Installing a linux distro directly from an iso on hard disk, with windows 8.1 installed?

Question

I'm trying to install Ubuntu directly from the iso image I downloaded, without burning it to a DVD or flashdrive, following instructions from this article (I have Windows 8.1 installed). This involves modifying windows' boot.ini file. The article is from 2007, however, and as far as I know Windows has changed from using boot.ini since Vista to Boot Configuration Data. I wonder if there is any way to make this still work? Thank you in advance.

By the way, I don't have a DVD-drive, and buying a flashdrive is a bit expensive for me now [insert broke college student joke here], so this is the only way I know of to get Ubuntu installed.

Answer 1

Using linux with Windows 8 could be different from older Windows versions, things like EFI/UEFI and Secure Boot need some special attention. See this question on Installing Ubuntu on a Pre-Installed Windows 8 (64-bit) System (UEFI Supported).

It should be possible to install GRUB (GNU bootloader)onto your hard drive, and have it load the Ubuntu ISO directly from the hard drive too. I haven't installed GRUB from Windows myself, but according to a google search for "install grub from windows" it looks possible. And here are some links & very brief directions about a Multiboot USB:

• Arch's Wiki on Multiboot USBs or pendrivelinux.com directions for linux, for many distros you just copy the ISO file onto the usb and edit grub.cfg. Cliff notes instructions are:

  1. Mount the usb
  2. Install grub
     grub-install --force --no-floppy --boot-directory=/mnt/USB/boot /dev/sdx
     (replacing x with your actual USB device & /mnt/usb with mounted dir)
  3. Put demo grub.cfg ( http://pendrivelinux.com/downloads/multibootlinux/grub.cfg ) in /mnt/USB/boot/grub and edit to match your iso's

  Or see the Ubuntu help on creating & installing from bootable USB's.

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But, easiest answer would be borrowing a USB drive (preferably one with a Ubuntu iso already installed), or borrowing a dvd drive & a Ubuntu DVD would be best. Being a college student, I'd imagine there are lots of other students who have them, maybe even a computer club or linux club that could help you, or even install it with/for you, especially if it's a laptop?

PS. You'd only need a 2GB USB device to DIY, it should cost less than $5. Then you could use a http://www.pendrivelinux.com tool (like YUMI – Your Universal Multiboot Installer or Universal USB Installer) to do it for you.

Answer 2

My advice, if you can't get your hands on a USB drive or a flash drive, but you still want to try Ubuntu, would be to have a look at VirtualBox. You might already know about, in which case I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Without a USB drive or flash drive, I don't think that there is an easy way to install Ubuntu alongside Windows 8, especially if we're talking about UEFI and GPT partition scheme.