Install Tiny Core on a USB drive while Connected to the Internet - Version 3.6

There are more recent versions of Tinycore, with improvements and additional features, and easier installation methods. For these see the Index.

This method may be used to install Tiny Core on USB drive, or other solid state memory, using a computer connected to the Internet with a broadband Internet connection.

Before installing Tiny Core, 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 Tiny Core. New versions have improvements and additional features.

To use this method of installation, you need Tiny Core 3.6.

A computer.

A USB drive.

The Tiny Core CD.

A broadband Internet connection.

Download the latest version of Tiny Core from one of the mirrors, and write it to a CD.

While running Tiny Core from the CD and connected to the internet, install dosfstools-3.tcz and syslinux.tcz, using the App Browser. If you plan to use the USB zip option, also install perl5.tcz.

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.

Select Tiny Core.

Select the location of either the tinycore iso file, or the tinycore.gz file.

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: You may leave this blank.

Click the Forward arrow.

Click Proceed.

Tiny Core will be installed.

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

Have fun using Tiny Core.

If the computer will not start Tiny Core 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.

If you want to use passwords to prevent other people from logging in, you can set up a menu, as explained in Extlinux Bootloader, and add passwords, as explained in Extlinux Passwords.

Another option is to use Tiny Core Passwords.

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.