Boot Linux Mint from ISO image

rv82
   8 years ago
  0

Note: grub2 must be installed on computer

To boot from ISO image lying on flash drive it's necessary to do next steps:

1. Copy image to flash drive.

2.  Create a simple config file for grub:

menuentry "Start Linux Mint 16 MATE 64-bit" {
    loopback loop /linuxmint-16-mate-dvd-64bit.iso
    set gfxpayload=keep
    linux    (loop)/casper/vmlinuz  file=/cdrom/preseed/linuxmint.seed boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/linuxmint-16-mate-dvd-64bit.iso noeject noprompt --
    initrd    (loop)/casper/initrd.lz
}

Copy this file to flash too.

3. Reboot computer to grub's command line and type this:

set root=(hd1,1)
configfile /grub.cfg

Type , after the menu entry appeared  and enjoy.

Important! GRUB's module loopback.mod have to be loaded preliminarily.

Comments
Zhies 6 years ago

Be careful which ISO you're using before you install it. There was a malicious ISO out there in February 2016. The following page gives more details.

http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=2994

Even way after the issue was fixed, there are still issues. I am using a clean install with the right ISO, and in one instances to update in July 2016 my image attempted to revert back to the February version. I thought that was fishy when I was prompted to revert files back to Feb 2016 files.

rv82 8 years ago

openSUSE, at least 13.1, can be installed similarly. Fragment of grub.cfg:

menuentry 'Installation' --class opensuse --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
set gfxpayload=keep
loopback loop /openSUSE-13.1-DVD-x86_64.iso
echo 'Loading kernel ...'
linuxefi (loop)/boot/x86_64/loader/linux install=hd:////openSUSE-13.1-DVD-x86_64.iso
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrdefi (loop)/boot/x86_64/loader/initrd
}

Important kernel option here is install=hd:////openSUSE-13.1-DVD-x86_64.iso . If necessery, linuxefi and initrdefi can be replaced with linux and initrd.

atamax 8 years ago

Could you edit the title again or add any notification: Mint 16 Mate 64bit with Casper or smtg ...
I'm newbie in the Community and Linux but old unix user (between 1995-2005). I just installed my first Linux (Mint 16 Xfce) and trying to find something usable from Linux sites.

rv82 8 years ago

To remoulder: Title was edited
To april90: This method works when you have bootable grub2, e.g. on flash drive or even on your hard drive. I use it from my hdd

april90 8 years ago

hii, i'm new user of mint.
i want to use Linux Mint 16 "Petra" - Cinnamon (32-bit) in my old PC.
with usb bootable disc, can this step works?

remoulder 9 years ago

You title is misleading as this will only work for ISO's that use casper such as those from mint and ubuntu.