Installing Linux Mint 12 KDE without CD/USB??

[kevo632]

Sort of a noob here. Trying to familiarize myself with troubleshooting so I've been attempting to tackle installation the hard way: without a CD or USB.

Background:

I am attempting to create a dual boot system with Windows 2003 and Linux. I have Windows installed on ~100gb NTFS partition of a 300gb hard drive. I download the .iso (Mint 12 KDE 64-bit) into the root directory containing Windows (C:) along with Grub4dos 0.4.1. In C:, I have the folder /boot (in which I put the "Grub" folder from the Grub zip file). Then I put the grldr file and the linux .iso directly into C:. I manipulate grub/menu.lst file and add:

Install Linux
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.lz

Then I manipulate the boot.ini file and add: C:/grldr="Start GRUB"

Problem:

When I reboot, I get the choice to boot from Windows or Install Grub. After clicking 'Install Grub' it runs through a bunch of lines, which looks like it is working, then....

Nothing but a initramfs prompt. Nothing happens. It says 'type help for more commands'. I reboot again and after clicking 'Install Grub' I quickly hit ctrl+d. After scanning the screen I find a line that contains VFS, not syncing, kernel panic (I apologize, I am currently at work and do not have the actual text from that screen - I can post it later on).

I am essentially just looking for some insight as to what could be the root (no pun intended) of this problem. Grub? FS? My technique in general?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[bu99zy]

Try EasyBCD

You can add an entry to the windows boot