tinycore installation help

[P5music]

hi
I am trying to install tc to usb pendrive.
note that the live starts just from this pendrive.
I downloaded (with windows) some tcz that are interesting for me.
here's what I'm doing:
1- start live
2- copy tcz into tce folder  (is this wrong for finding those installed next boot?)
3- start usb install utility

but I get errors for pendrive installation like partitioning errors or device not recognized. the utility closes and kills itself.
what have I to do?
thanks

[Guy]

Download the latest Tiny Core iso image. Write it to a CD.

Put the CD in the drive, and restart the computer, so you are running Tiny Core from the CD.

Connect to the internet.

Install dosfstools and syslinux.

Run CPanel -> USB Install. (Select the Ext filesystem.)

(remove the CD) Restart the computer and run Tiny Core from the pendrive.

Connect to the internet.

Install programs you want on the pendrive.

[bmarkus]

This is how I'm installing on USB stick on Wndows.

1) formatting USB stick for FAT

2) installing TC ISO with UNetbootin from http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

3) cerating a /tce directory in the root of the USB partition where TC installed

4) editing syslinux.cfg, changing boot options.

from

label unetbootindefault
menu label Default
kernel /ubnkern
append initrd=/ubninit quiet max_loop=256

to

label unetbootindefault
menu label Default
kernel /ubnkern
append initrd=/ubninit quiet max_loop=256 tinycore waitusb=5

Boot system from the stick and install extensions with Appbrowser,

[P5music]

thanks
for guy:
I was not able to mount cd (not seen)
so I copied the iso to home/tc
loaded dosftools and syslinux
usbinstall
ext2 etc,
I got errors:
..
dd: /usr/local/share/syslinux/mbr.bin input/output error
..
/usr/bin/usbinstall:line 385 /usr/local/sbin/extlinux: input/output error
..
setting up tinycore-current.iso image on /mnt/sdc1...cp:cannot stat '/mnt/staging/boot/tinycore-current.iso.gz no such file
done
completed

it does not start at reboot
I see cursor blinking
stopped

for bmarkus:
tce folder is to be created on the pendrive after executing unetbootin?
-is this a normal system, not just a live?
-why waitusb?

thanks
your help is very important

[bmarkus]

tce folder is to be created on the pendrive after executing unetbootin?

Yes

-is this a normal system, not just a live?

What is normal?

-why waitusb?

Otherwise USB drive will not be recognized and used even if booted.

[P5music]

thanks
I created /tce and edited syslinux.cfg

append initrd=/boot/tinycore.gz quiet max_loop=256 tinycore waitusb=5 tinycore tce=sdc1
or
ppend initrd=/boot/tinycore.gz quiet max_loop=256 tce=sdc1 tinycore waitusb=5
wrong ?

however I noticed that tinycore put extensions in /tmp/tcloop, not in sdc1/tce
so I do not find them after rebooting

[bmarkus]

Remove tce=sdc1

[P5music]

I have this tce folder on the pen
and the config file edited as you said
but tinycore put extensions in /tmp/tcloop
not in tce on the pen
I hope there is solution.

[bmarkus]

Try waitusb=10

[maro]

@P5music: Please note that the loop-mounting of extension will always use '/tmp/tcloop'. To make it a bit more clear:

(1) Let me start with the case of the "cloud" mode (which is not what you are aiming for, but to explain things step-by-step I'll begin here): Extension files (e.g. EXT.tcz, plus their respective .dep and .md5.txt files) will be saved to '/tmp/tce/optional'. The "installation" happens via loop-mounting using mount points under '/tmp/tcloop'. Please note that '/opt/.tce_dir' contains an entry of '/tmp/tce'.

(2) When using persistence (which is what you are aiming for) the system should "automagically" identify your "tce" directory on your pendrive and use that instead of '/tmp/tce'. For argument sake I will assume your partition is '/dev/sda1'. If the detection works properly, the entry in '/opt/.tce_dir' should have changed to '/mnt/sda1/tce'. The extension files should be saved under '/mnt/sda1/tce/optional', but the mount points for the loop-mounting are still under '/tmp/tcloop'.

In no scenario I'm aware of should there be any EXT.tcz files under '/tmp/tcloop'.

[P5music]

very useful information.
please tell me if the following is going to work :
1) start tiny from pendrive
2) install everything I need
3) mount pendrive (it is not mounted, so tiny should "automagically" recognize it, I think I don't get this point)
3) copy the folder with extension to pendrive folder /tce
4) mount this folder to the point you mentioned

then for the future :
5)change some init file so this mounting is performed at the boot

is this wrong?

[OldAdamUser2]

Perhaps the only way to have persistence on a usb stick with just one partition is to keep mydata.tgz on the usb stick. (Mydata.tgz is the file that is created when you select backup during the shutdown procedure.) The next time you boot from that stick, all of your tce files and all of your personal data will be loaded into memory.

I think a persistent tce directory needs to be in an ext (Linux) file system and can't be retained on a FAT files system (but I'm not sure about that). If I am correct, you could partition your usb stick and put your tce on the second (ext) partition. You would need to indentify it in sysllinux.cfg with a uuid number so it could be found in other computers and other usb slots.

[curaga]

tce and backup can reside on fat. It's home and opt that need a linux fs.

[P5music]

thank you all
now I think the better way is to bypass waitusb and make some trick:

1-load tiny
2-install my stuff
3-create a /tce on pendrive sdc1
4-copy (cp -rp) all that is in tmp/tce on /sdc1/tce
5-edit the file/script that is called on startup so that it mounts sdc1 and loop mounts the folder on /tmp/tcloop

I want to try that, so I ask you:
a-which is the role of opt/.tce_dir
b-what startup file/script I have to edit to put the mount and loop mount commands
c-which is the command syntax for loop mounting
if this works I think it will be useful also for others
thanks