How could one implement a linux installer that runs on windows?
How could one implement a linux installer that runs on windows?
From another comment I made
A linux installer for windows that works just like a normal installer on windows. You download the
.exe, double click it, it opens a wizard you can walk though, and by the end of the process, after it reboots, you're in a linux distro.
How could something like this be implemented?
My idea:
Best case scenario where multiple data partitions exist and can accommodate the user data stored on C:/ + there's a swap partition -->
- download a linux iso
- deactivate swap
- replace swap partition with ISO contents
- modify contents to auto install linux with settings from wizard
- add boot entry to boot from old swap / modified ISO
- reboot
- install linux with a nice progress animation
- move user data from C:/ to other partition
- replace C:/ with linux
- install alternatives to programs found on windows (firefox for edge, gimp for paint, inkscape for ..., libreoffice for MS office, etc.)
- move user data to
/home/$username - configure DE with theme (gnome for macos look, kde with theme for windows look)
- other customisations
- reboot into linux
Dunno if this is feasible in the best case scenario.
You're viewing a single thread.
It would be better for your nerves to just do a normal GNU/Linux installation. There are too many ways the installation can go wrong:
replace swap partition with ISO contents
For example, Ubuntu ISO has a size of 5.7G. But my swap, which you previously deactivated, was 4G. Either 2G, or it didn't exist at all.
move user data from C:/ to other partition
The other partition may not exist or may have capacity smaller than C:/.
replace C:/ with linux
The installed Linux must also be stored somewhere. And there is also a copy partition for C. The same problem of lack of space.
move user data to /home/$username
From %APPDATA%? You would have to be a know-it-all to resolve the location paths and configuration names of literally every existing program.
reboot into linux
And it is at this moment that Windows will completely randomly decide to update and rewrite the bootloader :)