Running a linux distro installer from a working system? (feddit.cl)

submitted 1 day ago by lambisio@feddit.cl to c/linuxquestions@lemmy.zip

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Title.

I know there are tools to set up a linux distro's installer on a USB flashdrive. What I'm looking for is slightly different: I want to install a linux distro (a Debian derivative, but am still unsure which) on a USB hard drive, but I want to do it from a running system, rather that have to boot into installer mode.

The rationale is that this is the only active machine I have ATM. I guess this exists since that's how "live distros" with installers even function in the first place, but I haven't had much luck searching for information.

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[-] hanke@feddit.nu 2 points 1 day ago

If you want to run NixOS (which you don't seem to wamt) this is a possibility!

Look up NixOS amywhere.

Can install NixOS from almost any running Linux system live without boot USB.

Requires a machine on the same network though.

Pretty cool!

[-] lambisio@feddit.cl 1 points 1 day ago

NixOS sounds interesting for a Sometime when I have more experience, certainly!

So far I've only had experience with a Nix thing that functions like a package manager, something like a Nix version of Brew.

this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2026

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