Computer Build Issue

This may be a stupid question, but I need to seek advice anyway.

I am building another desktop computer. I have build a few before without any issues. I have access to Windows XP, Vista and 7 through the college I am attending. Basicially you log into the University partner's website and can download the OS's. All files are .iso images that you would typically burn to a DVD and boot off of that. At the moment, my DVD-RW drive died and have ordered a new from from newegg.com. I am, however, able to put the .iso image to the hard drive of the new computer I am building. Can I put the .iso image to the hard drive and set it up so that it will boot from the hard drive with the image and install the new OS? If not, is there are certain format I should convert the .iso to that would allow me to install the OS from the hard drive? Any advice is appreciated!

Technically I could wait for the new DVD-RW drive to come, but would rather try to finish the build this weekend while I have the free time.

Thanks!

 

you need to extract from the image the files and install that way but will be possible only as a upgrade you could not forexample do a clean installation

 

you could use another computer and put the operating system on a usb flash drive. for xp you only need like a 2g flash drive

 

reinstall it or upgrade the system