How to troubleshoot?

[lmart]

Attempting to boot TinyCore-7.2 on an Acer Netbook, via PendriveLinux YUMI.
It only boots to terminal. How/What can I troubleshoot to find out what is preventing it from booting to the windows manager?

Netbook specifics follow:

Processor   2x Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N455 @ 1.66GHz
Memory   1022MB
Audio Adapter   HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
Input Devices
    PC Speaker   
    AT Translated Set 2 keyboard   
    PS/2 Logitech Wheel Mouse   
    Power Button   
    Sleep Button   
    Lid Switch   
    Power Button   
Video Bus   
Printers None connected   
SCSI Disks ATA WDC

[Juanito]

You don't mention which graphics chipset you have nor whether you're trying to use Xvesa, Xfbdev or Xorg-7.7.

Assuming Xvesa:

Code: [Select]

$ tce-load -i Xvesa Xprogs flwm aterm wbar
$ xsetup.sh
$ startx

[curaga]

Also, please use a supported installer. Third-party installers may not work.

[lmart]

Juanito :: Thanks. I will run a check on the graphic chipset and let you know.

curaga :: Thanks. What supported installer do you recommend?
I originally used core2usb-1.6 to create the usb. core2usb-1.6 is the only version I could find.
I formatted a usb to Fat32, but core2usb balked stating the usb was not empty. It was empty. So, I purchased a new usb, deleted the stuff on the usb and ran core2usb again. Same reply from core2usb. Reformatted the usb and same reply from core2usb, so I abandoned it and tried YUMI.

[lmart]

Juanito:
#1 My only expectation for graphical desktop environment is (http://tinycorelinux.net/downloads.html); "TinyCore is the recommended option for new users who have a wired network connection. It includes the base Core system plus X/GUI extensions for a dynamic FLTK/FLWM graphical desktop environment."
#2 lspci | grep VGA
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D4xx/D5xx/N4xx/N5xx Integrated Graphics Controller
#3 I likely asked my original question incorrectly.
TinyCore should boot into a graphical desktop environment. It didn't. I tried the YUMI usb on 2 other computers. Both booted into the desktop. So, something did not work correctly when booting on the Netbook.
How would I troubleshoot to find out exactly what didn't work correctly?
Then, how would I go about fixing it?
Many thanks.

[coreplayer2]

...
curaga :: Thanks. What supported installer do you recommend?
I originally used core2usb-1.6 to create the usb. core2usb-1.6 is the only version I could find.
I formatted a usb to Fat32, but core2usb balked stating the usb was not empty. It was empty. So, I purchased a new usb, deleted the stuff on the usb and ran core2usb again. Same reply from core2usb. Reformatted the usb and same reply from core2usb, so I abandoned it and tried YUMI.

This is the main TC installer available form the TinycorePlus ISO
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/install.html

Also "How to use pendrives and other removable devices with Tiny Core? from
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/faq.html#bootcodes

Or the easiest to follow install guide (Chapter 2), plus important info regarding USB read Section 1.4
http://tinycorelinux.net/corebook.pdf

[lmart]

coreplayer2 :: Thanks. Will cull through the info shortly. After reading several posts, I came across the recommendation for core2usb. I followed the instructions at https://sourceforge.net/p/core2usb/wiki/Home/

Usage

Its usage is easy and straight forward.

    Format target USB drive for FAT (FAT16 or FAT32 depending on system and size) making sure there is enough free space for system. Add extra free space if /tce directory is created to store downloaded extensions and backup on the same USB.
    Download ISO file you want to install.
    Start installer.
    Select ISO file.
    Select target drive. In the list free and total capacity is indicated. Target drive must be empty.
    Click INSTALL button to start installation. It may take some time, please be patient.
    Follow installation status at the bottom line.


"I originally used core2usb-1.6 to create the usb. core2usb-1.6 is the only version I could find."

[Juanito]

Unless you have a pressing reason to use a fat filesystem, it would be better to use tc-install and a linux filesystem

[lmart]

Juanito + curaga + coreplayer2
Many thanks for your replies. With the exception of the book, I read the info coreplay2 provided prior to downloading TinyCore.
A few comments:
Quick & Easy Overview - Tiny Core Linux
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/overview.html
1. Minimum System Requirements
        CPU-i486DX   | Yes
        RAM-48Mb   | Yes
        CD Drive   | No, CD-less laptop
        Wired Internet Connection   | Yes
        TinyCore CD   | No, iso only

Found core2usb and pendrivelinux-YUMI from the query https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=boot+tinycore+from+usb
I followed the core2usb instructions precisely (Fat32). It did not work. Thus my use of YUMI, which worked on 2 different Win10 cd-less laptops, but not my Win10 cd-less NetBook.

With that said, again, I think I asked the wrong question. TinyCore did not boot into a graphical interface, as expected, so How/What can I troubleshoot what went wrong?

Again, thanks.

[Juanito]

Did you try the instructions I gave a few posts ago after "assuming Xvesa"?

[curaga]

It's quite likely YUMI does something wrong, missing a proper waitusb code, and your netbook's usb is slower than the other two. If core2usb has issues, please use the native installer.

The commands in Juanito's first reply will tell us if this is the case. It most likely is, and that would be why we tell people not to use third-party installers.

[lmart]

Juanito :

tce-load -i Xvesa Xprogs flwm aterm wbar
   Xvesa.tcz not found!
xsetup.sh
   xsetup.sh not found
startx
   startx not found

[Juanito]

OK, so it looks like your installer did not work fully.

If you have a wired network connection, you can use "tce-load -w Xvesa Xprogs flwm aterm wbar" and then the commands I listed.

[lmart]

It's quite likely YUMI does something wrong, missing a proper waitusb code, and your netbook's usb is slower than the other two. If core2usb has issues, please use the native installer.

The commands in Juanito's first reply will tell us if this is the case. It most likely is, and that would be why we tell people not to use third-party installers.

thanks, please point me to a url with install directions for creating a boot usb w/o a cd drive.

[lmart]

OK, so it looks like your installer did not work fully.

If you have a wired network connection, you can use "tce-load -w Xvesa Xprogs flwm aterm wbar" and then the commands I listed.

ok, will try later in a few ... thanks