How can I copy my "Ubuntu.ISO" onto the Ubuntu.VDI

Detman101 · Post by **Detman101** » 25. Nov 2008, 20:18

Greetings,

First, let me explain my setup...then you may understand my problem.

1. I have an Ubuntu .ISO loading via the CD-ROM
2. I have an 800mb Hd setup to be dynamically expanding.

PROBLEM
* How to copy the "Ubuntu8.ISO" directly onto the Virtual HD (Ubuntu.VDI)?? *

EXPLANATION
* I do not want to install the Ubuntu because it takes up too much space. What I would like to do is run the same information that is in the "Ubuntu8.ISO" from the Virtual Hard Drive. But I cannot get the information from inside the .ISO onto the VDI. (Without installing from the "Ubuntu8.ISO")

I do not want to install Ubuntu...merely create a .VDI directly from the info within the "Ubuntu8.ISO" file. I see no need to install the OS and use up 2gb when I only want to use it for the games. And I can get to those from the bootloader that the "Ubuntu8.ISO" provides.

Thank you in advance.
Dm

Post by **TerryE** » 25. Nov 2008, 20:47

If you want to move the Ubuntu distro onto other formats then please consult the Ubuntu community documents. I used these to create a USB version that I use as a rescue device.

However, if all you want is the run the Ubunto liveCD installation that comes with the media, then why put it onto a VDI at all? Why not just create a VM that boots off the ISO?

Detman101 · Post by **Detman101** » 25. Nov 2008, 20:52

TerryE wrote:If you want to move the Ubuntu distro onto other formats then please consult the Ubuntu community documents. I used these to create a USB version that I use as a rescue device.

However, if all you want is the run the Ubunto liveCD installation that comes with the media, then why put it onto a VDI at all? Why not just create a VM that boots off the ISO?

Hello,

Thank you for the information. That is exactly what I'm trying to do. I've created a USB-Portable version that will boot off of the .ISO.

However, I've run into the problem of the drive-letter for the USB stick changing depending on what computer the USB stick is inserted into.
The path to the .ISO file has to be changed everytime it's taken to a new computer because the application doesn't account for the driveletter/path changing. With a .VDI it always knows where it is located for some reason.

(IE: In my computer the USB stick shows up as drive "H", in my wife's computer it shows up as "D".)

Thank you,
Dm

Post by **Sasquatch** » 26. Nov 2008, 12:33

You can always mount the VDI inside the live enviroment, then DD the whole ramdisk (as that is where the OS is stored on) to the VDI. You can later add the boot menu.

Detman101 · Post by **Detman101** » 26. Nov 2008, 16:10

Sasquatch wrote:You can always mount the VDI inside the live enviroment, then DD the whole ramdisk (as that is where the OS is stored on) to the VDI. You can later add the boot menu.

Wow....my head just exploded.
I have no idea what you just said...

What does "DD" stand for? And I'm guessing that I will need some way of loading the VDI from within Ubuntu? I have no idea how to do that as I have no knowledge of Linux besides clicking on the games in the live cd.

Dm

Post by **Sasquatch** » 26. Nov 2008, 22:40

Eh, hehe

. I kinda went overboard there. I thought that you would know a bit more about Linux. What I meant is that you create the VDI (which you probably already have) and attach it to the VM (which you probably already did). You can then use the dd command to write the live CD as raw data to the virtual hard drive. You can check the manual page of the command by running man dd from a terminal (apps > accessories > terminal). There are plenty of examples of dd use if you use google.