Arch Linux

castor

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2022-03-14

Posts: 24

Website

(closed) Install os without usb / dvd.

Hello,
I want to install windows 7 on an old laptop without usb / dvd drive.
Right now there is arch running on the machine. And I am downloading the iso.

The laptop has one ssd.
Can I just make a partition, put the bootable iso into that partition with dd if=windows.iso of=/dev/sda4
and then boot from /dev/sda4 and install the os to /dev/sda1-3?

Thanks for any help.

Last edited by castor (2022-05-31 11:27:45)

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 13,392

Re: (closed) Install os without usb / dvd.

There's much more preparation needed then that, usually it's done by the manufacturer before the ssd is put in the laptop.

Does the laptop have any usb ports ?

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

castor

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2022-03-14

Posts: 24

Website

Re: (closed) Install os without usb / dvd.

yes, but I didn't have a usb stick.
but nvm, i just bought one.

however i have done installations without usb stick or dvd. i had a hdd and ssd installed on the laptop and burned the arch install iso to the harddrive using it as boot media.

i close is.

but i don't know what you mean by much more preparation.
i will just install win7 from.a bootable usb.stick onto the ssd. i hope and believe this will work.

Lone_Wolf

Administrator

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 13,392

Re: (closed) Install os without usb / dvd.

The archinstall iso is specially crafted to boot using multiple methods, windows install images were a lot more restricted .

I know from own experience windows vista and before could only be installed from a harddrive through a specially crafted partition on an internal drive hdd .
microsoft did provide the software to create such an image, but not pre-made images.

Installing from an external drive like an usb stick was impossible even with those methods.

I wasn't sure if windows 7 images allowed installing from usb, but a search shows they do.

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2022-05-31 11:44:37)

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

clean chroot building not flexible enough ?
Try clean chroot manager by graysky

castor

Member

From: Europe

Registered: 2022-03-14

Posts: 24

Website

Re: (closed) Install os without usb / dvd.

i installed windows 10 from a downloadable iso recently. i think i used a tool called rufus to burn the image to usb.
but i am not sure.

i'll just try.

hope i'll find linux software to create bootable win7 usb media.
or rufus running on linux.

edit:
found this:
archlinux wiki, list of applications, disk image writing
github, windows2usb

i think i even used this before

Last edited by castor (2022-05-31 15:17:26)