Install Debian GNU/Linux, from Microsoft Windows


This component has no official endorsement by the Debian project. (yet)

The Windows based Debian Installer Loader will start the first steps of installing Linux while in Windows. The process varies slightly for each release of Microsoft Windows. No boot-disk, CD/DVD, USB or PXE boot magic needed. All official releases of Windows after NT 4.0 and 95 are supported, except Windows Me.

Q1: What releases of Windows are known to work?
A1: All releases are expected to work from NT4/95 up through Vista, except Me.
More testing is needed to recertify all of them. For more specifics on each release, see the individual page for that release of Windows.

Q2: Where can I download the latest release?
A2: The lastest release is available in the Debian download directory.

Q3: Do I need to repartition my disks before using this?
A3: No. A partitioning utility is part of the installer process.

Q4: Do I have to resize partitions in advance, to make space for Linux?
A4: No. A partition resizing utility (called "parted") is also part of the installer process. It can perform all the important features Partition Magic(TM) is so famous for.

Q5: Why do all the mirrors fail with "Bad Archive Mirror" or "Invalid mirror"?
A5: Your /etc/resolv.conf is either missing, bad, or uses name servers that you are unable to communicate with. Switch to a spare shell by pressing Control+Alt+F2. Press enter to get a shell (command line). Run cat /etc/resolv.conf. If there's no file, or the lines begining with nameserver are incorrect, type echo nameserver ip.ip.ip.ip > /etc/resolv.conf where "ip.ip.ip.ip" is one of your nameservers. Windows users can use ipconfig /all to see the active name servers while in Windows. These should be provided by your router, dhcp server, Information Technology professional, or Internet Service Provider. Use ">>" to add more lines. Press Alt+F5 to return to the Debian Installer. Durring install, one nameserver should do. Make a note, to recheck this again after reboot if you modified this.

Release Specific Walk-through

Vista

If your Release of Windows isn't listed, we're working on the content. Try another one, to get an idea.

Debian Installer Walk-through

Coming, Real Soon(tm).