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I would like to install Ubuntu on my kids' desktop, but there is no DVD player, and the ISO file is too big for the CD's that I have. Any ...
  1. 06-30-2009 #1
    stsinner
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    Is there a way to install on a machine without a DVD player?

    I would like to install Ubuntu on my kids' desktop, but there is no DVD player, and the ISO file is too big for the CD's that I have. Any suggestions? Is there a way I can put a basic boot on there and download the rest?

    Thanks.
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  2. 06-30-2009 #2
    Jonathan183
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    Quote Originally Posted by stsinner View Post
    I would like to install Ubuntu on my kids' desktop, but there is no DVD player, and the ISO file is too big for the CD's that I have. Any suggestions? Is there a way I can put a basic boot on there and download the rest?

    Thanks.
    Live CD (or alternate CD) is one option (unless things have changed drastically), another is Unetbootin ...

    Ed: if the machine will boot from USB then that may also be an option for you. Some more examples here
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  3. 07-01-2009 #3
    stsinner
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jonathan183 View Post
    ive CD(or alternate CD) is one option (unless things have changed drastically), another is Unetbootin[/URL] ...

    Ed: if the machine will boot from USB then that may also be an option for you. Some more examples here
    I made the bootable flash drive, and I went into my BIOS to see if it had that option, and one option was Removable Devices, so I put that above ATAPI HDD, but it didn't boot from the USB drive.. It's an older PIII 800, so booting by USB prolly wasn't in vogue when that was built.. Any other ideas?

    The CD image is 699 Meg, and my CD's are smaller than that by a hair.
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  4. 07-01-2009 #4
    Drunk_Mexican
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    Quote Originally Posted by stsinner View Post
    I made the bootable flash drive, and I went into my BIOS to see if it had that option, and one option was Removable Devices, so I put that above ATAPI HDD, but it didn't boot from the USB drive.. It's an older PIII 800, so booting by USB prolly wasn't in vogue when that was built.. Any other ideas?

    The CD image is 699 Meg, and my CD's are smaller than that by a hair.
    I think Cd-r holds 700 mbs which is just a hair under. I would try to burn the iso onto a CD at a very slow burn rate of 4x or less. Standard CD-R I believe is 700 mbs.... See if it takes...

    If it doesnt there are other options like using a boot floppy (yes I mean floppy disk) or a special install cd called "alternative" but you will have to use the command line a great deal to get it to work.
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  5. 07-01-2009 #5
    Rubberman
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    Since your bios doesn't have a usb boot option, does it have a network boot option? If so, then you can set up one of your other systems to allow it to boot the minimal installation OS from there and then download the rest from the net.
    Sometimes, real fast is almost as good as real time.
    Just remember, Semper Gumbi - always be flexible!
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  6. 07-01-2009 #6
    abi0909
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    Old computers with PIII would not have USB boot options. I would suggest burning the CD in a slower burn speed as the first option. To back this option. I would say you could try the ALTERNATE option. Or Floppy as the third choice.
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  7. 07-01-2009 #7
    Hal343
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    https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...tion/MinimalCD has a very small image to use, then install the rest over the internet.
    Registered Linux User #420832
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  8. 07-02-2009 #8
    rcgreen
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    Are you by any chance copying the file onto the CD?
    If it is burned as an image it should fit.
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