Can I install windows using a virtual disk drive?

Solution 1:

You can create a virtual drive from ISO image using GRUB and memdisk, but it doesn't always work. Still worth giving it a try anyway.

First install NeoGrub (using EasyBCD, how-to here, skip the Configure button), then put your ISO image in the root of some partition. Drop memdisk onto that partition too (download it here, you want just the file memdisk from folder memdisk).

Reboot your computer, choose NeoGrub from the boot menu and type those commands in the GRUB command line:

find --set-root /memdisk
kernel /memdisk iso
initrd /YourIsoFileName.iso

Wait until the image is loaded into RAM (you need at least as much RAM as the ISO size + 1 GB) and type boot.

Solution 2:

For those coming here from Google...

If you trying to install Windows, chances are you already have a older distribution of Windows working.

After you mount the image, you need start the setup.exe file, it will open a window that allows you the install the newer version on Windows.

There is only one downside, it doesn't allow you to format the drive before installing (for that you need to boot from the DVD).