Update Sorry, Question has multiple parts see below for details:
I have been using Windows for many years and only used Linux from the command line, but want to shift after realizing Windows is sloowww.
Following http://mightydreams.blogspot.in/2007/09/i-am-describing-here-method-to-install.html and http://www.instantfundas.com/2007/08/install-any-linux-distro-directly-from.html
Is there a better set of instructions? (I do not have a USB or CD/DVD)
Have got "debian-7.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso" and disks 2 & 3 and renamed 1 to d1.iso
. Step 2 says to copy vmlinuz
and initrd.gz
to the \C drive
But I found these files in 3 places (I did a 7z.exe l -path-to-iso- >files.list
)
install.amd\gtk\vmlinuz
install.amd\vmlinuz (update plan on using this but stuck at grub see below)
install.amd\xen\vmlinuz
And similarly:
install.amd\initrd.gz
install.amd\xen\initrd.gz
install.amd\gtk\initrd.gz
Which one to use?
Stuck at grub …
Made the entry using bcdedit but it says grub is not valid. downloaded grub from the sourceforge site, copied it and pointed to it
bcdedit /create /d Linux /application OSLOADER
bcdedit /set {c1e718e7-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29} device partition=c:
bcdedit /set {c1e718e7-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29} path \grub\grub.exe
bcdedit -v
Gives me
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default {c1e718e2-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
resumeobject {c1e718e1-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
displayorder {c1e718e2-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
{c1e718e7-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
toolsdisplayorder {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout 30
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {c1e718e2-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7
locale en-US
inherit {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence {c1e718e3-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {c1e718e1-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
nx OptIn
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {c1e718e7-3d90-11e1-a4c8-b5a356ae5e29}
device partition=C:
path \grub\grub.exe
description Linux
Best Answer
Debian is my personal favorite distribution. However, I have been using Linux for more than a decade and know my way around it. It is not the best distro to start with. Since you are new to Linux, I would recommend LinuxMint instead. It is based on Ubuntu which is based on Debian. It is easier to use without losing any of Debian's power or stability.
If you really really want to stick to a pure Debian, go for Linux Mint Debian, which is based directly on Debian, not Ubuntu and is a Debian in all ways. Everything you've read about Debian applies to LMDE as well. It just is slightly easier to install and configure, still not a beginner distro though.
Now, that said, the easiest way to install Debian from Windows is win32-loader:
You may also be interested in reading the Debian installation guide. Specifically sections 4.4. Preparing Files for Hard Disk Booting and Chapter 5. Booting the Installation System.