Table of Contents
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Install Tiny Core Without Being Connected to the Internet
Improvements have been made to the installer in Tiny Core 3.6. At the time of writing, only the release candidates are available. Until Tiny Core 3.6 is available, use the latest release candidate, or use one of the other installation methods.
This method may be used to install Tiny Core on a computer not connected to the internet. It may be used by people who don't have an internet connection at home, and download Tiny Core at work, an internet cafe, or a friends house. It may also be used by people using wireless or dial up internet connections, which can't be connected to the internet until after Tiny Core is installed.
There are also other methods of installation. For these methods, see the Index.
This installation guide suggests options which may be used. These are to help people learning about this for the first time, and not understanding what some of these things mean. There are also other options which may be used.
Use the Latest Version
Use the latest version of Tiny Core. New versions have additional features and improvements.
Things You Need
A computer.
The Tiny Core CD.
The Parted Magic CD.
The dosfstools-3.tcz and syslinux.tcz extensions. If you plan to use the USB zip option in the installer, you also need perl5.tcz.
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:
http://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/ ftp://sunsite2.icm.edu.pl/pub/Linux/sunsite.unc.edu/distributions/tinycorelinux/ ftp://ftp.oss.cc.gatech.edu/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/ ftp://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/ ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/tinycorelinux/ ftp://ftp.vim.org/os/Linux/distr/tinycorelinux/
Download Extensions
Download the dosfstools-3.tcz and syslinux.tcz extensions. If you plan to use the USB zip option, also download perl5.tcz. These may be downloaded from the same sites.
Download Parted Magic
Download the .iso file of the latest version of Parted Magic, and write it to a CD. It may be downloaded from http://www.digitalincursion.net/partedmagic/
Another option is to use UNetbootin to install Parted Magic on a USB drive, and run it from the USB drive. UNetbootin may be downloaded from http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ Be Aware: Older computers may not be able to boot an operating system from a USB drive.
Run Parted Magic
Put the Parted Magic CD in the drive, and start the computer, so it runs Parted Magic.
Partition the Drive
Before installing Tiny Core, the drive needs to be partitioned appropriately.
Before partitioning the drive, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files on the drive will be lost.
Start the GParted Partition Editor.
Be sure to select the correct drive, particularly if partitioning a USB drive.
Delete existing partitions.
If you plan to install Tiny Core on a USB drive, create an Ext2 partition using the entire USB drive.
If you plan to install Tiny Core on a hard drive, make an Ext3 partition and a linux-swap partition.
If Tiny Core will be the only operating system on the drive, set the flag of that partition to Boot or Active.
If you plan to install more than one operating system, set up partitions appropriately.
For more information, see Partition a Hard Drive so you can Install more than one Operating System
Create /tce and /tce/optional Directories and Paste Extensions
Open the file manager, and find the partition you created. It may be something like /media/sda1/. Create a new directory in the partition, and name it “tce.” Create a new directory in the tce directory, and name it “optional.”
Copy and paste all .tcz files you downloaded to the /tce/optional directory.
Run Tiny Core
Put the Tiny Core CD in the drive, and restart the computer, so it runs Tiny Core.
Install Local
Open the App Browser, click Local, click on an extension, and click OK. Repeat this to install each extension.
If using a USB drive with some older computers, you may need to mount the drive before running Install Local.
Run the Installer
Run the installer from Control Panel, then HD/USB Install.
Select Tiny Core.
Select the location of either the tinycore iso file, or the tinycore.gz file (if selecting tinycore.gz, you must also have bzImage in the same directory).
If not sure select Frugal.
Select Existing Partition. Then select the partition.
Click the Forward arrow.
Formatting Options: Select No formatting, use existing.
Click the Forward arrow.
You may type in boot options. If installing to a USB drive, you may leave this blank. If installing to a hard drive, type:
opt=sda1 home=sda1
If you are not installing to sda1, change sda1 to the correct partition.
Click the Forward arrow.
Click Proceed.
Tiny Core will be installed.
You can restart the computer and run Tiny Core.
Also see: Installing Applications and Backup.
If you also have other Operating Systems
If you also have another Linux distribution installed, add the Tiny Core start commands to the bootloader of that Linux distribution.
If you have Tiny Core and Windows installed, install Grub. Installing Grub is explained on these pages:
Manually Install on a Hard Drive Without Being Connected to the Internet
You can skip the other parts of installation. Just install Grub.
The Windows partition must be Boot or Active.
