Help install vista from linux mint

[beckster]

I am currently running mint as my main os but I need to install vista on my Lenovo x61 for games and dreamweaver. Problem is that the x61 doesn't have a dvd drive so i cant install from that. I have copied the files across from a Vista ultimate x64 DVD onto the laptop but I am having trouble trying to install it. I have an 8gb usb flash drive to help install it but everything I have tried doesnt wirk. How do I go about making to USB bootable with the vista files from within linux?

Please help! I am missing my games!!

 

[BillytheImpaler]

You might try making an .iso image from the DVD then writing the contents of the file onto the flash device. I don't know if Windows'd be cool with that though. I know OS X is, but that's another story.

To make an image of the disk place it in the drive but don't mount it. If it automounts unmount it, but don't eject it.
Open a terminal window and enter
sudo dd if=/dev/scd of=~/path/to/where/you/want/the/file/dvd.iso
assuming your optical drive lives at /dev/scd.

Insert the flash drive, unmount it like before, and the image with
sudo dd if=~/path/to/where/you/want/the/file/dvd.iso of=/dev/sdb
again assuming that the flash drive lives at /dev/sdb

EDIT: Remember that Windows doesn't respect or accommodate what's on your master boot record so you'll have to reinstall your Grub bootloader after Windows is settled.

 

[beckster]

I dont have access to the dvd anymore but i copied the contents across to the desktop. Do i have to make this into an iso first and then write it to the usb? Thanks for the help though!