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How to run the Ubuntu ISO live image from Windows without USB or DVD?

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Run Ubuntu ISO live image from Windows BIOS - no USB or DVD

WARNING: although I hadn't any problems, I guess that could be cases, due to some mistake or other reasons, that renders Windows and/or Ubuntu unbootable. My tests where limited.

If there's access to the GRUB console, some problems may be fixed.

Downloads

Setup

  1. Create a primary FAT32 partition with the partition manager, 4GB is enough. This partition will be, in linux, /dev/sda2 because is the second partition. If you got previously more partitions, and for example the FAT created partition is the third, it will be /dev/sda3.

    enter image description here

  2. Mount the ISO image with the CD emulator and copy its content on the FAT partition created.

Install GRUB with WINGRUB

Follow the steps shown in the images:

  1. Select the "default" option and insert a new item:

    enter image description here

  2. Edit the new item:

    enter image description here

  3. Insert the code shown below:

    enter image description here

    Here is the code to copy:

    title Ubuntu
root (hd0,1)
kernel /casper/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda2 boot=casper
initrd /casper/initrd

  4. Save the created menu as MENU.LST:

    enter image description here

    enter image description here

  5. Install GRUB.

    enter image description here

    The System drive, in this cased D, is the Windows name of the FAT partition created. It could be other letter in your system:

    enter image description here

    You won't get any message of successful installation, but it's done.

  6. Reboot and enjoy.

Tested on Windows XP SP2, Xubuntu 18.04 i386.

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    I managed the same thin using Grub2Win, but your method looks a little nicer. askubuntu.com/questions/1290224/…
    – C.S.Cameron
    Jan 21, 2021 at 4:47
  • @C.S.Cameron I wanted to try Grub2Win, but the netbook I used didn't have the display resolution (set to the max) that the program required (?), it just threw an error.
    – schrodingerscatcuriosity
    Jan 21, 2021 at 11:28

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