How to Boot an Ubuntu ISO from Your Hard Drive

Author Info

Last Updated: December 23, 2024

Booting an ISO on your hard drive is useful for testing new versions of Ubuntu without using up a CD. It is quicker than using a live USB tool such as UNetBootin or Ubuntu Live USB Creator.

Steps

Download Article

Download the bootable disc image from here.
Type the following command into the terminal: sudo grub-install --root-directory=/media/grub2 /dev/sda.

Advertisement
Here are a few examples. Type the following command into the terminal: sudo gedit /etc/grub.d/40_custom and paste these menu entries to the end of the file. Replace /PATH-TO-UBUNTU-ISO/FILENAME.iso with the appropriate path. On my system it would be /home/myUserName/Downloads/lubuntu-natty-i386.iso
=====
menuentry "Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop ISO" { loopback loop /PATH-TO-UBUNTU-ISO/FILENAME.iso linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz boot=casper iso-scan/filename=/PATH-TO-UBUNTU-ISO/FILENAME.iso noeject noprompt splash -- initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz } menuentry "Linux Mint 10 Gnome ISO" { loopback loop /FILEPATH/linuxmint10.iso linux (loop)/casper/vmlinuz file=/cdrom/preseed/mint.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz iso-scan/filename=/FILEPATH/linuxmint10.iso noeject noprompt splash -- initrd (loop)/casper/initrd.lz }

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

I have downloaded the ubuntu ISO from the internet. I want to install from a hard drive. How do I do this?

Poyoa

Community Answer

Since you're trying to modify your hard drive, it'd be better to run it from a disc. Use a program (such as Windows Disc Image Burner) to burn the file to a CD, then restart your computer, boot from the CD and go from there to install Ubuntu.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 0

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

If you want to install a new version of Ubuntu, partition your hard drive first. Use GParted or a similar tool. Assuming you are using an Ubuntu CD image, you will only need a 700mb partition to hold the image. If you have a liveUSB or liveCD, that's the easiest way to re-partition because you can't change or shrink a partition while it has your operating system (and re-partitioning tool) currently running on it.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Installing boot-loaders and operating systems can destroy your data. The same applies when partitioning a hard drive. Make appropriate backups of any files or settings if they are on the hard drive(s) you are working with.

Thanks
Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0
You can't format a partition that is currently in use (for the running operating system)

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Installing GRUB2 will over-write your previous boot loader. So if GRUB2 does not detect your existing operating system, you may have no way to get back into it.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1