====== Manually Install Tinycore on a Hard Drive without being Connected to the Internet ======
** There are easier installation methods. For these see the [[start|Index]]. **
This method may be used to install Tinycore on the hard drive of a computer not connected to the internet. It may be used by people who don't have an internet connection. It may also be used by people using wireless or dial up internet connections, which can't be connected to the internet until after Tinycore is installed.
Before installing Tinycore, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files will be lost.
==== Use the Latest Version ====
Use the latest version of Tinycore. New versions have improvements and additional features.
==== Things You Need ====
The Tinycore CD.
The Parted Magic CD.
The grub-0.97-splash.tcz extension, as well as dependencies, and dependencies of dependencies. You need the .dep files, where extensions have them. If you plan to connect to the internet in the future, also include the .md5.txt files for each extension.
==== Download Tinycore ====
Download the latest version of Tinycore from one of the [[mirrors]], and write it to a CD.
==== Download grub-0.97-splash.tcz ====
Download the grub-0.97-splash.tcz extension, as well as dependencies, and dependencies of dependencies. You need the .dep files, where extensions have them. If you plan to connect to the internet in the future, also include the .md5.txt files for each extension. These may be downloaded from the same [[mirrors]].
If you want other applications on the computer, you may also download them, for example, wireless internet drivers.
==== Download Parted Magic ====
Download the latest version of [[Parted Magic]].
==== Run Parted Magic ====
Start the computer, running Parted Magic.
==== Partition the Hard Drive ====
Before partitioning the hard drive, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files on the hard drive will be lost.
Start the GParted Partition Editor.
Delete existing partitions.
If you plan to install only Tinycore using the entire hard drive, make an Ext3 partition and a linux-swap partition.
Also see [[partition|Partition a Hard Drive so you can Install more than one Operating System]]
====Create /tce and /tce/optional Directories and Paste Extensions====
You may need to mount the directory.
Open the file manager, 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, .dep and .md5.txt files you downloaded to the /tce/optional directory.
==== Copy Tinycore to the Partition ====
Still running Parted Magic, put the Tinycore CD in the drive. Still using the file manager, copy and paste Tinycore (the directory "boot" and its contents) to the partition.
==== If you use another partition change sda1 and (hd0,0) in all of the following ====
In this example, Tinycore will be installed in sda1, which is the same as (hd0,0) in Grub. If you are install Tinycore in another partition, change sda1 and (hd0,0) in all of the following.
==== Run Tinycore from the CD ====
Turn the computer off and restart it, running Tinycore from the CD.
==== Install Local ====
Open the AppBrowser. Click Local. Click grub-0.9.7-splash.tcz. Click OK
==== Set Up Grub ====
To start a root terminal, open the terminal and type:
sudo su
To create a directory for Grub, type:
mkdir -p /mnt/sda1/boot/grub
To copy files to grub, type:
cp -p /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/* /mnt/sda1/boot/grub
==== Alternate Method: Using Xfe File Manager ====
To start the file manager as root, open the terminal and type:
sudo xfe
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."
==== Tinycore Grub Commands ====
Start the text editor as root by opening the terminal and typing:
sudo editor
Type the Tinycore start commands in a new file, and save it with the name "menu.lst" in the directory "/mnt/sda1/boot/grub" (that is /mnt/sda1/boot/grub/menu.lst) (note "menu.lst" contains a lower case L, not a one).
The minimum Grub commands for Tinycore are:
default 0
timeout 5
title Tinycore
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 Tinycore
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/bzImage quiet tce=sda1 opt=sda1 home=sda1 norestore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
Other boot codes may also be added. For example, you can set the default resolution of the desktop by setting the "xvesa" parameter:
kernel /boot/bzImage quiet xvesa=1280x800x24
==== Master Boot Record ====
The master boot record needs to be set up before Tinycore can be started from the hard drive.
Open the Terminal and type:
sudo grub
After getting the Grub prompt, type:
root (hd0,0)
setup (hd0)
quit
If you use a partition other than (hd0,0), change "root (hd0,0)" as appropriate.
When setting up the master boot record on a hard drive in a computer, leave "setup (hd0)" as it is (you may need to change it when setting up the master boot record on a removable drive, such as a USB drive).
==== Start Tinycore on the Hard Drive ====
If you now turn the computer off and restart, Tinycore can be selected from the Grub menu and started. Remember to remove any CDs.
Have fun using Tinycore.
==== Set Up OnBoot and OnDemand ====
If you have downloaded any extensions other than Grub, and copied them to /tce/optional, for example, wireless internet drivers, they need to be put in OnBoot or OnDemand, which can be done using Apps Audit.
Do not put dependencies in OnBoot or OnDemand. They will be automatically included.
For more information see [[install apps|Install Applications]].
==== Save Application Settings ====
If you included the "norestore" boot option, backup will not be used.
If you install certain applications, you may want to save settings related to those applications. For example, if you install a printer, and want to save printer settings.
There are various ways to save settings.
1. The ideal method in most situations, is to make a new extension with settings. For more information, see [[extension_for_settings|Make Extensions for Settings]].
2. Settings can also be saved in /opt. For an example of this, see [[passwd|Tinycore Passwords]].
3. Another option is to use backup. If you want to use backup, don't include the “norestore” boot option. Then edit /opt/.filetool.lst. If you are using persistent home and opt, delete all references to the home and opt directories. In the version I am using, that is everything. Add a list of files and directories you want backed up to /opt/.filetool.lst.
Also see [[install apps|Install Applications]], [[extension_for_settings|Make Extensions for Settings]], [[Backup]] and [[backup_hd|Backup when Installed on a Hard Drive]].
==== Alternate Grub Commands ====
These Grub commands may be used instead of those above.
title Tinycore
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/bzImage quiet tce=sda1 opt=sda1 home=sda1 norestore
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/tinycore.gz
==== Using Grub 2 ====
The above method uses Grub Legacy. Some people may want to use Grub 2.
When using Grub 2 format the partition as Ext4.
Installing Grub 2 is very easy. Just grub-install
First, copy bzImage and tinycore.gz to /boot
Second, rename bzImage to vmlinuz-tinycore
Third, update-grub
Fourth, reboot
If you can't see the grub boot menu. Use shift (not esc as in grub-legacy)