Install Tinycore to a USB Drive

This method may be used to install Tinycore on a USB drive.

For other installation methods, see the Index.

Before installing Tinycore, save a copy of all files you want to keep. All files will be lost.

Be aware: Older computers may not be able to start an operating system on a USB drive.

Use the latest version of Tinycore. New versions have improvements and additional features.

A computer.

A USB drive.

The CorePlus CD.

Download the latest version of Coreplus ISO or Tinycore iso from one of the mirrors, and write it to a CD.

http://tinycorelinux.net/downloads.html

coreplus ISO contains many extras like tc-install (used for installing tinycore to a drive), wifi tools and firmware extensions, etc. etc..

tinycore ISO does not contain any install required install extensions but will likely boot to a tinycore desktop where you may download tc-install and hardware specific extensions for a more compact installation.

Place the coreplus or tinycore CD in the drive, and restart the computer, selecting Tinycore with the installer (if coreplus is used).

Click on the Mount Tool.

Click on the CD drive so it becomes mounted. It will be green when mounted.

The CD drive will be something like sdc, without a number at the end. Hard drive and USB drive partitions are normally something like sda1, with a number at the end.

If tinycore.iso is used, download the tc-install extension

tce-load -wi tc-install.tcz

To run the installer, click TC-Install in the wbar or menu.

Another option is to click the Run icon, and type

tc-install

Select the location of the tinycore initrd file. It will be “/mnt/sdc/boot/core.gz” If not sdc, use the correct drive.

Select Frugal.

Select Whole Disk.

Select the correct drive. Warning: If you select the wrong drive, everything on that drive will be lost.

Click the Forward arrow.

Formatting Options: Select ext2.

Click the Forward arrow.

Boot options: waitusb=5

Click the Forward arrow.

Click Proceed.

Tinycore will be installed.

You can restart the computer and run Tinycore. Remember to remove the CD.

Have fun using Tinycore.

If the computer will not start Tinycore on the USB drive, see If a Computer Won't Start from a CD, DVD or USB Drive

Also see: Install Applications, Make Extensions for Settings, Backup, Options when Installed on a USB Drive and Maximize the life of a USB Drive.

The most common install error results in booting to a command line with no extensions loaded.

This is primarily due to the tinycore boot process running ahead of kernel hardware detection, otherwise known as “Slow USB” A simple resolution for this is to add the “waitusb” bootcode to your boot config file (default = extlinux.cfg)

waitusb=5

In a default install this would be the expected result:

title Core
kernel /boot/vmlinuz loglevel=3  waitusb=5
initrd /boot/core.gz

There are scenarios where it's better to specify the USB thumb drive by UUID (or Label)

First identify your USB drive (often /dev/sdb1) If necessary load util-linux extension

tce-load -wi util-linux.tcz

Then;

blkid -s UUID /dev/sdb1
/dev/sdb1: UUID="B854-8FE0"

Next modify the waitusb bootcode. Example:

title Core
kernel /boot/vmlinuz loglevel=3  waitusb=5:UUID="B854-8FE0"
initrd /boot/core.gz

If persistent opt is used on a USB drive, in most situations, it results in less writing to the usb drive. Most people change settings in opt, less often than they backup.

When setting up persistent opt in a USB drive, it is ideal to use the UUID.

To set up persistent opt, edit the bootloader configuration file, adding persistent opt (/mnt/sda1/boot/extlinux/extlinux.conf. It may be a partition other than sda1.).

You should already have tce=UUID=“9aff3da3-474d-440d-bb6c-3240afe84ac6” (the number will be different). To set up persistent opt, copy the UUID number for opt, like this

opt=UUID="9aff3da3-474d-440d-bb6c-3240afe84ac6" tce=UUID="9aff3da3-474d-440d-bb6c-3240afe84ac6"

Use the UUID number for your USB drive.

After setting up persistent opt, edit /opt/.filetool.lst, and remove all references to opt, so it is not included in backup.

Core2usb is a Windows native program that makes it easy to install Tinycore or Core from the downloaded ISO image to a bootable pendrive. Core2usb can be found on Sourceforge.