Install Tiny Core Linux

Tiny Core 1.X

Install Tiny Core

While Connected to the Internet

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

Another option is to Install Tiny Core 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 mouse 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 Tiny Core. Get the latest version. Write it to a CD.

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

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

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

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

ftp://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/pub/Linux/sunsite.unc.edu/distributions/tinycorelinux/

Verify Checksum

You can check if your download has been corrupted by verifying the MD5 checksum. The checksum must be exactly the same. If it is different, the download is corrupted, and it needs to be downloaded again.

Run Tiny Core and Connect to the Internet

Run Tiny Core from the live CD on 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 swap partition (Another option is to have separate partitions for different directories).

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.

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.

Copy the directory /mnt/sdc/boot/, including all of the directories and files 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 following in a new file:

default 0
timeout 5

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

Save this file with the name "menu.lst," in the directory /mnt/sda1/boot/grub/ (note "menu.lst" contains a lower case L not a one).

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 restore=sda1 home=sda1 max_loop=255
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz

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.

You may also need to set up the Master Boot Record.

max_loop=

The Grub commands include max_loop=255. The actual number you need depends on how many tcz extensions you install. If you don't install many, 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 tcz extensions you think you may install.

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 restore=sda1 home=sda1 max_loop=255
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/tinycore.gz

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