installable through your package manager, then check out the source with the command:

bzr checkout [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

Then add the name of the distribution, referred to here as {distroname}, into the file "targetdistros" in the checked-out source, add the netboot initrd and kernel, with the naming scheme "ubninit-{distroname}" and "ubnkern-{distroname}" into the "initkern" folder, then cd to the source directory, and run the command:

make

Then, the "exe", "deb", "rpm", and "sh" packages for distribution will be created in the "dist" directory.
Known Issues

* Windows Vista is not supported due to its new bootloader which is incompatible with grub4dos
* If you encounter errors on reboot such as "Error 17" or "File not found" at the grub screen, try defragmenting your hard drive and running chkdsk
* If you encounter errors in the Windows portion of the installer, post a question at the UNetbootin Thread on Ubuntuforums.

Source Code and License

UNetbootin is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) Version 2 or above. Source code is available at the launchpad page.
Credits

UNetbootin was created and written by Geza Kovacs (tuxcantfly), contact info. ''