How can I install Windows 7 without dvd or usb, on linux?
Method 2016. First of all, you need to create a partition for Windows installation files. It should be 2gb bigger than Windows iso.
Install a tool, that help you install Windows directly from the hard drive:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8 sudo apt update sudo apt install winusb
Install a tool for work with NTFS:
sudo apt-get install ntfs-3g
Format partition in NTFS:
sudo mkfs.ntfs /dev/sdxx
Copy installation files to partition:
sudo winusb --install iso_name /dev/sdxx
Reboot and you will be able to install Windows.
Update:
winusb
is deprecated now, use woeusb
instead. Type woeusb --help
for more information.
If you're comfortable doing it, you might be able to create a small partition on your hard drive, extract the Windows ISO contents to it, then install it from there.
I found a thread about how to do it from within Windows, but it shouldn't be too hard to do it in Linux: http://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1093625-trying-to-install-windows-8-consumer-preview-but-no-dvd-burner/ (though it doesn't look like they ever did figure out how to get it working, it looks like a good place to start)
But it would probably be easier just to purchase a bigger USB drive :)
If you are familiar with grub, try the first way.
Install with Windows PE
- Make a windows partition with NFS as filesystem, put your Windows Install Image there.
- Download an Windows PE image with virtual cd-rom software to some where your grub can access.
- Boot the Windows PE with grub, load your Windows Install Image and install it.
- Fix your grub.
Install with help of another computer
- Install windows on another computer
- Run C:\Windows\System32\sysprep.exe and reboot into a live linux
- Make a image of drive C with dd of some other tool on linux
- Restore the image to the active partition of your computer on your linux
- Update your grub.cfg to boot that partition, If you are using ubuntu, you can use
sudo update-grub
to update your grub.cfg automatically.