Debian hacker Robert Millan has just announced the availability of a Debian-Installer Loader for win32. The program, inspired by Ubuntu's similar project, features 64-bit CPU auto-detection, download of linux/initrd netboot images, and chainloading into Debian-Installer via grub4dos. A frontend site has been setup for advocacy purposes.
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Member since:2006-01-01
does it install Debian alongside Windows, or does it wipe off Windows?
Apparently this is just a way of loading the standard "netinst" Debian-Installer without having to burn ISO images to CD-ROM. But you'll need an existing Windows installation.
The debian-boot mailing list has some discussion on this topic:
http://lists.debian.org/debian-boot/2007/01/thrd3.html#01083
Member since:2006-06-19
I mean, does it install Debian alongside Windows, or does it wipe off Windows?
I don't know about this one but the "sister project" for installing Ubuntu in a similar manner does not wipe out Windows. It even does not create any new partitions. The Linux installation is placed into a single file and the bootloader boots the OS from this file.
after all, it is called "say goodbye to Microsoft"
Well if you look at the screenshots you will notice that the bootloader menu contains entries for both Windows and Debian. The intention is not to replace Windows but to provide an easy way to install Debian. So don't worry about your data - it won't be altered at all. Just make sure you have a few spare gigabytes on your machine.
And on a completely different point, I can't wait for a Windows installer of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD!
Hmm, if you're so impatient to test this system why don't you just download and install it the regular way instead of waiting? Oh, well...
Edit: fixed typo
Edited 2007-01-30 14:36
Member since:
2006-12-06
i don't think a complete newb would be looking to replace their operating system, as they probably don't know what an operating system is.
so this is really for semi-newbs (like me ;-D ). and semi-newbs would want a bit more info than "click here to install Debian Gnu/Linux".
I mean, does it install Debian alongside Windows, or does it wipe off Windows? (after all, it is called "say goodbye to Microsoft"). What about all my data? and a dozen other queries unanswered by their site that make me hesitate to try their "product". which kind of defeats the point of a quick-n-easy way of installing Debian.
And on a completely different point, I can't wait for a Windows installer of Debian GNU/kFreeBSD!