installing linux

[ajkiwi88]

how can i download and install linux without the use of a cd drive???

and no os system installed

cyaz
andy

[nhanson]

It's been a while since I did so without a CD but I have installed Debian with 3.5" floppies (about 2 years ago.) I know it also has network and USB key (128MB or bigger) installs but I haven't used them. These methods all require a network connection though (preferably broadband) because the media contains absolutely the minimum files required to get the system up and connected to the debian repository where it can download the rest of the system. I'm sure other distros have similar options but I'm not familiar with them.

[ajkiwi88]

have a broadband connection but its connecting through aol....... is it still possible?

[nhanson]

I have no idea if AOL uses some sort of proprietary connection mechanism. If not though and the AOL software just runs on top of a regular connection then you should be fine.

Look here for detailed instructions if you want to give it a try:

http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/i386/

[Byroz]

If your connecting to AOL through the "BT Voyager 105" USB modem, then good look getting it to work in linux, i had a go a while back and i think i did get it to kind of work, but not properly. I would think that it would be the same for any other USB modem when running linux unless there were actual drivers for the modem that worked in linux.

If however you are using a standard Ethernet ADLS modem or ADSL router then you shouldn't really have the same problems as linux should recognize your network as soon as its up and running.

[Overkill]

Get DSL, http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
Put it on a USB drive
Boot off the USB drive (if the computer is not recent enough you need to boot off a floppy that comes with USB drivers to hand over the boot up to the USB pendrive).

This process that I speak of can and probably will be frustrating, but hey, it is a learning experience. Learning == frustration.

[PeOfEo]

have a broadband connection but its connecting through aol....... is it still possible?
You dont need the broadband connection, you can also just use your home network if you have another box and a bootable debian disk