Linux installer .exe without pendrives (secure-boot compatible)
It is fairly simple, but useful for non-power users: a statically-linked Qt app that gracefully edits Windows Boot Manager to do a reboot-once into GRUB, which in turn launches ZorinOS live/installer from disk loopback. I needed to make a custom initramfs with dislocker in it, and to squeeze it a little (default Windows EFI partition is not so big). Currently my biggest issue is that systemd is unable to shut down gracefully when rootfs is mounted from such a deep loop stack. The other is that installing to full disk crashes right after it successfully damages the partition table. I…
Linux installer .exe without pendrives (secure-boot compatible) launched on April 21, 2026 with 5 votes, #1,846 of 21,248 launches that month and more than 75% of that year's launches.
What it does
The simplest Linux installer for Windows users lets you reboot to a live/installer ISO without any external storage, partitioning, or flashing. Works even with 'Secure' Boot. Download one EXE and follow the wizard. No tweaking, no choices, just a single happy path.
The easiest USB-less Linux installer for Windows users. Install Linux without USB or mashing F2: download a single file, no firmware settings. See for yourself!
In the maker’s words, at launch
It is fairly simple, but useful for non-power users: a statically-linked Qt app that gracefully edits Windows Boot Manager to do a reboot-once into GRUB, which in turn launches ZorinOS live/installer from disk loopback. I needed to make a custom initramfs with dislocker in it, and to squeeze it a little (default…
Does a similar job
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Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
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