How can I install Ubuntu 13.04 + without USB, CD, DVD or Net? (hard drive only)

Solution 1:

Update:

It is not a matter of the hardware being unable to run Ubuntu 13.x, but rather because of Sony's overly proprietary BIOS limitations. The solution that I used successfully unfortunately does not qualify as "without network connection", but aside from that, may be useful to others so long as they are able to connect to the internet.

I created a tiny partition on an otherwise blank hard drive to simulate the size of CD-ROM media, and copied Ubuntu's mini.iso to that partition. The Viao Desktop hardware was able to recognize it as executable during boot and from there, install over the net as if it had been booted using a CD-ROM copy of mini.iso.

Solution 2:

I have never been in your predicament, and therefore have never tried this, but I quickly threw together a plan. Some elements should be verified before you consider attempting this, I've tried to point them out within.

1. Download and install Virtual Box.
2. Create an Ubuntu Install within a Virtual Box VM (make sure to use VHD format or you will have to start over.) [The virtual hard drive should be the same size or smaller than the partition you make in step 4][When installing Ubuntu use an ext2 filesystem, this is important!]
3. Download and install Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 SP1, atleast I believe that's the one with VHD mount? (within the install folder there is a program called vhdmount, move it's folder to your system32 folder (or where-ever you can easily access it using terminal) and use it to mount the virtualbox vm hard drive, it's a terminal only program so you will need to read up on how to use it.
4. You will need to install a partition manager, or use the windows built in manager. Shrink your existing windows parition and create a new parition in the empty space.
5. Install "Ext2 Installable File System for Windows" it's a freeware that allows creating/using ext2 paritions in windows. Use it to format the newly made parition as ext2. [You will need to verify it allows creation of ext2? It's been a while since I used it, and I cannot install it on my current OS to verify for you, sorry]
6. Copy your Ubuntu install from the mounted vhd to the new ext2 parition on your hard drive.
7. Install EasyBCD and use it to create an entry for your Ubuntu partition. [I believe you can use it to make an entry even without grub already installed, but you will need to verify this]
8. Uninstall all the stuff you previously needed.
9. Reboot and enjoy