USB booting :: Installing with usb cdrom and no floppy

I want to install DSL on an I-opener. I've got debian 3.1 running on it now on a hd, it has no floppy drive (and no way to add one) and a usb cdrom, but won't boot from the cdrom. I can mount the DSL cd from debian, how do I get it to run and install to the hd?

original here.