Universal Netboot Installer (UNetbootin) is a portable tool for Windows and Linux that can download and install various Linux distributions to a system partition or USB drive without needing to burn the distribution first. It supports dual-boot installs or single installs that replace the master boot record (MBR) completely.
The process itself was designed with ease of use in mind. The user begins by picking a distribution and version from the top pull down menu, roughly 20 Linux Distributions are available currently ranging from Damn Small Linux to Open Suse and Ubuntu.
A homepage link and a short description of the selected Linux operating system is displayed below the selection. Inexperienced users will have troubles selecting a distribution and need to investigate them by going to their websites.
It’s great for users who know which Linux Distribution they want or who want to try different distributions in short time.
The last step of this process is the selection of a hard drive or USB device to install the Linux operating system to.
UNetbootin comes with a few additional features. Instead of picking a distribution from top the user can select an ISO image from his hard drive and install that. There is even a custom option to load kernels / Initrd.
The software program works on all Windows versions from Windows 2000 to Windows Vista and on Linux.
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13 Responses to “Install Linux Without CD”
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I still haven’t found the time to run a test install of Linux that I download almost 18 months ago…it’s obviously going to be out of date now, but with so much else on, trying to make the switch gets delayed on a daily basis. Then, of course, I’ve got friends recommending that I lease a Mac instead…
David if you want to switch do so now. Just install Linux on an USB stick or second partition and use it exclusively after setup. You will soon notice what you like and what is missing. The missing pieces will have to be researched but from what I gather mostly gamers are still at an disadvantage.
I stick with Windows because I need it for my work obviously and because it is comfortable. I know it, i use it, I do not have the time right now to make a switch. It’s in my mind for a few years but I’m probably a bit to lazy to switch yet.
Yeah running from USB is a good idea, give me a chance to have a play without committing and without screwing up my system (which I did with a Linux dual boot on a PC years ago). The main thing that puts me off switching for good either to Linux or Mac is that I have a legit copy of Photoshop for Windows that I’d have to replace.
Thanks. This will be good for installing Ubuntu from USB instead of a CD, thus saving me a disk.
@David: If you are into games then you might want to consider staying on Windows. Most games run on Linux in Wine, but some not so well. If you don’t need games, and don’t have a specific app that ties you to Windows, then I would definitely suggest trying Ubuntu or another linux distro.
If you do have one particular Windows app that you need, write to me (from the Leave A Message form at my site, link below) and I will check if it runs in Wine or if there is a Linux version / Linux alternative available. Here’s my contact link:
http://dotancohen.com/eng/message.php
http://wubi-installer.org
Can this boot to like 6 distros on one USB?
@Jakob: The Wubi installs suffer performance issues, from what I understand. Specifically, they are no more stable than the underlying Windows installation, and naturally the computer needs the resources to run both Windows AND Linux. So where is the advantage?
That said, I personally have never used it so if this information is incorrect (and it might be) then please correct me. I just don’t want people installing Ubuntu via Wubi, seeing the terrible mess, and thinking that is how Ubuntu is.
Yeah, UNetbootin is a great app, I wrote about it a while ago: http://blog.geekblake.22web.net/2008/06/unetbootin-makes-it-easier-to-install-linux/.
Note that for most distros (excluding Slax, puppy linux and maybe a few others) UNetbootin does not actually install the OS to the flash drive or partition you put it on. Instead, is putting the contents of the install CD and installing the necessary boot loaders to make it bootable. It then runs as if it were a Live CD, which does not hold on to any of your changes.
If you want to actually install Linux with this, you have to run UNetbootin, then boot off the flash drive you put it on, and run the installer from your flash drive (more details here: Installing Linux With UNetbootin).
It’s also a good program for getting a portable Linux OS on your flash drive if you choose Slax, Puppy Linux and maybe some others.