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Table of Contents
Install Tiny Core
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.
Use the Latest Version
Use the latest version of Tiny Core. New versions have additional features and improvements.
Things You Need
The Tiny Core CD.
A broadband internet connection.
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/
Some Situations Only: Partition the Drive
If you don't partition the drive, but just select Whole Disk when running the installer, installation is very easy, and Tiny Core should just work.
If you partition the drive, and make the Tiny Core partition Boot (or Active), installation is very easy, and Tiny Core should just work.
Most people installing Tiny Core on a USB drive, will not need to partition it, but just select Whole Disk when running the installer. Do not put a swap partition on solid state memory, such as a USB drive.
When installing Tiny Core on a hard drive, it is a good idea to have a partition for the operating system, and a swap partition. If you have small RAM use this method. If you make the partition Boot, Tiny Core should just work.
If you want to install Tiny Core using the whole drive, and not have a swap partition, you don't need to partition the drive.
If you partition the drive, and install more than one operating system, installation is more complicated.
If you already have partitions set up how you want them, you may use existing partitions.
Partitioning
If you want to partition the drive, do it before installing any operating system.
Before partitioning the drive, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files on the drive will be lost.
While running Tiny Core from the CD, and connected to the internet, install gparted.tcz using the App Browser (There are other partitioning applications which you may use. GParted may be easiest for new users).
Start GParted Partition Editor.
Delete existing partitions.
If you plan to install only Tiny Core using the entire hard drive, make an Ext3 partition and a linux-swap partition.
If Tiny Core will be the only operating system on the hard 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
Download Extensions
While running Tiny Core from the CD and connected to the internet, download dosfstools-3.tcz and syslinux.tcz. If you plan to use the USB zip option, also download perl5.tcz.
Run the Installer
Before running the installer, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files will be lost.
Run the installer from Control Panel, then HD/USB Install.
Following are some common options which may be selected by people learning about this for the first time, and not understanding what some of these things mean. Other options may also be selected.
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.
If you did not partition the disk, select Whole Disk. If you did partition the disk, select Existing Partition. Then select the partition.
Click the Forward arrow.
Formatting Options: If installing to a USB drive, most people should select ext2. If installing to a hard drive, many people may select ext3. If installing to a hard drive, and planning to use Grub2, select ext4.
Click the Forward arrow.
You may type in boot options if you want.
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, and want to run them, install Grub. Installing Grub is explained on these pages:
Manually Install Tiny Core 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.
