Archive:Docs/Drafts/InstallationGuide/GettingMedia

= Getting the Installation Media =

2.3 Getting the Installation Media
To install Fedora Core you will need media. You may boot your computer with boot-only media, and load the installation system from another source to continue the process. The types of installation source for Fedora include:
 * CD or DVD media installation discs
 * Hard drive, either attached by USB, or internal to the computer
 * Network installation server, using either HTTP, FTP, or NFS

You may use the first CD or DVD installation disc from the complete Fedora Core distribution to boot your computer. The Fedora Core distribution also includes image files for boot-only CD or DVD media and USB media. These files can be converted into bootable media using standard Linux utilities or third-party programs on other operating systems.

The way you obtain the media can vary but the two most common examples are:

2.3.1 Downloaded Media
Downoaded media is that media that you the user will be downloading dirctly from a public webserver. For more information on dowloading installation media please reference the information located at http://fedora.redhat.com/Download/. The advantage to downloading the media is that new copies of the media can be obtained if the originals are lost or damaged, also the downloaded media does not cost the user anything but time. The disadvantage to downloading the installation media is that you are downloading an entire operating system dirctly from a public webserver. If you are connected to the Internet via a slow connection downloading Fedora Core will be an extremely time-consuming process.

2.3.1 Purchased Media
Purchased Media is just that media that has been purchased. The media can be purchased from various locations on the Internet, or it can be purchased with a book. The method in which you choose to purchase the media is left to the user. The advantage to purchasing the media is that the user does not have to download the images and then prepare the images for installation. The disadvantage is the the user is purchasing a copy of a free operating system. For those users still on standard modems this is the best way to obtain a copy of Fedora Core with out waiting several days for the images to download.