virtualbox.org

use VirtualBox to install an OS to a physical HDD? i have a disk image i can only install via boot, and i dont have a DVD burner. so im wondering if theres a way to install it with VB, but to a HDD... and i dont have a flash drive large enough

It can be done, but you have to wonder if you really want that. Sure you can use RAW disk, but that won't get you anywhere because the MBR will be invalid, so the system will be unbootable outside VB.
And if I think the Guest will be what your profile states, then read Important notice regarding Mac OS X as Guest.

no, its an old version of linux my friend found (im trying to find out what kind). is there any way to do this? maybe put (or set as i dont know what MBR means...) one on it?

If you haven't even heard of an MBR (Wikipedia/Google knows!), then you should not install it on a physical drive at all. Your level of computer knowledge is far too low to use such a system with VB. You're better off installing it on a VDI, which is a virtual hard drive stored as a single file.

For Linux, using an older version is not always a good idea. Especially if it's a few years old. If you want to learn Linux, it's a fine start, if you're an experienced computer user. If you aren't, using one of the more recent versions is better. I suggest you get a newer version, they are free for download and use (depending on the distribution, most are).

>.> my computer skill isnt low nor very high, but i know enough to try this. everyone ive asked so far simply wont give me instructions, and i know its possible because my friend did it before he moved. all i need to do is utilize VB to install an ISO to a physical hard drive...

Yes it can be done. See these links to get an idea.
http://www.google.com/search?client=ubu ... 8&oe=utf-8
But careful to have a backup of both the virtual machine and if there is an OS on the real machine back it all up as well.
I would use Acronis True Image to start with.