Install Windows over Ethernet?

[Reacon]

So I built my computer, using all of my present money. Only, unfortunately, the DvD drive I have is not working. Is there a way to keep an image on the hard disk of another computer, and install from a direct ethernet connection?

[____]

I've used these instructions with Vista and 7 and they work great.

[+InsaneNutter MVC]

Do you have a USB flash drive that is at least 4 gigs?

Even a USB hard drive should work fine, follow this tutorial and you will have Wndows 7 installed in no time.

I must have installed Windows 7 on 10+ computer like that, it works perfectly every time aslong as the computer can boot from USB. (Most computers built in the last few years should have no problems doing this)

I believe it is possible to install over a network however you have to ask someone else exactly how that is done.

[intrinity1]

I put the image on my flash drive and was able to install flawlessly. I now use it as my only method and have since done away with the disc.

[Reacon]

Don't have a flash drive, that's the problem.

I've used these instructions with Vista and 7 and they work great.

Workin on this. Thanks.

[Auditor]

Don't have a flash drive, that's the problem.

Flash drive is best bet. I use it myself to install windows 7. You can buy 4 GB flash driver for around $10-$15. If you dont have money to buy then atleast you can borrow it from some.

[primexx]

Do you have a USB flash drive that is at least 4 gigs?

Even a USB hard drive should work fine, follow this tutorial and you will have Wndows 7 installed in no time.

I must have installed Windows 7 on 10+ computer like that, it works perfectly every time aslong as the computer can boot from USB. (Most computers built in the last few years should have no problems doing this)

I believe it is possible to install over a network however you have to ask someone else exactly how that is done.

command prompt? looks overly complicated.

the istartedsomething tutorial is much easier http://www.istartedsomething.com/20081104/tip-make-your-pdc-2008-usb-hard-drive-a-bootable-windows-7-install-disk/

[TemperingPick]

command prompt? looks overly complicated.

the istartedsomething tutorial is much easier http://www.istartedsomething.com/20081104/tip-make-your-pdc-2008-usb-hard-drive-a-bootable-windows-7-install-disk/

All you are doing is copy and pasting some commands...

[Prt Scr]

If you want to install Windows at the highest speed, then you can use PLoP boot manager http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanager.html

You can also fast boot BartPE or WinPE using this, its the fastest you will likely see windows boot ever :)

USB key is easier than DVD or CD now, far faster and you can reuse it, no reason you shouldnt go out and buy a usb drive, theyre giving away 4gb usb keys here in oz, they cost nothing.

* format the usb key as fat32

* install grub to mbr, copy grldr to usb key and default menu.lst to usb key(or create blank one in notepad)

* copy plpbt.bin to usb key

* extract windows 7/Vista ISO to root of usb key

* add entries to menu.lst

for example the line i use in menu.lst to install Windows 7 is:

title  Install Windows 7
find --set-root /bootmgr
chainloader /bootmgr

then i have the plop lines in menu.lst

title PLoP Boot Manager(Fast USB2 Boot For BartPE/WinPE and Windows installs) 
find --set-root /plpbt.bin
kernel /plpbt.bin

* set bios to boot from usb key

* select PLoP when grub boots

* arrow down in PLoP and select USB

This will then send you back to the main grub menu

* Select Install Windows 7 from menu

* Install Windows as normal

Note: If you have a USB keyboard, the minute you use PLoP and select USB, the keyboard will not work (until you hit windows setup)

So to get around this:

* Boot the key and arrow down to the Install Windows 7 entry in the menu and note its item number in the top right corner of the grub menu.

* Boot back into normal windows

* Open menu.lst on usb key and add these lines at top:

timeout X
default XX

where X is a second value, i.e. 30 for 30 seconds, or 15 for 15 seconds etc

and XX is the grub menu item number for Install Windows 7 you noted earlier.

Using this new setup you:

* Select PLoP when grub boots

* Arrow down in PLoP and select USB

This will then send you back to the main grub menu

* Sit back for 30 (or however many seconds you set in timeout value)

* Watch as your default (Windows setup) starts automatically

* Install Windows

The only downside with setting the grub default is that you can obviously only have one default. I mostly boot the WinPE stuff, so i leave the default set to my most commonly used PE build on the usb key. If i need to change it to PLoP boot a different PE or Windows 7/Vista setup, its a matter of seconds to change it in notepad...Just make note of each menu entries item number and you can change it as you like.

Just for example my entire menu.lst , using my 8Gb key,is:

default 7
timeout 19

title Ramload XP PE                                    
map (hd0,0)/RAMPE.ISO (hd32)
map --hook
chainloader (hd32)

title Ramload Vista PE                                 
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /VISTAPE.ISO
map /VISTAPE.ISO (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader /BOOTMGR

titel Ramload WINPE 3                                  
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /WINPE3.ISO
map /WINPE3.ISO (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader /BOOTMGR

title Install Windows Vista SP2                        
find --set-root /bootmgr
chainloader /bootmgr

title Install XP - Step 1                              
find --set-root /XP.ISO
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --mem /firadisk.ima (fd1)
map --mem (md)0x6000+800 (fd0)
map --mem /XP.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
dd if=(fd1) of=(fd0) count=1
chainloader (0xff)

title Install XP - Step 2 (after reboot from Step 1)   
find --set-root /XP.ISO
map (hd0) (hd1)
map (hd1) (hd0)
map --mem /XP.ISO (0xff)
map --hook
chainloader (hd0)+1

title Ultimate Boot CD (UBCD) v5.01 (DOS)            
find --set-root /UBCD/ubcd501.iso
map /UBCD/ubcd501.iso (hd32)
map --hook
root (hd32)
chainloader (hd32)

title The Ultimate Boot CD for Windows                 
find --set-root /BARTPE/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN
chainloader /BARTPE/I386/SETUPLDR.BIN

title PLoP Boot Manager(Fast USB2 Boot For WinPE) 
find --set-root /PLOP/plpbt.bin
kernel /PLOP/plpbt.bin


title Boot from Hard Drive - Windows XP (NTLDR)     
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
map () (hd0)
map (hd0) ()
map --rehook
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr
savedefault --wait=2

title Boot from Hard Drive - Windows Vista/7 (BOOTMGR)
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
map () (hd0)
map (hd0) ()
map --rehook
find --set-root --ignore-floppies --ignore-cd /bootmgr
chainloader /bootmgr
savedefault --wait=2

It does have a nicer display, with headings etc, in real life, but the forum here wont allow posting the extended characters.....

[Prt Scr]

Oh, for those wondering how easiest to install grub to the usb key..

Grab RMPREPUSB from http://www.boot-land.net/forums/index.php?noref=1&showtopic=7739

* Run it

* Select your usb key

* Press "Install GRUB bootloader"

* Exit

It does a lot of other stuff, but i used it once and got used to doing everything manually as i have a lot multibooting on the key

and its easy to screw up your key with this utility if you do not know exactly what you are doing...

[MS Bob 11]

Assuming you are installing Windows Vista/7, try this: mount the ISO as a drive letter and share the drive. Start Setup on the other computer. It will require the ethernet till the "copying files" stage only. Once it reboots after that, it expands them and detects hardware.