Install Tiny Core Linux

Previous Versions of Tiny Core

Tiny Core

Install on a Hard Drive

While Connected to the Internet

This method may be used to install Tiny Core on a hard drive while connected to the internet with a broadband internet connection.

Another option is to Install on a Hard Drive Without Being Connected to the Internet.

Modes of Operation

There are different modes of operation with Tiny Core. These can be seen from the menu (right click), if you select Help. They are also explained in Tiny Core Concepts.

Following is an explanation of how to install Tiny Core using Persistent Personal Repository (PPR), which is ideal for most people.

Download Tiny Core

Download the latest version of Tiny Core. Write it to a CD.

Tiny Core may be downloaded from various internet sites. Examples include:

The official Tiny Core host

North Carolina, U.S.A.

ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/

Some other mirrors are:

Greece

http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/tinycorelinux/

ftp://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/tinycorelinux/

Netherlands

http://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/tinycorelinux/

http://ftp.vim.org/os/Linux/distr/tinycorelinux/

Be aware, when something is added or updated on the official site, there may be some time before it appears on the other mirrors.

Verify md5sum

You can check if your download has been corrupted by verifying the md5sum. It must be exactly the same. If it is different, the download is corrupted, and it needs to be downloaded again.

To check the md5sum while running Linux, open the terminal and type:

cd path
md5sum name

For example if you had tinycore_2.6.iso in /home/username/Downloads, you would type:

cd /home/username/Downloads
md5sum tinycore_2.6.iso

Compare the md5sum generated, with the one on the site you downloaded Tiny Core from.

Run Tiny Core and Connect to the Internet

Run Tiny Core from the live CD in the computer where you plan to install it, and connect to the internet.

If the computer won't start from the CD, click here for more information.

Partition the Hard Drive

Before installing Tiny Core, the hard drive needs to be partitioned appropriately.

Before partitioning the hard drive, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files on the hard drive will be lost.

Install gparted.

To start GParted, open the Terminal and type:

sudo gparted

Delete the existing partitions.

If you plan to install only Tiny Core using the entire hard drive, make an Ext3 partition and a linux-swap partition (another option is to have separate partitions for different directories)(a swap partition is recommended. however, some people choose not to have a swap partition in a computer with a large amount of RAM).

If you plan to install more than one operating system, set up partitions appropriately.

For more information, see Partitioning.

Another option is to use one of the Live CDs for Partitioning before beginning installation, or another partitioning program.

Partition for Tiny Core

In this example, Tiny Core will be installed on "sda1," and the CD will be "sdc." If you plan to install it on another partition, or the CD is designated differently, use appropriate drive and partition information throughout the entire setup.

For more information, see Grub and Master Boot Record.

Install Grub

Install grub-0.97-splash.

Copy Tiny Core and Grub to the Hard Drive

This may be done using a Root File Manager.

Install Xfe.

To start Xfe file manager as root, open the terminal and type:

sudo xfe

To mount sda1, go to mnt, right click on "sda1," then click "Mount."

To mount sdc, go to mnt, right click on "sdc," then click "Mount."

Copy the directory /mnt/sdc/boot, including all of the files and directories in it, to /mnt/sda1.

Copy the directory /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc, including all of the files in it, to /mnt/sda1/boot. Rename "i386-pc" in /mnt/sda1/boot to "grub."

Alternate Method: Using the Root Terminal

Begin by mounting the hard drive. In the Root Terminal, type:

mount /mnt/sda1

To mount the CD, type:

mount /mnt/sdc

To create directories for Tiny Core and Grub, type:

mkdir -p /mnt/sda1/boot/grub

To copy Tiny Core to the hard drive, type:

cp -p /mnt/sdc/boot/* /mnt/sda1/boot

You may get a warning saying, "cp: omitting directory '/mnt/sdc/boot/isolinux'." Ignore this. Isolinux does not need to be included when Grub is used to start Tiny Core.

To copy grub to the hard drive, type:

cp -p /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/* /mnt/sda1/boot/grub

Tiny Core Grub Commands

The next step is to create a file called "menu.lst" in grub and enter the Tiny Core start commands.

This may be done using a Root Text Editor.

Install Leafpad.

To start Leafpad text editor as root, open the terminal and type:

sudo leafpad

Type the Tiny Core start commands in a new file, and save it with the name "menu.lst" in the directory "/mnt/sda1/boot/grub" (note "menu.lst" contains a lower case L, not a one).

The minimum Grub commands for Tiny Core are:

default 0
timeout 5

title Tiny Core
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/bzImage quiet
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz

Most people should include additional boot options, like this:

default 0
timeout 5

title Tiny Core
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/bzImage quiet tce=sda1 home=sda1 opt=sda1 max_loop=255
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz

If you view this on a screen with a low resolution, the end of the long line may return and be on the next line. If you enter it that way, it will not work. It must be on one line.

If you don't use Backup to save and restore settings, include "norestore" in the line which begins with "kernel."

For more information, see Grub.

Alternate Method: Using VI

In the Root Terminal, type:

vi /mnt/sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst

Press "i" to enter insert mode.

Type the following:

default 0
timeout 5

title Tiny Core
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/bzImage quiet tce=sda1 home=sda1 opt=sda1 max_loop=255
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz

If you view this on a screen with a low resolution, the end of the long line may return and be on the next line. If you enter it that way, it will not work. It must be on one line.

If you don't use Backup to save and restore settings, include "norestore" in the line which begins with "kernel."

Press "Esc."

Type:

Then press "Enter."

Master Boot Record

To set up the master boot record, in the Terminal, type:

sudo grub

Then type:

root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)
quit

For more information, see Master Boot Record.

Start Tiny Core

If you now turn the computer off and restart, Tiny Core can now be selected from the Grub menu and started. Remember to remove the CD.

Copy Tiny Core to Other Computers

If you install Tiny Core on another computer, you don't need to download the files again. You can just copy all files and directories to the other computer.

If Tiny Core is in a different partition in the other computer, change the partition details in /boot/grub/menu.lst.

Set up the Master Boot Record.

Be aware, certain files and directories contain personal files and settings. If you want to copy these to the other computer, include them. If you don't want to copy them to the other computer, exclude them. These are the /home and /opt directories if you use persistent home and opt, and the file mydata.tgz, normally in the tce directory, if you use backup.

max_loop=

The Grub commands include max_loop=255. The actual number you need depends on how many extensions you mount. If you mount less than 80, you can leave this out. Don't make it the absolute minimum, as you may install additional programs. If you are not sure, make it 50 more than the number of extensions you think you may mount.

If this is left out, or the number is too low, you will get an error message during startup, "mount: could not find any free loop device," and affected programs will not work.

Alternate Grub Commands

These Grub commands may be used instead of those above.

title Tiny Core
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/bzImage quiet tce=sda1 home=sda1 opt=sda1 max_loop=255
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/tinycore.gz

If you view this on a screen with a low resolution, the end of the long line may return and be on the next line. If you enter it that way, it will not work. It must be on one line.

If you don't use Backup to save and restore settings, include "norestore" in the line which begins with "kernel."

You May Remove the Grub Extension

You may remove the grub-0.97-splash.tcz extension from the tce directory after installing Tiny Core. You may also leave it there. Removing it will free up a small amount of RAM. It is a good idea is to put it in the /tce/optional directory, so you have it if you install Tiny Core again in the future.

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