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Core install with 32 MB RAM on 486

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branpurn:
I am looking to install Core on a system with 32 MB RAM and an Intel 486.

From the Core media,
--- Code: ---mc base
--- End code ---
for no extensions, and
--- Code: ---mc text
--- End code ---
for text mode, both kernel panic.

Search discussed the following steps, which seem to be out-of-date (am unable to reproduce in a VM):


--- Quote from: danielibarnes on March 04, 2011, 11:50:50 AM ---
--- Quote from: tinypoodle on March 03, 2011, 10:07:58 PM ---Wondering what role grub would play here. Or is that just an example for any bootloader?

--- End quote ---
I expect syslinux would work, too. I just used grub in my test.


--- Quote ---i don't know how can u run tinycore in only 24mb
--- End quote ---
Yes, Tiny Core requires 48 MB of memory to run it in the usual fashion.  Installing it into a 32MB machine is difficult, but possible if you have the technical expertise. Here is a rough sequence of steps:
1) Boot from Micro Core disc.
2) Execute "tce-load -w -i syslinux.tcz"
3) Partition the HDD and make the partition bootable.
4) Format the partition with ext2 and mount it.
5) Run extlinux to install bootloader.
6) Edit syslinux.cfg to add "root=/mnt/hda1" (assuming hda1 is partition)
7) Insert Tiny Core disc and mount CD.
8) Extract tinycore.gz from CD into /mnt/hda1
9) Copy bzImage to HDD.
10) Unmount CD and reboot.

--- End quote ---

branpurn:
Edit: This was supposed to be an edit to OP but I guess I miss-clicked

I see the grub cmdline following worked for someone on 486 in 2018, but in my VM it still kernel panics:

--- Code: ---kernel /boot/bzImage loglevel=7 text no387 nofxsr nortc initrd /boot/core.gz
--- End code ---

Rich:
Hi branpurn
Welcome to the forum.


--- Quote from: branpurn on December 08, 2025, 03:27:43 PM ---Edit: This was supposed to be an edit to OP but I guess I miss-clicked ...
--- End quote ---
After 30 minutes, you can no longer edit a post.


--- Quote from: branpurn on December 08, 2025, 02:53:39 PM ---I am looking to install Core on a system with 32 MB RAM and an Intel 486. ...
--- End quote ---
syslinux versus grub should make no difference.

32 MB RAM might be doable, but it will take some work.
Read through this thread:
https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,27458.0.html
I showed another user some ways to reduce memory usage.
Maybe you can build on some of the ideas found there.

patrikg:

--- Quote from: branpurn on December 08, 2025, 03:27:43 PM ---
--- Code: ---kernel /boot/bzImage loglevel=7 text no387 nofxsr nortc initrd /boot/core.gz
--- End code ---

--- End quote ---

I would think that the bootloader syslinux/grub would load initramfs instead of you having initramfs on the command line to the kernel.

CNK:
Note you need a 486 with a maths co-processor for the TC kernel. If you have a 468SX then you'll need a special kernel build with that enabled. Also some older TC versions had bugs with booting on 486, so are you using the latest version?

You need to add "root=" on the kernel command line to point to the root filesystem you should have unpacked to a partition (eg. /dev/sda1). That should replace "initrd".

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