How To Install Suse Without Cd Or Dvd

well...i did it so i thought i'd just share this....maybe someone actually find it useful
this thread is about installing SUSE 10.1 factory (or any other release) without removable media of any kind as double boot to WinXP system.

1. partition

on your WinXP system you need to make space for SUSE installation. just make one row partition, do not worry about swap part or root part. (keep in mind that SUSE is not as small as it used to be 10 years ago...so 6-8Gb would be least appropriate if you planning to use SUSE for day to day tasks)

2. kernel (or what windows during boot would interpret as kernel)

we going to need following files:
initrd
linux
isolinux.cfg
they can be found at:
http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/distributi...ry/inst-source/
or any Internet installation mirror of your choice
these files we need to place in C:\boot folder (you need to create this folder on windows partition. i used C: here since my windows installation is on C partition)

3. GRUB

we need to set up GRUB. there for download grub4dos zip from:
http://sarovar.org/projects/grub4dos/
extract and locate following files:
menu.lst
grldr
we need only these two files.
menu.lst will go to C:\boot\grub folder (you need to make grub folder in C:\boot directory
and grldr we will keep in C:\ directory

4. modifying boot.ini and menu.lst


we start with menu.lst
open it in note pad and copy/paste following in the end of column:
<blockquote>title SUSE Installer (hd0,0)
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/linux vga=normal ramdisk_size=14972 root=/dev/rd/0 rw --
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd</blockquote>
safe and close

now boot.ini

right click on my computer -> properties -> advanced -> settings (in "startup and recovery"block) -> edit (in system startup block)
it will open boot.ini file in noteped.
copy paste following in the end of file:
<blockquote>C:\grldr="Start GRUB"</blockquote>
safe and close
!!don't forget to make backup of boot.ini first!!!just in case

5. last detalies

a) don't forget to ping mirror site of yuor choice for IP address (you need it during installation)
b) write down installation path on the server
(for this particular example :
mirror site: http://ftp.gwdg.de/pub/opensuse/distributi...ry/inst-source/
IP: 134.76.11.100
path: /pub/opensuse/distribution/SL-OSS-factory/inst-source )
c) from device manager write down manufacturer of your network card. it won't be recognized by YAST and you will need to load drivers manually)

REBOOT and follow the YAST


that's it!

*during the installation you will be prompt to make sure that installation CD is inserted...just hit the "back" button. from there you will come to screen where you chose language and location and then to screen where you "load" you drivers for network card (after loading it will ask you to enter device id .... just leave it empty and hit "enter")..and from there ....well...

good luck

** large credit goes to ed_agamemnon who published last year ubuntu install on ubuntu forum

*** sorry for bad english

this thread is about installing SUSE 10.1 factory (or any other release) without removable media of any kind as double boot to WinXP system.
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well...from my last night experiment i found out that you can wipe WinXP partition alltogether...eeey :P

very nice,
this should go to the Howtos section

thanks for reminding me,broch, consider it done

andy

Yes very n1, if the OP has no objections I go place it in the wiki.

Yes very n1, if the OP has no objections I go place it in the wiki.
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WOW...really?wiki?....you have no idea how honored and proud i'd be if my little contribution would make to wiki...
if it works out or not...
thnx anyway