Tiny Core Linux
General TC => General TC Talk => Topic started by: grandma on April 09, 2011, 12:21:44 AM
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Note: ORIGINAL posts were long and later "JUICED"/squeeze for key info of each page.
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UPDATED - jwm fixed a lot of the bugs I was chasing - very nice
Note: ORIGINAL posts were long and later "JUICED"/squeeze for key info of each page.
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Statement of problem: a user has a Windows system wants to begin using Linux, but is unable to boot from USB, making all the Netbootin/Live Linux/Pen Drive utilities and solutions useless, and they can't burn a CD and don't want to "buy" anything, or pay for online utilities, virtual boxes or anything else.
They want a simple, fast method that can be installed or uninstalled easily without damaging their Windows system.
Best solution (only one that I have found at the forum thus far)
3 files are required:
1. thelitecore.iso - available from svolli.org - google Tiny Core and Svolli or browse these forums - also a link in #3 below.
2. ISODISK to read the ISO - also a link in #3 below
3. A simple DOS bat file that installs Tiny Core in about 3 seconds and will uninstall it and cleans up afterward, without changing the Windows system in any way. You can get TCSETUP.BAT (open source by its nature) at www.eduhosting.org/?linux
TCSETUP.BAT was designed as a "one click" system that fetches the files and once you have everything downloaded, installs Tiny Core on a Windows 2000, XP, Vista or Windows 7 system in about 3 seconds and uninstalls as well. By its nature its open source.
Once installed you can easily set up your own Tiny Core Linux System on an EXT2 partition etc.
Note: does not work on compressed C: drives.
Other topics below relate to questions on what else can be added and how backups are done and may be available in other posts.
REVISITED after 4 months.
I tried TC - tried the Svolli version - and the newer TC that reads NTFS - but requires "adjustments to read and write".
In the end I have stuck with Svolli's version until I can get the latest TC release to read and write NTFS smoothly on boot - -pretty sure it can - not sure how to do that yet.
What I did find out tonight - after months of chasing bugs - is that flwm is absolutely NOT something I'd bundle with TC. As soon as I switched to JWM a bunch of problems disappeared.
Heads up.
I'd list the bugs but most of you folks have probably already switched. I know a few who have not - but JWM seems to run faster, graphics are far better, no "blue screens of death" - i.e. closing editor left the powder blue footprint behind with flwm - seems resolved / fixed with jwm - and just overall a much better package - and seems to run faster - not sure why but the fan in my laptop really screams when I run jwm - and aps seem to load fast, smooth, reliably while aps started in flwm often never loaded...not sure why.
You'd type editor filename and it would either bounce back to a prompt - no editor - or sit there in limbo as if it had started and you'd have to go kill the job with a new terminal session.
I think a lot of the problems I hacked through during the first few months were flwm originated...very frustrating...sorry if I caused ya'all grief...I spent so much time chasing ghosts I probably could have learned a lot of this a little faster and saved some time.
============================== old post
Statement of problem: a user has a Windows system wants to begin using Linux, but is unable to boot from USB, making all the Netbootin/Live Linux/Pen Drive utilities and solutions useless, and they can't burn a CD and don't want to "buy" anything, or pay for online utilities, virtual boxes or anything else.
They want a simple, fast method that can be installed or uninstalled easily without damaging their Windows system.
Best solution (only one that I have found at the forum thus far)
3 files are required:
1. thelitecore.iso - available from svolli.org - google Tiny Core and Svolli or browse these forums - also a link in #3 below.
2. ISODISK to read the ISO - also a link in #3 below
3. A simple DOS bat file that installs Tiny Core in about 3 seconds and will uninstall it and cleans up afterward, without changing the Windows system in any way. You can get TCSETUP.BAT (open source by its nature) at www.eduhosting.org/?linux
TCSETUP.BAT was designed as a "one click" system that fetches the files and once you have everything downloaded, installs Tiny Core on a Windows 2000, XP, Vista or Windows 7 system in about 3 seconds and uninstalls as well. By its nature its open source.
Once installed you can easily set up your own Tiny Core Linux System on an EXT2 partition etc.
Note: does not work on compressed C: drives.
Other topics below relate to questions on what else can be added and how backups are done and may be available in other posts.
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and (ahem) - where do I get the tcz or gz util/grub etc. files with a W2K click?
You can use a url of the form:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/perl5.tcz (http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/perl5.tcz)
..just substitute perl5.tcz with the extension you need
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Once you've got your USB stick bootable with TinyCore or MicroCore, you're almost done.
Create a directory called tce in the top level of the USB stick and a directory called optional inside of that.
Then you can download extensions ( *.tcz ) into tce/optional/ and create a text file called tce/onboot.lst listing the extensions you want loaded on boot (one per line). You don't have to list dependencies in onboot.lst - that's what the .dep files are for.
The extensions ( *.tcz ) can be found in the repository at http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/ but you'll have to type in the name of the extension at the end of the URL. for each extension, You'll need the .tcz file, the .tcz.md5 file and the .tcz.dep file (if any). I always grab the .tcz.list and .tcz.info files as well, just for reference. So, for instance, for the killerapplication extension, you would download
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/killerapplication.tcz
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/killerapplication.tcz.md5
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/killerapplication.tcz.dep
and optionally
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/killerapplication.tcz.list
http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/killerapplication.tcz.info
all into tce/optional/
Now for the "tcedious" part - do the same for any dependencies listed in killerapplication.tcz.dep and in -their- .dep files recursively. TC's appbrowser handles the dependencies automatically so the big hint is:
Only manually download the files you need to boot and get TC connected to the extension repo. Then use appbrowser to get whatever else you want.
If you can't get the laptop talking to the internet, can you get some other machine (that -can- talk to the internet) and boot it from your TC USB stick? Then use appbrowser to handle the extension downloads?
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Thank you for the Perl link - that will help.
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Let's continue this discussion - and the one form the TCB Bugs area ( http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php?topic=9194.msg50194 ) - over on "General TC Talk" as it doesn't seem to be specific to "MicroCore & Core Elements" or "TCB Bugs". Rather than copy and paste a lot of text from here to there, let me just throw out a somewhat related tidbit that's been on my mind lately...
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I will try netbootin - but it won't boot to USB stick - other laptop might
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Using a pnedrive, eh? Are you using waitusb=10 ?
Look at the output of the command
$ showbootcodes
Are you using UUID or LABEL to ensure that your target pendrive is the proper one.
You know we have an automated USB pendrive install script that set all of these items up waitusb, UUID, and all needed directories. No need to be manually "prep'ing" anything.
Next you should concentrate to gain internet access first as again, manually, trying to download extensions via URL is like digging a trench with a spoon. Nobody really wants to watch.
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I will try UUID method - first attempt using DOS format drive ID failed.
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perusing the faq shows: http://distro.ibiblio.org/tinycorelinux/faq.html#pendrives
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All tce extensions end in *.tcz.
My suspicion is that some of those files listed would be source code related rather than the extension binaries.
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I will try to learn to compile - not sure how - will look for another post and then I could make something similar with the ntfs-3g embedded.
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found a utility to replace netbootin - sort of
usbdisk allowed me to view the ISO as a hard drive and is free
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also found a defrag utility that optimized - pushed data to select cylinders so I could repartition with Linux - ultradefrag - also free - but would prefer to learn to partition in Linux
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From Windows an all GUI method is:
Use Windows unetbootin to make USB pendrive.
Point it to the tinycore iso. Under options enter quiet
Unetbootin makes bootable pendrive from windows.
Boot up tinycore pendrive, select Apps icon, note at the bottom right corner is a Set button. Select it to automatically setup all required tce directories and files.
Back to Windows, use net to download via url into the pendrive tce/optional directory.
Should only be done for the minimum needed to gain internet access from TC.
Anything downloaded via URL is considered "download only". It will not auto load upon boot. Each dependency must also be URL downloaded. This is only true because you are downloading from a URL (via Windows) and not using Apps(browser) as supplied by TC which automatically resolves all dependencies.
Boot TC this time select AppsAudit and then select OnBoot and/or OnDemand to indicate which apps should load at boot and which will be loaded via menu. You only need to indicate base applications, dependencies will automatically follow. Reboot to effect.
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onboot seems to be a key - thank you
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tried changing onboot - seems to work well
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got dual boot working with GRUB by modifying menu.lst
I can boot up with Windows, or click TC0, TC1,
TC2, etc. and each one will go try to load Tiny Core from
various partitions.
#######################################
# Tutorial on naming of partitions:
# MENU.LST WINDOWS/DOS LINUX
# hd0,0 C:\ /dev/hda1
# hd0,1 D:\ /dev/hda2
# hd0,2 E:\ /dev/hda3
#######################################
color blue/green yellow/red white/magenta white/magenta
timeout 30
default /default
title find and load NTLDR of Windows NT/2K/XP
fallback 1
find --set-root --ignore-floppies /ntldr
chainloader /ntldr
savedefault --wait=2
title TC0
root=(hd0,6)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC1
root=(hd0,1)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC2
root=(hd0,2)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC3
root=(hd0,3)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC4
root=(hd0,4)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC5
root=(hd0,5)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC6
root=(hd0,6)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC7
root=(hd0,7)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title TC8
root=(hd0,8)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
title commandline
commandline
title back to dos
quit
title reboot
reboot
title halt
halt
Save MENU.LST to your hard drive and you are almost done. The
last step is to modify BOOT.INI and add a few characters to the
last line.
BOOT.INI is a hidden file, also in your C:\ root (W2K and XP).
For 95/98 there are other techniques for changing your boot
sequence, and for Vista and Windows 7 its a bit more difficult:
you have to download a utility from Microsoft to edit the boot
sequence (another restrictive MS technique), or find a free
third party software developer offering the utility: a few are
out there.
For W2K and XP users its a lot easier.
1. Go to the command prompt - Start-Run-CMD-Enter
2. Type C:\
3. Type START BOOT.INI
4. Notepad should open with a file that looks something like this:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
5. Add this line.
c:\grldr="GRUB Tiny Core"
6. Save the file, exit notepad and type EXIT at the DOS command prompt and reboot.
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2. Used File Mgr - click SET right side - and saw it pop in left panel
/mnt/sda2
/mnt/sdb1
Note that your usb stick will not necessarily be assigned the same drive name each time you boot, which is why we recommend to use a label or uid to identify your usb stick.
One poor boy way to identify which drive letter corresponds to your usb stick, is to look for the boot file bzImage using a file manager.
I selected /mnt/sda2 since that is the USB port the drive is in now (earlier I was using sdb1)
Closed that - closed all windows - click SHUTDOWN - BACKUP - checked folder for backup on shutdown screen - got /mnt/sda2/tce
Once you locate the correct drive letter for your usb stick, if you manually create the /tce folder tinycore will find it automatically after that and use it for extension and backups by default.
goto ?sr0? is that correct?
sr0 is usually for cd drives - does your machine have one?
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Thank you Juanito - that worked.
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p.s. I am still eager to get Perl working. That will solve so many problems for me.
Just load the perl5 extension I gave the url for a couple of posts ago..
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I got perl working - now I want to get it so these .pl and .sh files execute on boot.
a) what folders do they go in? - specific long path
b) I need to study scripts SH files - and understand what sequence the boot does.
Thank you.
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If perl5.tcz is sitting in tce/optional does not necessarily mean that it is loaded.
Especially since you side-loaded this extension. Side loading extensions via Web URL means, as I previously posted, you should use AppsAudit and select OnBoot or OnDemand to determine if the application is loaded and available. Side loading extensions would also dictate that you should use Apps Audit to check/Find missing dependencies. We have posted videos on how to use all of these features.
You can use Control Panel -> System Stats Installed tab to view currently loaded applications.
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Note that generally under UNIX filenames are case sensitive, and commands in consequence as well.
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am manually collecting TCZ - haven't got net on TC yet.
would suggest these two features:
a) TCZ area where windows users can get a ZIP with MD5 and DEP included
or
b) zips of packages - like flash and audio and player or browser and wifi and etc.
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So - is there an area on the ramdrive where I can examine the PERL MODS (.PM files) that installed?
Technically there is no ramdrive involved, but a tmpfs.
sudo find / -iname *.pm
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Found this on wifi
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=356367&sid=b793ce8a98469df65ecc00afd8be5c85
Once I get Perl stable and a simple PDF reader (so I know I can install aps that stick) I will start playing with the wifi.
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1. Is there a "SWITCH" I can add to the APPEND that says "GO FETCH AND LOAD ALL APS IN THE OPTIONAL FOLDER - AND DO IT WITHOUT MOUNTING THE USB STICK?" Its a boot device, so I figured it already saw it - or perhaps an "auto mount" command in the cfg file.
If your extensions are on the usb stick you need to mount it to access them. You can add "mount /dev/sdb1" or similar to /opt/bootlocal.sh to mount the usb stick on boot. If you want all of your extension to load on boot, you can set them to "onboot" using apps audit.
c) how to execute a perl program or other file - on boot or 10 seconds later
add the command to /opt/bootlocal.sh
d) and can anyone tell me where those perl files were "extracted" to so I can go check the libraries that came over?
Look in /tmp/tcloop/perl5
e) Are there any "file association" settings so the command PERL PROGRAM.PL can be reduced to PROGRAM.PL
Maybe changing the shebang to /usr/local/bin/perl might work?
Thank you all for the assistance. Its Sunday - hope you're all getting a bit of sunshine.
Sunday is the first day of the working week here ;)
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And any TCZ file - or GZ file - or .TAR file? Can I put any of those in /tce/optional also - or only TCZ files?
You can of course put any file anywhere you like, but only tcz files will be loaded by the apps browser or "tce-load" command.
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Hey Juanito - I got the HELLO WORLD to fly - wooo hooo - thanks 2 you!
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I don't have a file called /opt/bootlocal.sh
if I create that on the hard drive - would that work and save?
is it c:\tce\opt or
c:\tc\opt
not sure how to configure this in windows.
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added usbwait=10 on the append line - right before the word quiet - perhaps usbwait=20?
Unless you have usb-1 (as opposed to usb-2), I would have thought usbwait=10 would be enough.
Where do you check to see if it loaded on boot
Use apps audit "onboot". If perl5 is listed, then it should load on boot. You can also check for the existence of /tmp/tcloop/perl5
Then I click BACKUP setting - find the USB drive and type sdb1 (USB) - no slashes.
It accepts that (used to error out), or should I type /sdb1 or sdb1/tce or /sdb1/tce or /sdb1/tce/optional etc. or ???
"sdb1" should be OK, but again, it is not obvious that your usb stick will called sdb1 on every boot, hence it is better to use a label or uid to identify your usb stick.
but its FAT32
Ah-ha, it would be much better if it were formatted ext2. There are freeware ext2 drivers available for windows (eg www.ext2fsd.com) that allow you to read/write files to usb sticks formatted ext2 - although you need to format the usb stick ext2 in linux.
3. WHEN I have Perl loading correctly at boot, is there a file or method to execute a Perl script at boot? I could use a TIMEOUT or something ??
again, use /opt/bootlocal.sh
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I don't have a file called /opt/bootlocal.sh
is that a folder
/opt
I create on the root of the USB drive?
There should definitely be a file named bootlocal.sh in the /opt folder. You do not need to create it, the file is automatically created on boot.
Note that by default the folder /opt is not on any permanent storage, it is in the root file system in ram.
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struggled with tcz PLUS md5 manual loads - got a few with some time cut and paste
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DOS label didn't work
tce=LABEL=tinycore home=LABEL=tinycore opt=LABEL=tinycore restore=LABEL=tinycore
TO
tce=UUID=ABCD-1234 home=UUID=ABCD-1234 opt=UUI=ABCD-1234 restore=UUID=ABCD-1234
...since the drive has that UUID
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You folks really need some LIBRARY HELP - every md5 - every info - every list - every dep file - and naturally every tcz - should be ONE CLICK - got it - done.
When you have tinycore booted with a working internet connection, it is one click with the apps browser..
OR - like the rest of planet earth - a zip or GZ (smart) and then pack that into the /tce/optional area - and POOF - one click - copy - boot - done.
I wasn't aware debian (or the rest of the planet earth) had every single deb packaged up into a zip file or tarball :P
Anyway - there is no DOSFSTOOL.TZ anywhere to be found. Any ideas?
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/dosfstools-3.tcz
or at least WORKING on wireless drivers - so there would be some hope that I could get off this thing.
Using the pci-utils or usb-utils extensions (ho-hum), could you post the exact details of your wireless hardware.
also - I am still not clear about the /opt file - "loading on boot" - since its a ram drive and isn't ready for anything until AFTER boot is done - right?
I assure you that if you add a line to /opt/bootlocal.sh (and if your backup works), it will be executed on the next boot. Part of the boot process is to copy the saved bootlocal.sh into the root file system in ram.
but right now - before I do anything - I need to get a label on that USB so it backs up
Give it a label in windows?
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tce=UUID=ABCD-1234 home=UUID=ABCD-1234 opt=UUI=ABCD-1234 restore=UUID=ABCD-1234
...since the drive has that UUID
Mine looks like this: tce=UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3 waitusb=10:UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3
All this to say:
1. the uuid is a lot longer than that you're suggesting
2. I'd start off with "tce=UUID=ABCD-1234 waitusb=10"
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I will see if I can get GRUB to pass that.
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so this goes in the APPEND area of cfg - right before the waitusb and quiet?
I use extlinux and it looks like this: label microcore
kernel /boot/bzImage
append initrd=/boot/microcore.gz quiet noswap tce=UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3
waitusb=10:UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3 host=boxdell syslog
..so you just need to do something analogous to that.
as for UUID - dos format is xxxx-xxxx - always - 30 years now - I used to register floppies of software I published on that key
I have the feeling dos may have truncated the full uuid and linux might not recognise the shortened version, but I could easily be wrong..
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can't find dosfstool
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let me know if you find a dosfstool-3.t etc. - ain't on the repo download list...
Again, http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/dosfstools-3.tcz
..as said, you could give it a label in windows?
boot says "ignoring persistent home request - ignoring persistent opt - invalid UUID etc. etc. - system frozen
As said, remove "home=" and "opt="
..and BTW, since you're managing to boot in tinycore, you can find the uuid with: $ blkid -s UUID /dev/sdb1
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tce=UUID=ABCD-1234 home=UUID=ABCD-1234 opt=UUI=ABCD-1234 restore=UUID=ABCD-1234
...since the drive has that UUID
Mine looks like this: tce=UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3 waitusb=10:UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3
All this to say:
1. the uuid is a lot longer than that you're suggesting
2. I'd start off with "tce=UUID=ABCD-1234 waitusb=10"
vfat looks like that here as well, while reiserfs looks like your example ;)
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will try that - tce=UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3 waitusb=10:UUID=aaab6273-4a6c-4118-8eb2-e31a9b31edb3
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"Why does the boot process spit out a label generated by dosfstool-3?"
The label I am using is USBCHIP (all lowercase)
Could you copy & paste the contents of your syslinux.cfg file here - this might help answer your question
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append initrd=/boot/tinycore.gz usbwait=20 quiet
Here is the "won't boot at all" version - complete file
display boot.msg
default tinycore
label tinycore
kernel /boot/bzImage
append initrd=/boot/tinycore.gz tce=LABEL=usbchip home=LABEL=usbchip opt=LABEL=usbchip restore=LABEL=usbchip usbwait=20 quiet
implicit 0
prompt 1
timeout 300
F1 boot.msg
F2 f2
F3 f3
F4 f4
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retried reloading tc from original ISO
FAT32
sys'd with syslinux -i -s -a
now that won't boot either
tried micro code iso
that booted
then I tried an SU (was going to try to mount USB drives and sys them there to try and clean up the MBR or whatever may be out of kilter
couldn't really get around in su or mount anything
then I got locked out by a password request
easiest method thus far? ISODISK - xcopy to USB drive or will learn to make a folder on NTFS C:
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append initrd=/boot/tinycore.gz usbwait=20 quiet
That should be "waitusb=20" and not "usbwait=20"
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Will try - thank you.
Thus far tried Debian Biz Card, feather, arch, tight kernel that has no VGA output but controls ports to run a rad car stereo from the steering wheel - might come in handy later - and a fat-boy BackTrack 4-R2 - asked a friend to make a CD and will try it later - then there was the Puppy test, and 3 or 4 other small packages - just to see if ANY OF THEM - using Netbootin - worked. Nope.
Knoppix and I are chatting daily.
Flattened the small poker chip 1 gig USB - ran Netbootin against Tinycore.iso - takes a few seconds - ka-poof - bread done - certainly not the 1 - 2 hour event I have spent doing some of these suckers. That part of TC has great promise.
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Tried Linux Live as it promised a "VIRTUAL BOX" - nope - and Oracle package crashed.
Found a great partition expand/contract - MiniTool Partition - free for windows - to make an EXT2, EXT3 etc. Linux drive right on a C: drive.
Want to do this in Linux after I get this working a bit better.
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grub is a bootloader, operating system independent.
Default shell when opening a terminal is ash.
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Tried PLOP sort of worked as dual boot - but not well.
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If your old laptop can boot from a floppy, you might be interested in this:
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php?topic=354.0
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no floppy
but I did wrestle GRUB to give me a dual boot today - whoo hooo - and managed to get 4 partitions installed:
1. Boot - W2K (shrunk from owning the whole drive)
2. FAT - about a gig
3. LINUX SWAP - about 300 meg
4. EXT2 - about 15 gig
Then loaded TC in #2 - no syslinux required, modified boot.ini, and wrote a Grub script that ran through all:
(hd0,0)
(hd0,1)
(hd0,2)
0 - 8 etc. until I got a TC boot - wooo hooo baby! Rock and roll.
Almost ready to migrate.
BUT - I can't find that kewl post you sent - early on - about the first files to grab.
I have Perl - and DOSFSTOOLS - so I can do a lot at this point with nothing else. I have a big migration ahead and don't really need to get online to load up the EX2 partition with all my Windows data.
THEN I need to get TC working with the RTL and also do a full dump to an external USB HD.
Then flatten the Windows area completely and ka-boom - done with that 30 year MS nightmare.
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Ok,
a) Have Tiny Core so it boots on C: drive consistently with GRUB - windows default - TC works
b) not sure why screen is black - no logo - just menu at bottom - tried posting wall paper - which works - but doesn't save
c) not sure why backup /hdx/tce etc. works now on shut down - already filled in - that was very frustrating before - kept getting error messages
d) haven't retested perl
e) rather I need to focus on INTERNET now. Found the suggested links Robert posted earlier.
Grab wireless-tools.tcz,
(I ASSUME THIS IS compat-wireless-2.6.37-4.tar.xz - correct?)
ndiswrapper.tcz,
(I assume this is ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz - and not the COMPILE ndiswrapper, correct?)
Ok, ndiswrapper is a large pile of source - not sure where the TCZ file is.
Ok, found info, list, md5 and dep (real pain cutting and pasting these manually - I can write a script to automatically generate these files for downloads if you folks need a little perl CGI backend for users),
but the words NDISWRAPPER - is not an href download - just the word.
So - where is the actual file?
and perl5.tcz
(already got Perl thanks to Juanito - sent me the link - and it worked fine when tested - a week or so ago)
0. Boot Tiny Core with nodhcp boot paramater.
(have no idea how to do that - will scan forums)
As user root:
1. mount Windows drive
(windows drive is NTFS - TC can't get to it - will look for NTFS tool you mentioned)
2. /usr/local/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /path/to/your/windows/netcard.INF
(I assume I type this at a terminal prompt? would be better if I can load this on boot)
3. /sbin/modprobe ndiswrapper
(another terminal prompt?)
Check results with
4. iwconfig
(will test methods/parameters at link Lee gave me - http://linux.die.net/man/8/iwconfig - which looks like it may be ideal)
f) also need to find out how to "feed" network the IP address and other info - Lee's link may handle that, and
g) once I understand how to install RTL8187 drivers, I can automate that so when someone comes to TC their first time it, their system will have already fetched the required wifi drivers - if required - and put their favorite wall paper up - if desired.
The gray is fine - for some - but for most it is (and was to 1) - not the best way to retain "customers" or users. Folks like to see their art on their page.
h) Then there is the Firefox issue - a good browser - but folks are going to want that up front, loaded and functional by the time they get a Tiny Core boot - or again - you will lose them if they have to fish around and figure out how to obtain that - most can't or won't.
Beyond these issues - since 90% of users need PCs to go online, everything else, like the word processors or other aps, can be loaded "later" when they have time to play with it.
So - any ideas on how to install the RTL drivers would be appreciated, and any thoughts on a simple way to ensure the "wall paper image" I keep saving - that never saves - would also help - and a clear method of putting a few files in optional or somewhere so they are guaranteed to be part of the environment at boot would be a huge help.
I did try dmesg |more and saw an enormous amount of "RECOGNIZED" and no real errors that I saw, including nailing the CPU temp, finding all 4 ports on my USB hub, naming the drives, TCP protocols, all that good stuff, though a few things did go to "default" because it either wasn't supported or some other minor problem. 99% of it looked good - from my limited knowledge of what it was doing as it booted up.
Anyone home? Thank you.
-
Grab wireless-tools.tcz,
(I ASSUME THIS IS compat-wireless-2.6.37-4.tar.xz - correct?)
No - it is wireless_tools-29 compiled for tinycore and made into a loop mountable extension. So, once you've downloaded it, you use the apps browser "local" button to load it
ndiswrapper.tcz,
(I assume this is ndiswrapper/ndiswrapper-1.56.tar.gz - and not the COMPILE ndiswrapper, correct?)
No, this is ndiswrapper-1.56 compiled for tinycore and made into a loop mount able extension.
Ok, ndiswrapper is a large pile of source - not sure where the TCZ file is.
Ok, found info, list, md5 and dep (real pain cutting and pasting these manually
All of the tcz files are in the same place as perl5.tcz was, so you just need to substitute ndiswrapper.tcz for perl5.tcz in the previous url I gave you and it will download. I would however suggest going to a public library or friend's house with a wired internet connection, which will most likely work "out of the box" and downloading everything you need using the apps browser.
(windows drive is NTFS - TC can't get to it - will look for NTFS tool you mentioned)
use the filesystems-2.6.33.3-tinycore extension
2. /usr/local/sbin/ndiswrapper -i /path/to/your/windows/netcard.INF
(I assume I type this at a terminal prompt? would be better if I can load this on boot)
Yes, it is a terminal command. You can add it to /opt/bootlocal.sh to load on boot.
So - any ideas on how to install the RTL drivers would be appreciated
Over and above the twice I already explained this?
-
Improving boot for windows users -
I asked a friend - total 100% non-tech - to try it because "it is so fast" - she loved that fast boot, but in 10 seconds after the boot she asked "Ethernet?" What am I supposed to type in here? Call me when this thing can be used." - and reformatted her USB stick and put TC away.
She had:
a) boot to usb
b) cable ethernet
c) working windows PC hot shot machine
etc.
Instructions that lead to
a) C source - which (ahem) no non-tech will compile or
b) a page with the info, list, md5 and dep files - but no link to get the .tcz and md5 etc. altogether
...scares people away.
I will look at making an easier install. Need help figuring out how to PRECONFIGURE ETHERNET so first boot - it goes online - browser loaded - go to google etc. - right out of the box.
-
dmesg - aha - a key - thank you.
-
Perhaps this "format", loosely taken from my days "back when" I debugged software for firms, will help.
FATAL ERRORS: 0
WARNINGS: 0
INCONSISTENCIES: 3
INSTALLATION:
Fresh from downloaded ISO - no added files
Version 3.6rc2
a) empty G: drive (DOS/W2K) formatted FAT32 as the second Primary partion on C: (first primary partition with W2K) 4.3GB - no syslinux or other hidden files
b) After copying/expanding ISO files with ISODISK utility, renamed isolinux folder to syslinux
c) renamed isolinux.bin to syslinux.bin
d) renamed isolinux.cfg to syslinux.cfg
e) No other files installed, folders created or any changes to cfg
f) Boot using Grub4DOS, (grub.exe and grldr), called via menu.lst with the entry:
title TC1
root=(hd0,1)
kernel /boot/bzImage tinycore
initrd /boot/tinycore.gz
boot
Summary of errors:
==================
(not all inclusive, as reboot required and these were "entered" by memory)
1. Screen loads to black screen first and subsequent times: no logo or F2/F3 etc. options.
Suggest tutorial added to FAQs, "Booting with Grub", includes command line examples (5 - 10 - 20 or more), rather than parameters - both preferred.
2. Set Mouse with Control Panel, to reduce erratic/fast movement - lower to 2, apply/exit and closing control panel.
Mouse settings work as indicated for a period of 1 - 3 minutes, and then before rebooting or leaving session, mouse returns to fast/erratic movement.
Going back into control panel, find mouse settings back at higher number.
3. Set backup with control panel. Field is blank, not recognizing the original boot drive (G:/hda1). Attempts to put in hda1 result in error messages.
4. Mount hda1 with Mount on bottom menu. Successful.
(Should this be mounted by default since it was the BOOT drive?)
5. Open Ap Mgr. Set has a /tmp/ line, rather than recognizing the boot drive.
6. Open File Mgr. No /tce/optional folder.
a) Create /tce from root
b) Create /tce/optional
But clicking on the /tce folder does not show the /optional folder in left sidebar.
c) Tried closing and reopening File Mgr. Still no /optional folder in left sidebar.
d) Right file area shows /optional folder under /tce - Click that - enters /optional folder.
7. Save/backup issues:
a) Mount SBA2 - USB stick - go to background image jpg - copy to /opt/backgrounds
b) Attempt to reboot with backup. On reboot no settings saved.
8. Network issue (other PC connected to functional ethernet cable under Windows Vista):
a) Installed Tiny Core to USB - booted.
b) Control Panel - Networks - fields blank.
Summary of suggestions:
=======================
1. Defaults such as backup drive, folders and wallpaper etc. should persist by default starting with the first boot, and mouse settings and other "changes" by user should also persist by default, especially during a session.
2. Any folders not created to provide for persistence should be created by the first boot, such as /tce/optional.
3. Network should be polled prior to user opening control panel, so IP address and gateways are established and filled in.
4. If no ethernet cable detected, and wifi equipment IS detected, and Windows (NTLDR) is detected, and GRUB is detected via command line parameter, and FAT32 detected as BOOT drive, indicating a partition likely readable by Windows, then:
a) First boot should fetch wifi device ROM ID/Mfg/Model while in TC, or include NTFS.TZ files and scan Windows system 32 / driver folder for devices recognized or suggest different ISO with "Fetch Windows First" process, which can identify hardware on the machine, fetch drivers under Windows, loading the appropriate folders on the TC drive ... notifying User if required to "execute this .bat or .pl or .exe file from Windows to load wifi drivers for this PC".
b) After user reboots and enters Windows, then executes the exe, bat or other Windows fetch process, at end of downloads, load files to TC drive, and request user reboot and test, or load and test new Linux/TC drivers, then ...
c) With all wifi installations, include an audit or testing utility to verify PING and HTTP access functional, and
5. Always automatically load Firefox on first install until everything is stable or at least prompt user with a Y/N choice. Prompts requiring users to type unfamiliar phrases such as /mnt/hda1 are likely to have a severe, (greater than 80% fall out) negative impact on growth of customer base.
6. If any wifi hardware or other devices are not recognized should be added to TC database during Windows fetch process, then tallied and automatically prioritized for inclusion by techs based on demand/prevalance in user community. A screen to collect user email would allow automatic email notification when their missing driver has been tested and is available, although by that time recovering the new user who was unable to get online may be difficult.
7. During first boot and if possible, boots 1 - 10 (or more until turned off), TC should prompt user during shutdown to take a survey of problems, comments or suggestions. Anytime a suggestion is addressed with a change, user should receive feedback "Your idea was used and we'd like to get your thoughts on the implementation." By including user feedback during development, users become very loyal to a product line, feeling they are "part of a family that cares about their ideas and preferences". This causes users to act as "marketing agents" for the product and team, by giving them "bragging rights".
8. SKYPE chat sessions with techs should be available - by appointment - either for a fee or in groups (free), so 5 - 10 new users in a group could spend 15 - 60 minutes with an Admin who could walk them all through getting their initial boot to function correctly.
9. Busy Box and other utilities that "keep the package small" are not only difficult for many (most) users, but are likely to cause loss of customer base, especially if acting erratic, even when its user error. Lack of drop down select boxes and other "high resolution graphics" and "automated methods" of configuring the system, can all be installed WITHOUT increasing either the size of the installation, the core install package or total size of the typical user auto-configuration and overall installed application byte count by more than 50K - 100K.
Impact of changes:
==================
If the cost to "dress up" and "automate" Tiny Core is only 50K - 100K, and ...
the time to effect these costs is 1 - 2 weeks, and ...
if this eliminates 90% of the problems that 90% of new users migrating from Windows experience, and ...
if this means that the 90% who current fail to continue their migration, do in fact continue, and ...
if 100 users currently try TC per week today, and 90% cancel their migration due to these and other issues, then ...
new user base, which currently grows at 10 new users per week, will instead, grow at a rate of 81 new users per week with these changes,
therefore increasing new users by a factor of 8.1 to 1 compared to current conditions.
Additionally, if 10 new users per week currently continue to use Tiny Core, and ...
if 90% of these users require 5 - 10 hours of responding to forum inquiries, or ...
9 x 8 = 72 hours of support time per week, and ...
if the figure grows to 81 new users per week, and ...
if the automation reduces support requests by 90%, then ...
support hours per week will be 72 x .9 x 8.1 = 58 hours =
a 14% reduction in support hours required, and
an 800% increase in new users.
-
OK, so in an attempt to get your wifi working, you need to download the following extensions:
wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
wireless_tools.tcz http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/wireless_tools.tcz
..and store them in your /tce/optional folder, eg /mnt/hda1/tce/optional. If you don't have such a a folder, you can create it under linux like this: $ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hda1/tce/optional
$ sudo chown -R tc:staff /mnt/hda1/tce
Once you've downloaded the extensions, you can load them in tinycore like this: $ tce-load -i wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
$ tce-load -i wireless_tools.tczThis assume your /tce folder is recognised, if not you can use "tce-load -i /path-to-file/extension_name"
Now we need to check if the module for your hardware loaded automatically like this: $lsmodIf it loaded automatically, you should see an entry for "rtl8187', the module for your hardware.
If the module did not load automatically, then you can load it like this: $ sudo modprobe rtl8187
Once the module is loaded, you need to look at the system messages to see what interface has been assigned to the wireless connection (wlan0, eth1, etc) and whether any firmware is required. You can do it like this: dmesg | tail -25..and post the result so we can figure out what to do next.
-
Didn't work.
Kidding.
Thank you. I see something in here - you will probably see more than I do.
I used the > pipe (prayed it worked - yipper) and here is what I did and the results:
1. lsmod returned nothing first time.
2. Figured I'd try to tce-load files first.
3. cd to drive and folder - repeated lsmod - nothing
4. Did the tce-load -i
5. lsmod returned with rtl detected.
6. Rebooted and cleared folder of all backups - reloaded all tce files (from my tinkering) - fresh boot - removed perl etc. and only 2 wireless files in optional. Remember I have access as a G:NTFS drive so I can drop stuff in there easily.
7. Ran lsmod.
This time returned the first piped output screen below - but no rtl info - that's expected. Wonder why first lsmod returned nothing - may be cfg file (all files) were reloaded fresh and cfg had been corrupted by my tinkering - evidenced with first pass.
8. Ran tce-load on both wireless files.
9. Ran lsmod - again rtl files show.
Here is the first lsmod (that produced "something"), followed by second lsmod.
Juanito - I think you hit a little gold here...maybe.
First lsmod (before tce-load)
====================
Module Size Used by Not tainted
vfat 5596 1
fat 30220 1 vfat
squashfs 14728 0
pcmcia 12756 0
scsi_wait_scan 276 0
ppdev 3732 0
video 12712 0
parport_pc 18656 0
backlight 1632 1 video
output 724 1 video
parport 18560 2 ppdev,parport_pc
yenta_socket 13432 2
ramzswap 10240 1
rsrc_nonstatic 5780 1 yenta_socket
ac 1696 0
battery 6028 0
3c59x 22084 0
pcmcia_core 17332 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
loop 8068 0
Second lsmod (after tce-load)
=====================
Module Size Used by Not tainted
rtl8187 22900 0
mac80211 87580 1 rtl8187
cfg80211 73276 2 rtl8187,mac80211
eeprom_93cx6 704 1 rtl8187
vfat 5596 1
fat 30220 1 vfat
squashfs 14728 2
pcmcia 12756 0
scsi_wait_scan 276 0
ppdev 3732 0
video 12712 0
parport_pc 18656 0
backlight 1632 1 video
output 724 1 video
parport 18560 2 ppdev,parport_pc
yenta_socket 13432 2
ramzswap 10240 1
rsrc_nonstatic 5780 1 yenta_socket
ac 1696 0
battery 6028 0
3c59x 22084 0
pcmcia_core 17332 3 pcmcia,yenta_socket,rsrc_nonstatic
loop 8068 4
All attempts of tce-load returned OK
Here are folders before and after
BEFORE (fresh install)
===============
Volume in drive G is HOME
Volume Serial Number is 084E-BBD6
Directory of G:\
04/08/2011 02:15p <DIR> boot
04/18/2011 07:00p <DIR> tce
0 File(s) 0 bytes
Directory of G:\boot
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> ..
05/12/2010 06:43p 2,294,848 bzImage
04/08/2011 02:16p 8,406,359 tinycore.gz
10/26/2010 12:26p <DIR> syslinux
2 File(s) 10,701,207 bytes
Directory of G:\boot\syslinux
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> ..
04/08/2011 02:16p 2,048 boot.cat
11/14/2010 03:47p 233 boot.msg
11/04/2010 11:39a 918 f2
11/04/2010 11:39a 1,085 f3
11/04/2010 11:44a 1,045 f4
04/08/2011 11:47a 14,336 syslinux.bin
01/20/2011 10:22p 175 syslinux.cfg
7 File(s) 19,840 bytes
Directory of G:\tce
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:31p <DIR> optional
04/19/2011 03:38p <DIR> uaps
0 File(s) 0 bytes
Directory of G:\tce\optional
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:13p 1,224,704 wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
04/19/2011 03:13p 86,016 wireless_tools.tcz
2 File(s) 1,310,720 bytes
Directory of G:\tce\uaps
04/19/2011 03:17p <DIR> .
04/19/2011 03:17p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:17p 1,495 help.txt
1 File(s) 1,495 bytes
Total Files Listed:
12 File(s) 12,033,262 bytes
15 Dir(s) 4,273,106,944 bytes free
AFTER (shutdown)
=============
Volume in drive G is HOME
Volume Serial Number is 084E-BBD6
Directory of G:\
04/08/2011 02:15p <DIR> boot
04/19/2011 03:49p <DIR> tce
0 File(s) 0 bytes
Directory of G:\boot
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> ..
05/12/2010 06:43p 2,294,848 bzImage
04/08/2011 02:16p 8,406,359 tinycore.gz
10/26/2010 12:26p <DIR> syslinux
2 File(s) 10,701,207 bytes
Directory of G:\boot\syslinux
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:42p <DIR> ..
04/08/2011 02:16p 2,048 boot.cat
11/14/2010 03:47p 233 boot.msg
11/04/2010 11:39a 918 f2
11/04/2010 11:39a 1,085 f3
11/04/2010 11:44a 1,045 f4
04/08/2011 11:47a 14,336 syslinux.bin
01/20/2011 10:22p 175 syslinux.cfg
7 File(s) 19,840 bytes
Directory of G:\tce
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:31p <DIR> optional
04/19/2011 03:45p 0 xwbar.lst
04/19/2011 03:49p 3,141 mydata.tgz
04/19/2011 03:48p <DIR> uaps
2 File(s) 3,141 bytes
Directory of G:\tce\optional
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> .
04/18/2011 06:49p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:13p 1,224,704 wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
04/19/2011 03:13p 86,016 wireless_tools.tcz
2 File(s) 1,310,720 bytes
Directory of G:\tce\uaps
04/19/2011 03:17p <DIR> .
04/19/2011 03:17p <DIR> ..
04/19/2011 03:17p 1,495 help.txt
04/19/2011 03:46p 756 step1.txt
04/19/2011 03:48p 918 step2.txt
3 File(s) 3,169 bytes
Total Files Listed:
16 File(s) 12,038,077 bytes
15 Dir(s) 4,273,094,656 bytes free
Does any of this help?
Thank you - I think you hit a bit of gold.
-
Also found this - the netrtuw.inf file
BOF (this line is my entry)
;; Windows .INF file for NDIS driver
;;
;; Realtek RTL8187 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter
;;
;; Copyright (C) 2008 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
;;
;; this release is primarily for WHQL test.
[Version]
Signature = "$Chicago$"
Compatible = 1
Class = Net
ClassGUID = {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
Provider = %Realtek%
CatalogFile.NT = netrtuw.cat ;; for WHQL certified
DriverVer = 06/13/2008,5.1313.0613.2008
[Manufacturer]
%Realtek% = Realtek,NTx86
[ControlFlags]
ExcludeFromSelect = USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8187&REV_0100
ExcludeFromSelect = USB\VID_0769&PID_11F2&REV_0100
;;****************************************************************************
;; IDs for 2K/XP
;;****************************************************************************
[Realtek.NTx86]
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8187&REV_0100
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_13D1&PID_ABE6&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_1371&PID_9401&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_114B&PID_0150&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_18E8&PID_6232&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0789&PID_010C&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Surecom% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0769&PID_11F2&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Sitecom% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0DF6&PID_000D&REV_0100 ;
;;****************************************************************************
;; IDs for 98SE/ME
;;****************************************************************************
[Realtek]
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8187&REV_0100
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_13D1&PID_ABE6&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_1371&PID_9401&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_114B&PID_0150&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_18E8&PID_6232&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0789&PID_010C&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Surecom% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0769&PID_11F2&REV_0100 ;
%RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Sitecom% = RTL8187.ndi,USB\VID_0DF6&PID_000D&REV_0100 ;
; by Owen on 04/12/04
;;****************************************************************************
;; Windows 98
;;****************************************************************************
[RTL8187.ndi]
DriverVer = 06/13/2008,1313
AddReg = RTL8187.Reg, RTL8187.common.reg
CopyFiles = RTL8187.CopyFiles98
;
;;****************************************************************************
;; Windows XP
;;****************************************************************************
[RTL8187.ndi.NT]
AddReg = RTL8187.NT.Reg, RTL8187.common.reg
Characteristics = 0x84
BusType = 15
CopyFiles = RTL8187.CopyFiles
[RTL8187.ndi.NT.Services]
AddService = RTLWUSB, 2, rtsnt.Service, RTL8187.EventLog
; by Owen on 04/12/04
;*******************************************************************************
; Windows 98
;*******************************************************************************
[RTL8187.Reg]
HKR, Ndi, DeviceID, 0, USB\VID_0BDA&PID_8187&REV_0100
HKR,Ndi,CardType,,"PNP"
HKR, , DriverDesc, 0, "Realtek RTL8187 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter"
HKR, , DevLoader,,*ndis,*ntkern,*ndis
HKR, , DeviceVxDs,,RTL8187.sys
HKR, , EnumPropPages, 0, netdi.dll, EnumPropPages
; NDIS Info
HKR,NDIS,MajorNdisVersion,1,03
HKR,NDIS,MinorNdisVersion,1,0a
HKR,NDIS,LogDriverName,,RTLWUSB
; Interfaces
HKR,Ndi\Interfaces,DefLower,,"ethernet"
HKR,Ndi\Interfaces,LowerRange,,"ethernet"
HKR,Ndi\Interfaces,DefUpper,,"ndis3"
HKR,Ndi\Interfaces,UpperRange,,"ndis3"
;
;*******************************************************************************
; RTL8187 common paramters
;*******************************************************************************
[RTL8187.common.reg]
HKR,Ndi\params\SSID, ParamDesc, 0, %SSID_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\SSID, type, 0, "edit"
HKR,Ndi\params\SSID, default, 0, "ANY"
HKR,Ndi\params\SSID, LimitText, 0, "32"
HKR,defaults,SSID,0,"ANY"
HKR,,SSID,0,"ANY"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, ParamDesc, 0, %CHANNEL_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, default, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, Min, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, Max, 0, "14"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, Step, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\Channel, Base, 0, "10"
HKR,defaults,Channel,0,"1"
HKR,,Channel,0,"1"
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType, ParamDesc, 0, %NETWORK_TYPE_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType, default, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType\enum, "0", 0, "Ad Hoc"
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType\enum, "1", 0, "Infrastructure"
HKR,Ndi\params\NetworkType\enum, "2", 0, "Auto select"
HKR,defaults,NetworkType,0,"1"
HKR,,NetworkType,0,"1"
HKR,Ndi\params\LedCtrl, ParamDesc, 0, %LED_CONTROL_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\LedCtrl, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\LedCtrl, default, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\LedCtrl\enum, "0", 0, "Disable"
HKR,Ndi\params\LedCtrl\enum, "1", 0, "Enable"
HKR,defaults,LedCtrl,0,"1"
HKR,,LedCtrl,0,"1"
HKR,NDI\params\PowerSaveMode, ParamDesc, 0, %POWER_SAVE_STR%
HKR,NDI\params\PowerSaveMode, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\PowerSaveMode, default, 0, "0"
HKR,NDI\params\PowerSaveMode\enum, "0", 0, "CAM"
HKR,NDI\params\PowerSaveMode\enum, "1", 0, "MAX_PSP"
HKR,NDI\params\PowerSaveMode\enum, "2", 0, "Fast_PSP"
HKR,defaults,PowerSaveMode,0,"0"
HKR,,PowerSaveMode,0,"0"
HKR,Ndi\params\WiFi11bIbss, ParamDesc, 0, %WIFI_IBSS_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\WiFi11bIbss, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\WiFi11bIbss, default, 0, "0"
HKR,Ndi\params\WiFi11bIbss\enum, "0", 0, "Disable"
HKR,Ndi\params\WiFi11bIbss\enum, "1", 0, "Enable"
HKR,defaults,WiFi11bIbss,0,"0"
HKR,,WiFi11bIbss,0,"0"
HKR,Ndi\params\bRateAdaptive, ParamDesc, 0, %RATE_ADAPTIVE_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\bRateAdaptive, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\bRateAdaptive, default, 0, "1"
HKR,Ndi\params\bRateAdaptive\enum, "0", 0, "Disable"
HKR,Ndi\params\bRateAdaptive\enum, "1", 0, "Enable"
HKR,defaults,bRateAdaptive,0,"1"
HKR,,bRateAdaptive,0,"1"
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, ParamDesc, 0, %MAX_PKTSIZE_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, default, 0, "1514"
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, min, 0, "256"
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, max, 0, "2304"
HKR,Ndi\params\MaxPktSize, step, 0, "1"
HKR,defaults,MaxPktSize, 0, "1514"
HKR,,MaxPktSize, 0, "1514"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan, ParamDesc, 0, %CHANNEL_PLAN_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan, default, 0, "15"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "0", 0, "FCC"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "1", 0, "IC"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "2", 0, "ETSI"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "3", 0, "Spain"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "4", 0, "France"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "5", 0, "MKK"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "6", 0, "MKK1"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "7", 0, "Israel"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "8", 0, "TELEC"
HKR,Ndi\params\ChannelPlan\enum, "15", 0, "DOMAIN_FROM_EEPROM"
HKR,defaults,ChannelPlan, 0, "15"
HKR,,ChannelPlan, 0, "15"
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, ParamDesc, 0, %SHORT_RETRY_LIMIT%
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, default, 0, "7"
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, min, 0, "0"
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, max, 0, "255"
HKR,Ndi\params\ShortRetryLimit, step, 0, "1"
HKR,defaults,ShortRetryLimit, 0, "7"
HKR,,ShortRetryLimit, 0, "7"
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, ParamDesc, 0, %LONG_RETRY_LIMIT%
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, default, 0, "7"
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, min, 0, "0"
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, max, 0, "255"
HKR,Ndi\params\LongRetryLimit, step, 0, "1"
HKR,defaults,LongRetryLimit, 0, "7"
HKR,,LongRetryLimit, 0, "7"
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, ParamDesc, 0, %FRAGTHRESH_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, default, 0, "2346"
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, min, 0, "256"
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, max, 0, "2346"
HKR,Ndi\params\FragThresh, step, 0, "1"
HKR,defaults,FragThresh, 0, "2346"
HKR,,FragThresh, 0, "2346"
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, ParamDesc, 0, %RTSTHRESH_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, default, 0, "2347"
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, type, 0, "int"
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, min, 0, "0"
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, max, 0, "2347"
HKR,Ndi\params\RTSThresh, step, 0, "1"
HKR,defaults,RTSThresh, 0, "2347"
HKR,,RTSThresh, 0, "2347"
HKR,Ndi\params\PSPXlinkMode, ParamDesc, 0, %PSP_XLINK_STR%
HKR,Ndi\params\PSPXlinkMode, type, 0, "enum"
HKR,Ndi\params\PSPXlinkMode, default, 0, "0"
HKR,Ndi\params\PSPXlinkMode\enum, "0", 0, "Disable"
HKR,Ndi\params\PSPXlinkMode\enum, "1", 0, "Enable"
HKR,defaults,PSPXlinkMode,0,"0"
HKR,,PSPXlinkMode,0,"0"
HKR,,DefaultKeyID,,"0"
HKR,,DefaultKey0,,""
HKR,,DefaultKey1,,""
HKR,,DefaultKey2,,""
HKR,,DefaultKey3,,""
; by Owen on 04/12/04
[RTL8187.CopyFiles98]
RTL8187.sys,,,2
;
;*******************************************************************************
; Windows XP
;*******************************************************************************
[RTL8187.NT.Reg]
HKR, Ndi\Interfaces, UpperRange, 0, "ndis5,mdcwifi,wifipro"
HKR, Ndi\Interfaces, LowerRange, 0, "ethernet"
HKR, Ndi, Service, 0, "RTLWUSB"
[rtsnt.Service]
DisplayName = %RTL8187.DeviceDesc.DispName%
ServiceType = 1 ; %SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER%
StartType = 3 ; %SERRVICE_DEMAND_START%
ErrorControl = 1 ; %SERRVICE_ERROR_NORMAL%
ServiceBinary = %12%\RTL8187.sys
LoadOrderGroup = NDIS
[RTL8187.EventLog]
AddReg = RTL8187.AddEventLog.reg
[RTL8187.AddEventLog.reg]
HKR, , EventMessageFile, 0x00020000, "%%SystemRoot%%\System32\netevent.dll"
HKR, , TypesSupported , 0x00010001, 7
[RTL8187.CopyFiles]
RTL8187.sys,,,2
;*******************************************************************************
; Destination Directory
;*******************************************************************************
[DestinationDirs]
; by Owen on 04/12/04
RTL8187.CopyFiles98 = 11
;
RTL8187.CopyFiles = 12
[SourceDisksNames]
1=%DISKNAME%,,,
[SourceDisksFiles]
RTL8187.sys = 1
;*******************************************************************************
; Strings
;*******************************************************************************
[Strings]
Realtek = "Realtek Semiconductor Corp."
SSID_STR = "SSID"
CHANNEL_STR = "Channel"
NETWORK_TYPE_STR = "Network Type"
LED_CONTROL_STR = "LED Control"
POWER_SAVE_STR = "Power Save Mode"
WIFI_IBSS_STR = "IBSS Default 11b Mode"
RATE_ADAPTIVE_STR = "Rate Adaptive"
MAX_PKTSIZE_STR = "Maximum Packet Size"
CHANNEL_PLAN_STR = "Channel Plan"
SHORT_RETRY_LIMIT = "Short Retry Limit"
LONG_RETRY_LIMIT = "Long Retry Limit"
FRAGTHRESH_STR = "Fragmentation Threshold"
RTSTHRESH_STR = "RTS Threshold"
PSP_XLINK_STR = "PSP XLink Mode"
;; Source disk name
DISKNAME = "Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter Driver Disk"
RTL8187.DeviceDesc = "Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter"
RTL8187.DeviceDesc.DispName = "Realtek RTL8187 Wireless 802.11b/g 54Mbps USB 2.0 Network Adapter"
RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Surecom = "SURECOM EP-9001-g 802.11g 54M WLAN USB Adapter"
RTL8187.DeviceDesc.Sitecom = "SITECOM WL-168 Wireless Network USB Adapter 54g"
EOF (this line is my entry)
Do I also need to compile the source files I received when I downloaded the LINUX driver?
-
Once "lsmod" shows that the "rtl8187" module has been loaded, can you post the output of "dmesg | tail -25" here.
This should show which network interface has been assigned to your wireless hardware.
-
New laptop DRIVE is screwed - need syslinux.tcz, beaver2, perl (which I have) and dosfstools - which I have - is there a url to get these so I can install, get that drive up (currently partiontion is hosed - I dusted Windows 7 - just smoked it with a DEL - felt real good too ;D )
-
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/syslinux.tcz
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/glib1.tcz
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/gtk1.tcz
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/beaver.tcz
How about the output from "dmesg | tail -25" on your other machine?
-
My mistake - I forget to get the dmesg - just a sec...
OK - here we go
eth0: setting half-duplex.
pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket1: cs: IO port probe 0x100-0x3af:
intel_rng: FWH not detected
clean.
pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket1: cs: IO port probe 0x3e0-0x4ff: clean.
pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket1: cs: IO port probe 0x820-0x8ff: clean.
pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket1: cs: IO port probe 0xc00-0xcf7: clean.
pcmcia_socket pcmcia_socket1: cs: IO port probe 0xa00-0xaff: clean.
cfg80211: Using static regulatory domain info
cfg80211: Regulatory domain: 00
(start_freq - end_freq @ bandwidth), (max_antenna_gain, max_eirp)
(2402000 KHz - 2472000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2000 mBm)
(2457000 KHz - 2482000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2000 mBm)
(2474000 KHz - 2494000 KHz @ 20000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2000 mBm)
(5170000 KHz - 5250000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2000 mBm)
(5735000 KHz - 5835000 KHz @ 40000 KHz), (600 mBi, 2000 mBm)
cfg80211: Calling CRDA to update world regulatory domain
phy0: Selected rate control algorithm 'pid'
phy0: hwaddr 00:40:0c:00:41:d1, RTL8187vB (default) V1 + rtl8225z2, rfkill mask 2
rtl8187: Customer ID is 0x00
Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::radio
Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::tx
Registered led device: rtl8187-phy0::rx
rtl8187: wireless switch is on
usbcore: registered new interface driver rtl8187
-
Hmm - strange that the "rtl8187" is registered as loaded, but it does not give a network interface.
What does "iwconfig" show?
-
Something you said
"I wasn't aware debian (or the rest of the planet earth) had every single deb packaged up into a zip file or tarball :P "
My reply: zip is normal for most users - gz is new - unfamiliar to most of humanity.
-
Will check iwconfig in 30 seconds (have to kill - reboot etc.)
no need to do that, just check the rtl8187 module is loaded with lsmod.
Any parameters for iwconfig ???
No, without parameters it should show all available network interfaces.
-
iwconfig results
============
wlan0 IEEE 802.11bg Mode:Managed Access Point: Not-Associated
Tx-Power=0 dBm
Retry long limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off
Pipe didn't capture three lines above that
something about 0 and extensions
Is there a method to cut and paste from terminal? I can highlight but don't know how to COPY
Also ran (I think this was the command)
ifconfig results
===========
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:0B:DB:A5:1C:A1
UP BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000
RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0xc00
lo Link encap:Local Loopback
inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1
RX packets:12 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:12 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:0
RX bytes:600 (600.0 B) TX bytes:600 (600.0 B)
-
also ran dmesg right after boot - then scanned for tcp related info
NET: Registered protocol family 2
IP route cache hash table entries: 2048 (order: 1, 8192 bytes)
TCP established hash table entries: 8192 (order: 4, 65536 bytes)
TCP bind hash table entries: 8192 (order: 4, 65536 bytes)
TCP: Hash tables configured (established 8192 bind 8192)
TCP reno registered
UDP hash table entries: 128 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)
UDP-Lite hash table entries: 128 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)
NET: Registered protocol family 1
RPC: Registered udp transport module.
RPC: Registered tcp transport module.
RPC: Registered tcp NFSv4.1 backchannel transport module.
-
Notice these lines?
RX packets:12 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:12 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
This is typical when Fragment threshold and RTS threshold are left wide open.
I have to crank them way down due to all the cross traffic on channels 11, 6, 7 - name it - otherwise the RTL tends to hop onto another SSID - there is a gent here - runs the local ISP wireless (I ran the first one - he called the FCC and had me busted - ;D - but nothing came of it.
...anyway, he FLOODS this place with multiple antennas - and everyone who tries to do anything sees him - has to pay him - should bust him - I try to ignore him.
With W2K I can crank down those values - could provide a screen shot of the menu - and perhaps with IFCONFIG - I did see that in there and apparently its a loaded module.
That may be a key.
-
OK, looks good so far - your wireless has been assigned the network interface wlan0.
Now you need to enter details of the ssid you'd like to connect to and the encryption it uses.
For example, if the access point uses wep, you'd do it like this: $ tce-load -i wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
$ tce-load -i wireless_tools.tcz
$ sudo modprobe lib80211_crypt_wep
$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid "ssid_name"
$ sudo iwconfig wlan0 key restricted 12:34:56:78:90:AB:CD:EF:12:34:56:78:90
$ sudo udhcpc -b -i wlan0
What are the details of the access point you'd like to connect to?
-
I can dump it in a text file
Go to Terminal
CD to folder
then type ???
something like that - will that work?
going in
removed wep and restricted lines
left ssid line and dhcp
brb
-
Is there a way to "SCRIPT" that?
You could try something like this: #!/bin/sh -e
#
tce-load -i wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
tce-load -i wireless_tools.tcz
#
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid "ssid_name"
#
sleep 2
sudo udhcpc -b -i wlan0
#
# EOF
..where you just need to substitute the actual ssid for "ssid_name"
You can use the tinycore built-in text editor like this "editor &", copy and paste the text above and save it as something like "wireless.sh"
To make the text file executable: $ sudo chown tc:staff wireless.sh
$ chmod +x wireless.sh
Then to execute the script "/path-to-file/wireless.sh
To copy and paste with the mouse, highlight text and paste with the middle mouse button (or left and right buttons simultaneously if you only have two buttons)
-
executed loads, ssid and dhcp
said deleting router - nothing found
then did a
ping google.com
and it kept spitting back this darn message
64 bytes replied from 74.125.224.49
and it wouldn't stop - finally had to click the darn X to close it
so Juanito - it looks like you broke my laptop
:o :-*
perfect - ka-ching
-
If you got a reply from google, it looks like things are working.
To stop the ping, use something like: $ sudo ping -c4 www.google.com..or use <ctrl-c> if you did not use "-c4"
-
You can use this as a browser:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/opera.tcz
-
I will try the browser
So I sorta gotta get Firefox working and
Skype is next...
-
Windows cannot handle linux permissions and uses different "end of line" symbols to linux, thus text files saved in windows will be messed up in linux and vice versa.
The best thing to do is the following:
1. Make yourself a folder for scripts on permanent storage - note that this storage needs to be formatted for linux (eg ext2), not windows: $ sudo mkdir /mnt/hda1/scripts
$ sudo chown tc:staff /mnt/hda1/scriptssubtsitute your actual drive location for "hda1"
2. You can either start the built-in text editor from a terminal with "editor &" and copy and paste the script or enter it directly from the terminal like this: $ cat > /mnt/hda1/scripts/wireless.sh << "EOF"
#!/bin/sh -e
#
tce-load -i wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
tce-load -i wireless_tools.tcz
#
sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid "ssid_name"
#
sleep 2
sudo udhcpc -b -i wlan0
#
# EOF
EOF
..and then make it executable: $ chmod +x /mnt/hda1/scripts/wireless.sh
-
having difficulty "creating" files - i.e. sh scripts - then executing - sometimes I will be sitting right on top of them - can ls -l and see them but try to run and nope
-
'Glad to hear wifi is working at last - that's going to make things a lot easier.
You didn't answer if you bit the bullet and integrated skype yet..
Due to licensing issues, we cannot integrate skype (even if we wanted to) and cannot offer it as an extension.
There is a script to download skype and make an extension out of it here:
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php?topic=3165.msg46017#msg46017
Note that you will need the oss sound extension for this - works fine for me, even video..
-
I will try the browser
Unfortunately about 1/3rd of the 70 sites I have REQUIRE Firefox or they kick you out.
That would imply that those are all of extremely crappy design.
BTW, easy to spoof opera to be masked as firefox ;)
-
I now have 2 browsers on that laptop - firefox and one with built in flash - and have tried Opera - nice looking. As for requirement for Firefox on some sites - IE can't do billion dollar infrastructure math accurately and consistently so after 3 months of wrestling with it we went with Firefox - which has its own bugs - but works for those and until we find another browser that "CAN" - that's just what users need or we don't let em in.
-
launched Firefox and it seized and coughed - then got a blank gray browser sized box on screen - x in corner wouldn't close it. Any ideas?
Did you download firefox using the apps browser - if so, it should have downloaded the required deps. If not, maybe you are missing one or more of the deps?
You can check the above by typing "firefox" in a terminal window and checking for error messages.
To get rid of a hung program, you can type "killall program_name" in a terminal window.
-
BTW, to try and locate the issue you had with tinycore not finding your /tce folder and not automatically restoring your backup, you could try this:
$ cat /opt/.tce_dir
$ cat /opt/.backup_device
..which should show where tinycore thinks your /tce folder and backup are
-
A browser with built in flash - no adobe required - and OPEN SOURCE - is really nice.
Just awesome.
Am playing with teaching GRUB to hunt for TC in
C:\TC\BOOT -
C:\TC\TCE\OPTIONAL
C:\TC\OPT
etc.
Got it to boot but can't get the .sh file to run - yet - give me a sec.
-
Then today I stumbled on a browser (Win2K/XP etc. PLUS Linux) Open Source, clean front end
What is it called?
-
Chromium?
-
Internet Surfboard - great browser for windows users who don't want to load Adobe - I use that plus Firefox for other things - works well.
Ok - Juanito - Lee - Poodle - and Robert - just so ya don't think I am a complete retard (dense sometimes - often if you ask my ex - but not completely brain dead)...
...this is my first post to the forum on TC Linux - whooo hooo
Used Grub4DOS - on a primary partion - G: - I sliced out of the C: NTFS drive, reading my USB stick with the password file on it, cutting and pasting that from editor & to the opera session after manually running wireless.xxx and wireless tools, a lan0 connect and dhcp, then a ping test - in one script (that I need to put in local etc. - will try that next), and writing but another long winded thank you.
-
http://weltweitimnetz.de/files/internetsurfboard_inst.exe (DOS/Windows)
or go to his home page - has all kinds of stuff - source code too - nice interface - can this thing be integrated easily?
-
"Restoring your backup"
Seems to retain most everything, but never gotten desktop background to load without manually dragging it from the hard drive /opt/backgrounds to ramdisk, then running control panel - wallpaper - then it goes away on next boot, can't tell if mouse settings are retained, Opera becomes a fresh install.
Does appear most of the tcz files are loaded - but not active or run.
Haven't figured out how to make bootlocal.sh execute on FIRST boot sitting on a Windows 2000 NTFS system.
Can TC be made too boot and take over a machine on FIRST BOOT - installed on an NTFS drive with no requirement for the user to open a Win or Linux partition GUI?
-
Now GRUB is working reliably - best tool of the bunch - combined with ISODISK and GRUB and things finally work - no netbootin or live linux, lilo or anything else required - so far.
I have a rather robust method of getting wifi to kick but need it to FIRE on boot 100% of the time - every time.
... then the only thing missing is having TC grab the NTFS tools when it boots.
TC out of the hole can't read NTFS. So once it boots it is stuck. Parameters like HOME= and OPT= do not work (at least not for me yet), because TC can't read the NTFS drive, so if I store any TCZ files under
C:\TC\TCE\OPTIONAL\ntfs_tools.tcz etc.
...TC can't load them - nor could it load any parameter files, back up files - nothing stored on the NTFS partition - its like pushing wet clay uphill to try to get around this.
-
http://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php?topic=7120.0
-
http://weltweitimnetz.de/files/internetsurfboard_inst.exe (DOS/Windows)
or go to his home page - has all kinds of stuff - source code too - nice interface - can this thing be integrated easily?
The source code looks like it's windows only?
-
"Restoring your backup"
It seems to retain most everything -
but
a) Never have gotten desktop background to load without manually dragging it from the hard drive /opt/backgrounds to ramdisk, then running control panel - wallpaper - then it goes away on next boot, even if backup seemed to work with everything else
b) Can't tell if mouse settings are retained
c) noticed Opera becomes a fresh install - causing me to go through all the privacy stuff twice - may be a forum on that somewhere
d) but does appear most of the tcz files are loaded - but not active or run - i.e. tried to quit and backup with Opera running hoping it would automatically be working, haven't figured out how to make bootlocal.sh execute on FIRST boot sitting on a Windows 2000 NTFS system.
I think you're perhaps mixing two things here:
1. extensions stored on permanent storage.
2. a backup made of files in ram, which is itself stored on permanent storage.
It would be good to paste the results of: $ cat /opt/.backup_device
$ cat /opt/.tce_dir
..and, if there is a partition listed in either of the above, let us know how the partition is formated - ntfs, ext2, fat, etc
-
Now that I have GRUB working reliably and understand it, and
Now that I know how to get a TCZ or 2 downloaded and installed on boot (almost understand that - but have yet to get a script in /OPT called bootlocal.sh to work)
Now that you and I have a rather robust method of getting wifi to kick (at least for my antenna - though again, I have to go manually out to a terminal and run it - but I really need it to FIRE on boot - 100% of the time - every time - and not sure if onload.lst can accept .SH files - that would be a really neat, clean, easy place for this sort of thing).
And now that I have it booting on an NTFS drive in C:\TC\BOOT C:\TC\TCE etc.
... then the only thing missing is having TC grab the NTFS tools when it boots.
Problem: TC out of the hole can't read NTFS. So once it boots it is stuck. Parameters like HOME= and OPT= do not work (at least not for me yet), because TC can't read the NTFS drive, so if I store any TCZ files under
C:\TC\TCE\OPTIONAL\ntfs_tools.tcz etc.
...TC can't load them - nor could it load any parameter files, back up files - nothing stored on the NTFS partition - its like pushing wet clay uphill to try to get around this.
There's two choices here:
1. remaster tc or recompile bzImage to contain the modules from filesystems-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz
2. boot from your existing partition, but use a usb stick formatted ext2 to store your /tce folder and backup
..I'd suggest the second choice would be easier - I can walk you through it if you'd like to give it a try.
-
The source code looks like it's windows only?
I took a look through the zip file. The make file will not run as is under linux without modification.
The package relies on QtDesigner and Qt4, both of which are in the repository, but QtDesigner
is a 150Mb package so I'm not going to attempt a compile. I did take a quick look through the
source files and did not see any references to Windows APIs.
-
Thank you Rich - I do like that browser - wish I could compile it and modify so its feature - BUILT IN FLASH - was retained without relying on INSTALLING ADOBE.
-
have started making automated install - seems to work well and would have saved me weeks of learning - which most new Linux users will not do. This will allow them to enjoy TC.
-
HOWEVER - I would like to learn BOTH.
... if ya got the patience.
Let's start with the usb stick approach..
Boot into tinycore, open a terminal window and plug in a usb stick - note that all data on the usb stick will be lost.
In order to discover the drive letter assigned to your usb stick: $ dmesg | tail -20
usb 1-3.4: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 15
scsi11 : usb-storage 1-3.4:1.0
scsi 11:0:0:0: Direct-Access SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro 3.21 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
sd 11:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg4 type 0
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] 1994385 512-byte logical blocks: (1.02 GB/973 MiB)
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Write Protect is off
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Mode Sense: 03 00 00 00
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
sdc: sdc1
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Assuming drive cache: write through
sd 11:0:0:0: [sdc] Attached SCSI removable disk..so in this example, the usb stick is assigned as sdc and it has one partition, sdc1
Next reformat the usb stick - remember to substitute the driver letter you found above: $ sudo fdisk /dev/sdc
Command (m for help): d [delete a partition]
Selected partition 1
Command (m for help): n [add a new partition]
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-1021, default 1): Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-1021, default 1021): Using default value 1021
Command (m for help): t [change a partition's system id]
Selected partition 1
Hex code (type L to list codes): 83 [ext2]
Command (m for help): p [print the partition table]
Disk /dev/sdc: 1021 MB, 1021125120 bytes
32 heads, 61 sectors/track, 1021 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 1952 * 512 = 999424 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 1021 996465+ 83 Linux
Command (m for help): w [write table to disk and exit]
The partition table has been altered!
Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table..in the example above, I had only one partition to delete, you might have more, but the method is the same.
Now write an ext2 filesystem to the newly formatted usb stick: $ sudo mke2fs /dev/sdc1
mke2fs 1.41.11 (14-Mar-2010)
Filesystem label=
OS type: Linux
Block size=4096 (log=2)
Fragment size=4096 (log=2)
Stride=0 blocks, Stripe width=0 blocks
62336 inodes, 249116 blocks
12455 blocks (5.00%) reserved for the super user
First data block=0
Maximum filesystem blocks=255852544
8 block groups
32768 blocks per group, 32768 fragments per group
7792 inodes per group
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
32768, 98304, 163840, 229376
Writing inode tables: done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
This filesystem will be automatically checked every 37 mounts or
180 days, whichever comes first. Use tune2fs -c or -i to override.
Now create the folders you'll use later: $ sudo mount /dev/sdc1
$ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/sdc1/tce/optional
$ sudo chown -R tc:staff /mnt/sdc1/tce
Determine the uuid of your usb stick: $ blkid -s UUID /dev/sdc1
/dev/sdc1: UUID="644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11"
Now you need to add the following to the grub menu.lst file on your hd boot, subtituting the uuid you found in the step above: waitusb=10:UUID=644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11 tce=UUID=644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11..the first code tells tinycore to wait 10 seconds for a usb stick to be identified or until it detects a usb device with uuid=644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11, whichever comes first. The second code tells tinycore that the /tce folder is on usb device uuid=644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11
Now you need to reboot with the usb stick plugged in. Tinycore should discover your usb stick and use the drive letter associated with uuid=644f6b22-33a5-4034-8846-4ca18fa64c11.
You can discover which drive letter is used with: $ cat /opt/.backup_device
$ cat /opt/.tce_dir
By default, tc will put your backup (mydata.tgz) in the /tce folder
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RESULTS: (I will edit this so it remains under the instructions)
1. New Svolli Grub Menu.lst for a TC install on C: NTFS drive, I had replaced the menu.lst that I had been using to boot to TC on DOS G: drive with Svolli's menu.lst so G: TC was no longer available. I copied/pasted the menu.sav lines into the Svolli menu.lst, rebooted and was able to get to G: - the TC install we had used to get wifi working - boot worked.
2. Upon entering G: (hda2 - the TC install on a Fat32) no mouse. Rebooted, went to Windows and deleted G:/tce/mydata file, looked at onboot.lst - I had loaded that up - removed everything but wifi utilities. Rebooted and had plain stock screen again and a mouse.
3. I had removed the other USB drive, so only had sda1
4. Ran fdisk /dev/sda1
5. Deleted the partion - fine
6. New partition - fine
7. Type was Windows (had formatted as Fat32) - set to 83 - fine
8. Wrote it but bombed - "invalid argument"
9. Rebooted - looked at it again - showed as type Linux
10. Attempt to format appeared to work.
11. Attempt to mount bombed - invalid argument.
12. Retried - same results.
Will try again and see what I am doing wrong.
am running RC2 version - perhaps I should roll back?
-
am running RC2 version - perhaps I should roll back?
There's no difference in fdisk between tc-3.5 and tc-3.6rc.
If your re-try doesn't work, you could always try the usb install of tc-3.6rc3 or 4 - this will also make an ext2 formatted usb stick.
-
bootloca.sh in /opt folder doesn't seem to run wifi utils
script I put in optional folder - right on top of tools has some issue - not sure - will check later
manually ran script at term - able to get antenna lit first time (go team)
posting with OPERA in TC now
flist -l shows usb drive that I just partitioned as Windows again although I set it to 83 and it showed as Linux before boot
???
will attempt first download in Opera - going to repository for v4
-
flist -l shows usb drive that I just partitioned as Windows again although I set it to 83 and it showed as Linux before boot
Does your usb stick have a manual (hardware) write protect?
Could you cut and paste the output of "sudo fdisk -l" with the usb stick plugged in
-
dumped opera - kept trying to save passwords and always went to http://www.tcz - bombed
reloaded firefox
here is sudo fdisk
Disk /dev/hda: 30.0 GB, 30005821440 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 3648 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 1717 13791771 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda2 1718 2239 4192965 c Win95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda3 2240 3648 11317792+ f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 2240 2278 313236 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda6 2279 3648 11004493+ 83 Linux
Disk /dev/loop0: 1 MB, 1224704 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk /dev/loop0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Note: sector size is 4096 (not 512)
Disk /dev/ramzswap0: 65 MB, 65253376 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 4096 = 65802240 bytes
Disk /dev/ramzswap0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/sda: 1030 MB, 1030750208 bytes
16 heads, 32 sectors/track, 3932 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 512 * 512 = 262144 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 3932 1006576 b Win95 FAT32
Disk /dev/sdb: 16.0 GB, 16001269760 bytes
72 heads, 8 sectors/track, 54257 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 576 * 512 = 294912 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 15 54258 15622208 c Win95 FAT32 (LBA)
Disk /dev/loop10: 0 MB, 135168 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk /dev/loop10 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/loop20: 2 MB, 2093056 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 0 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk /dev/loop20 doesn't contain a valid partition table
---------------------------------------------
p.s. btw - do we have a FLASH related TCZ
I went back to the German browser gent - couldn't find a Linux version
p.s.s. up till 6am on ntfs - am dropping @ 10:30p - will look for solution on "invalid argument" - also read new kernel is showing ideX as sdaX - hot shot laptop I have won't clear partitions - has 1 drive but shows 4 drives -tried deleting - resetting to Linux - says it does but same error on W rite - "invalid argument"
-
/dev/hda6 2279 3648 11004493+ 83 Linux
You could use this partition to contain your /tce folder and backup using the boot code tce=hda6
If you look in the scripting section of these forums, the is a script to download flash and make an extension of it.
-
HDA6 didn't exist until I used a WINDOWS BASED partitioning system...had to use a Windows tool (didn't want to).
ELIMINATING Windows software is a key. I'll try to develop this "sequence":
1. User downloads a TC (?Svolli?) zip - not an ISO which also required a NEW Windows utility, whereas they ALL have Winzip already.
2. The zip is extracted to a folder on their Windows system.
3. A bat file I already wrote grabs that and installs the required files in the required folders, along with modifying boot.ini and installing Svolli's grub so the Windows boot can proceed normally if requested, or they can select TC.
4. The first time TC loads it goes through a DEFRAG and optimize process, getting all bytes crushed to as few cylinders as possible.
5. With blank cylinders available, TC then creates required partitions, leaving a bit extra for Windows swap and a few more downloads and processes. Users aren't giving up Windows just yet so this should probably be at least 1gig, 5 - 10 is better.
The rest is TC turf and should include:
- boot TC - ext2
- swap
- data - ext2
- winshare - fat32 - perhaps the largest TC partition until Windows is no longer used.
6. The Winshare partition is TC's gracious method of doing what Microsoft has refused to do - allow them to easily port files back and forth without using the NTFS-3g utility and the initial svolli version they had to install to complete this sequence.
7. Once these partitions are installed, and grub's menu.lst now contains:
a) Windows
b) TC on Windows
c) TC pure Linux
then a user can take a "test drive" of TC.
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Hi grandma
Busybox has nothing to do with menus. It is the source of many commands and utilities used by TC and
many other Linux distros. Think of it as command.com on steroids. Google it if you want to see what
it's capable of.
To run a script using the command line either
1. Make sure the script is located in the path
or
2. Type /path/to/scriptfile/scripttoexecute
or
3. cd to the directory containing the script and type ./scripttoexecute
Don't forget to mark the script as executable using chmod 755 yourscriptsname
-
HDA6 didn't exist until I used a WINDOWS BASED partitioning system
...
I am sure its a simple 1 line permission issue (my guess) - but like the inability to save my wallpaper - not once in 5 weeks and close to 200 hours of use - and my inability to figure out how to get TC to do that - I think MC with a new interface based on either Firefox or Internet Surfer (with flash already built in) is the answer here to many many issues.
That's what I've been trying to help you with - setting up a /tce folder on a linux partition so that you can load extensions on boot and make a backup reliably...
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Like to dust G: (TC Fat32 boot partition) and the swaps and ext2 and once TC (or Micro Core) is installed it can prompt to "go fetch the wireless utilities" and get the system online but would be better if these and other utilities were PACKAGED and preconfigured for FIRST BOOT.
-
Tiny Boots and once installed on a hard drive, remembers to load applications in optional.
Wifi script doesn't run auto on boot yet or consistently - will try modifying threshold parameters I read about.
-
Once that's done, perhaps I can return to Juanito's method of getting the USB drive to work as his tutorial suggests, as right now I am still getting errors that suggest the system can't see it - likely because no USB drivers are loaded - an issue of becoming more familiar with the kernel, boot, grub and how Linux sees all these files.
No drivers are necessary in tc to access usb sticks/drives - you can get more data on possible errors from "dmesg | tail -n", where n is the last n lines or "dmesg| grep usb"
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REBOOT - select GRUB - Go to NTFS Svolli method - that works on hda1/tce/ folders described by Svolli.
I will retry putting something in /opt/bootlocal.sh - but thus far haven't got that to work although when I manually type wireless-2.6.33 etc in the folder, that works.
will also look for different file managers - that thing is a bit of a bear - may be better in tcz repo
-
A couple of questions:
1. Are you storing files on an ntfs partition or a linux partition? You will experience several (many) problems in linux if you use files stored on an ntfs partition.
2. Have you stored your extensions locally? If you have stored them locally are they in a /tce folder on a linux partition?
3. Can you successfully make and restore a tinycore backup on/from a linux partition?
If the answer to all three of the above is yes, then it should be easy to solve all of your problems. If the answer to some/all of the above is no, then it is going to be more difficult.
I will retry putting something in /opt/bootlocal.sh - but thus far haven't got that to work although when I manually type wireless-2.6.33 etc in the folder...
If you can backup/restore in tinycore to a linux partition then I recommend to do something like this in /opt/bootlocal.sh: /opt/script1.sh
/opt/script2.sh
...
/opt/scriptn.sh
You can then store and backup/restore your scripts in opt and if bootlocal.sh gets corrupted the scripts themselves will still be OK.
a) go to terminal, cd to the folder and type the .sh or .txt - doesn't matter what I call it - it says it is not found, but I type ls -l and there it is in my folder?
Since /opt is in the default path, scripts in /opt should run from anywhere. If you cd to a folder not in the path, you would need to type "./script.sh" to run a script. To open a text file, you would need to type "editor file.txt"
a) I need ALL PERMISSIONS and RESTRICTIONS REMOVED so anyone - anywhere - anytime - can click a script and it runs.
whilst not recommended, you can do this for a file/folder on a linux partition
b) I need to know that when I click a script I created with an editor it RUNS. I can't spend 2 hours trying to GET ONLINE so I can go find a CHOWN tutorial - but that's where I am headed now.
if you use a linux partition, you only need to use chown once
c) I need the environment I log into - as soon as this fires up - to mount everything - have the environment ready to work - going -
This can be done once your backup/restore from a linux partition to a linux partition is working
d) and what else is there besides FILE MANAGER? I can't see 80% of my files in there - the left pane is so small the files are all pressed to the right margin. Busy Box is - for all intents and purposes - perhaps a wonderful tool for embedded software and completely, 110% useless for any sort of office in this century. Absolute nightmare.
There are many file managers in the extensions repo - I use emelfm (as opposed to emelfm2), but there are several more and less sophisticated options available via apps browser.
-
/mnt/hda1/opt (the NTFS partition) AND
/mnt/hda2/opt (the FAT32 pure TC use partition) AND NOT
/RAM/opt - since that is transient - right?
Will try the file managers you suggest.
JUANITO: 1. Are you storing files on an ntfs partition or a linux partition?
ANSWER: BOTH via these THREE methods.
=====================
BOOT 1) W2K USING BOOT.INI/NTLDR TO NTFS
I can read/write to the:
C:/hda1 - NTFS (which also has the Svolli boot files)
G:/hda2 - FAT32 (which has the TC and MC normal boot files)
C: & G:, along with 2 other partitions are all on the same physical hard drive
Also:
E:/sda1 - FAT32 Main USB Flash
H:/sdb1 - FAT32 Experiment/wipe/swap to other laptop USB Flash - basically my NETBOOTIN/LINUXLIVE Pen Boot on other "hot shot neaer new" laptop which is currently dead - can't get partitions fixed there. The Arch Install wasted that $1,100 machine and no amount of attempts, recovery distros - name it - have gotten the partitions straightened out yet.
BOOT 2) GRUB - TO TC VERSION-SVOLLI ON C:\TCE
All of the above - plus I can see the Linux partitions and can mount everything.
The wifi has to load and stay online and scan and if it drops, re-connect, fighting the cross-traffic, verifying it has the right SSID (channel verification is not enough) and completing each test cycle with a clear PING -C4 to google or elsewhere.
then Firefox needs fire up every time the system boots, since 90% of the time I am online anyway.
and Music to work (I miss my tunes and flash videos badly - I am a classical pianist and live by this stuff when working)
and Perl to work (we already did that so we know we can)
and Skype to work (haven't tried that yet - but its crucial or my secretary sorta flips a lid if she can't reach me)
and FTP so I can continue to get to my 2 co-lo boxes using the FTP scripts I already have - this is where I do 90% of my actual work
and a PDF reader (I don't do Word or Excel) - I have a browser that instantly makes a PDF on print and a utility, but need a Linux based reader
and GIMP (love it, spend a lot of time in there, and its a rockNroll Linux ap)
and GNUMERIC (basic spread sheets is really all I need - I have engineers who like the fancy macro stuff of Excel - I don't go there - I'd rather write my own code)
and a "VNC-Like" utility that gets me onto another box via a Windows Server 2003 (I hate that box but it ain't mine) - which uses "Windows Remote Desktop Connection" (hate that package too - prefer VNC). That web master - a good friend of mine - is willing to migrate that stuff and entire box to Linux/TC once I get the TC Web server and my perl scripts there working
and/or (worst option to me) a W2K Emulator on my laptop that runs whatever doesn't work in Linux to run in a "W2K Shell" where Linux is the primary boot. That would work also but would probably muck up TC.
OUT OF THESE, MY PREFERRED METHOD - keep Windows 2000 on the Dell laptop. Turn it off and never turn it on again. Make that a 100% Linux box.
A VIA board uses 1/10th the power of the laptop and that is another issue since power ere is always a struggle. Fortunately its been very windy these days and I make wind generator rigs...heh heh
I learned CHMOD -rwx-rwx-rwx *.*
I did that to the entire OPTIONAL directory and POOF - my .sh files began executing and I could see them.
I sudo iwlist wlan0 scan >wifiscan.txt, then pop open editor, see if antenna was seeing the SSID I logged into - sometimes yes, other times no.
- if there, then re-run sudo iwconfig wlan0 essid "MyHotSpot" - sleep 10 - sudo udhcp -b -i wlan0 then do a ping -c4 test
I'd go back to Firefox (which was open at a page not found) - click RETRY and wait wait wait - ka-ching - got it - could go to the next page.
I need to automate wifi scan in a background LOOP/TEST cycle and threshold fragment. Have an article on setting that with iwconfig I am going to go try
I assume this should be the folder structure of Linux
/usr
/etc
/bin
JUANITO: 3. Can you successfully make and restore a tinycore backup on/from a linux partition?
Haven't tried that and if I did, I'd be booting NTFS/W2K and using DOS XCOPY (verysad).
I executed my -FIRST EVER SUCCESSFUL- CP cross-directory command last night.
JUANITO: If the answer to all three of the above is yes, then it should be easy to solve all of your problems. If the answer to some/all of the above is no, then it is going to be more difficult.
Yes - its a tough nut to crack - and I think the problem areas right now:
The WIFI SCANNING UTILITY to restore/keep the system online no matter what - will help and Firefox - dumped Opera - FF works with TC, has never crashed.
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I wonder if most of the problems originate from trying to make linux work on a win partition - ie file permissions not supported. I came unstuck there pretty quickly as well, trying to make my ~HOME on a FAT32 partition. Errors galore.
Instead of wrestling with this thing as you have, why not go the easy way out and use ext3 fs?
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and info on making scripts in /OPT/ so I will try that - I assume you mean
/mnt/hda1/opt (the NTFS partition) AND
/mnt/hda2/opt (the FAT32 pure TC use partition) AND NOT
/RAM/opt - since that is transient - right?
No, I mean the /opt in ram where they will be backed up/restored automatically once you the tinycore backup working - you will be plagued by permissions problems with scripts forever if you keep them on a windows partitions
then Firefox needs fire up every time the system boots, since 90% of the time I am online anyway.
If tinycore recognises your linux partition /tce folder then you can add firefox to the /tce/onboot.lst file and it will automatically load on boot.
a) begin developing "good Linux habits" and migrating files to a folder structure that Linux typically uses: I see the USR folder, but not sure how that plays out - am guessing its /USR/Joe and /USR/Jane and /USR/Fred etc.
Good guess, but no - it's /home/Joe, /home/tc, etc and everything under /home/tc is backed up automatically once you have the tinycore backup working.
I can also create any folders required under G:/TCE (or the C:/TCE)
I assume this should be the folder structure of Linux
/usr
/etc
/bin
There is no need to do this, tinycore automatically creates all these in ram
JUANITO: 3. Can you successfully make and restore a tinycore backup on/from a linux partition?
Haven't tried that and if I did, I'd be booting NTFS/W2K and using DOS XCOPY (verysad).
Making this work to your linux partition should be the first priority, it will help tremendously with everything else.
-
d) and what else is there besides FILE MANAGER? I can't see 80% of my files in there - the left pane is so small the files are all pressed to the right margin. Busy Box is - for all intents and purposes - perhaps a wonderful tool for embedded software and completely, 110% useless for any sort of office in this century. Absolute nightmare.
Hi. I'm the author of the "Absolute nightmare" file manager Fluff, AKA FileMgr in the default TC desktop. The default size is quite small and does tend to squish the directory tree and file details list, but it is easily resized by dragging the middle margin between the left and right panes, and you can resize the entire window in the normal FLWM ways. Assuming you have an installation that will backup your $HOME directory, your custom size info will be remembered the next time you open Fluff/FileMgr. Besides that, if you have continued issues with it, please post a report in a new thread.
That said, Fluff/FileMgr is intentionally light and plain (some say "ugly" ::)). If you want a more full-featured file manager, I often recommend XFE, which is in the Tinycore app repository. ROX is good too, but rather unorthodox if you are used to Windows Explorer and similar ones.
-
Thank you Mike - for the reviews on file managers. Tried dragging middle bar to resize - didn't wanna play - will try again.
Juanito - I will try booting to G: - pure Linux and see if I can get bootlocal.sh to fly - and set Firefox to fire on boot. Is there a method to make that happen on the VERY FIRST TIME TC RUNS if FF is in /tce/optional folder? - such as an the "APPEND" command in the Grub call?
such as bootlocal.sh calling "gofox.sh" - except bootlocal.sh doesn't exist until AFTER a backup installs it on subsequent boots - gonna be tricky.
thought a command like
tce-load -i firefox.tcz
such as the wifi we used earlier - which you mentioned don't like being called on a boot
perhaps a "SLEEP 5" from bootlocal.sh - that launches a gowifi.sh script
-
Is there a method to make that happen on the VERY FIRST TIME TC RUNS if FF is in /tce/optional folder? - such as an the "APPEND" command in the Grub call?
If you have tce=hda6 in your grub boot line, you can use something like this: $ echo 'firefox.tcz' >> /mnt/hda6/tce/onboot.lst..or you can use the apps audit gui tool "onboot" button if you have booted in tinycore.
Note that this assumes firefox.tcz, firefox.tcz.dep and libasound.tcz, curl.tcz and libnotify.tcz and their deps (if any) are present in /mnt/hda6/tce/optional
such as the wifi we used earlier - which you mentioned don't like being called on a boot
I don't think I said wireless_tools.tcz and wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz could not be loaded on boot. If you want to load them on boot, ensure wireless_tools.tcz, wireless_tools.tcz.dep and wireless-2.6.33.3-tinycore.tcz are present in /mnt/hda6/tce/optional and add wireless_tools.tcz to /mnt/hda6/tce/onboot.lst
Note: the above assumes tinycore has recognised /mnt/hda6/tce as your /tce folder
See also: http://wiki.tinycorelinux.net/wiki:persistence_for_dummies
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Juanito - you are a fountain of easy tips to follow. Thank you.
Got 300 lines of "wifiez.pl" done last night - will be testing.
... not quite sure where I would put these. Right now I am using:
\tce\uaps\uscripts
\tce\uaps\bin
and
\tce\uaps\data
p.s. I would add 10 - 20 examples to each of the Dummies pages,:
EXAMPLES:
Example 1. To use the default settings,
Example 2. To save your settings to a USB or hard drive in a special folder on your own media:
Example 3: a simple test to save your desktop image.
Example 4: you want TC to log onto the internet and open a browser everytime you boot.
Example 5: you want a special script to run when you boot
a)
b)
c)
Example 6: Let's make a script that says "Good day" and then waits for you to hit enter before you get your desktop.
Example 7: you want a special script that does something when you shut down.
Example 8: you want to save your browser settings. Each time Firefox loads it "forgets" things like your home page unless you have something like this:
Example 9: you want a particular mp3 to start playing everytime you boot.
Example 10: setting up what applications are loaded when you boot. Some folks want a browser to load, others want a media player or a software language like Perl. Use the Application Manager to set up which TCZ files load "ON BOOT" or "ON DEMAND".
sort kindergarten - like this:
a) Go to control panel
b) Select Application Manager
c) Select On Boot
d) The tcz files you already loaded will be listed.
e) Click one and it will move to the right panel.
f) Select more than one, but remember this can slow down your boot and you may want to use the ON DEMAND option instead.
g) Exit the ON BOOT option by clicking ON BOOT at the top and your settings will be saved.
Now select On Demand
a) You will see your TCZ files you have loaded.
b) Repeat the click on left, it moves to the right, and creates a list of On Demand applications.
c) Then click On Demand and exit this utility.
Perhaps some utility you want hasn't already been loaded. Here's how to go get those:
a)
b)
c)
Now repeat the On Boot or On Demand steps and these will be automatically loaded according to your preferences.
Example 11: lets say you wanted to get rid of your "Windows Web Server" (rather well known for being a security risk), and install a faster, tighter more robust server and also include Perl.
(suggested examples only - not accurate)
a) Go get these files
b) put this in On Boot with Ap Mgr or you could also just load these lines in onboot.lst with the command
echo 'serverprogram.tcz' >> /mnt/hda1/tce/onboot.lst (assumes hda1 is your hard drive used to boot)
echo 'perl5.tcz' >> /mnt/hda1/tce/onboot.lst
c) now after configuring your web server it should load and begin serving web pages each time your system reboots.
For more information on configuring and using one of several web server ap tcz files, visit the repository or forum links. Here are a few of them to get you going.
a)
b)
c)
More complicated examples:
Example 13: Your boss wants you to have a spreadsheet ready every day by 10. Every day you have to go to a web site and check the current price of gold and silver (or wheat, copper, or great laptop deals at a wholesale site - whatever), and post the top ten best deals as raw data in a file.
You used to use Internet Explorer and Excel, and you have found that Firefo and Gnumeric does everything you need.
You can:
a) continue using your Windows programs and wait and wait for it to boot ... and load ... and sometimes crash, or
b) have Tiny Core ready to go in a little over 10 seconds, and be in your spread sheet program the first thing every morning when you boot up, and playing your favorite music in the background. Here's how:
1. Get the files
a)
b)
c)
2. Set up the Ap Mgr On Boot Command or onboot.lst - here are both methods:
a)
b)
c)
or
a)
b)
c)
3. Notice that to open that particular media (album) you need to tell the media player where the songs are and usually this is best done by putting those songs in a specific folder, such as
/usr/mary/mybands/mymorningband/
and in that folder, put in their MP3's you downloaded from their web site, such as
song1.mp3
song2.mp3
song3.mp3
Now:
1. Run your media player (see above on how to get that)
2. Select File Preferences Play List and then Play from Folder. You should see the folder of your favorite morning group's album. If not, here is how to find it:
a)
b)
c)
3. Save your settings, then test them by running the media player again. If it remembered your folder with the album, the music should start playing right away.
Now let's get that spreadsheet working:
1. Get the tcz file. Firefox has become pretty popular and is very stable.
a) do this
b) do that
c) and do this to make sure your home page and book marks are saved. Perhaps this is your page your boss wants you to visit each day to get your data.
Now let's get that spreadsheet working:
1. Get the tcz file. Many people like Gnumeric. Here's how:
2. Now let's make a script that loads both the media folder and Gnumeric at the same time.
a) Open the editor - here's how to do that:
b) The first line of a .sh script should always be the old she-bang and this and that. It looks like this:
c) The next 3 lines makes sure your drive with your media and programs and spreadsheets has been mounted.
d) The next line runs the media player. If your play list settings were saved, it should start playing your morning album.
e) The next 3 lines automatically logs you onto the Internet and runs Firefox.
Note: You may need to tinker with these lines to get connected with a wifi or ethernet system. More details on that in example 14 below and at "this link". These lines are just examples and you will probably have to change a few things. Here's one example of all the lines to make your system automatically go live on the internet with ethernet and open Firefox:
Here is an example of making it do that and go live with wifi and Firefox:
f) The next line runs Gnumeric and automatically opens the right spreadsheet. Then you can cut and paste the data from the web page to the spread sheet. Here's how:
Here is what it all looks like together. The good thing about scripts is once you have made them, you only have to type them once and they usually run consistently each time - all automagic.
Poof! You get to make your boss happy and you get to smile while you use a spreadsheet program and media player that won't crash, and only took a few seconds to load.
Try a timed test:
a) Turn off your PC.
b) Look at a watch and note the exact time as soon as the first word - any word - appears on the screen, such as RAM or Press F2 for Bios - anything at all.
c) Reboot and go back to Windows, after it finally boots, open your media player and start your album.
d) Then connect to the internet and open IE and go to the site.
e) Copy the data and then
f) Open your spreadsheet and paste the data there.
Now look at your timer. How long did it take?
Now let's try that with Tiny Core and your new script. Get ready with your stop watch and then reboot and start the timer as soon as you see Press F2 for Bios or anything at all.
1. Follow the same steps and cut and paste the text into your spreadsheet.
2. Stop the clock and compare the time. Now gently explain the results of your test to your boss.
Example 14: some other tricky persistent tip the gurus know that is often very helpful
etc.
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Great POINT Jur: absolutely correct - majority of ALL problems ALL users encounter nearly ALWAYS are a result of "trying to do something - anything -with "Windows involved".
So all my objectives here are to get TC working - asap - on install - then do everything possible in Linux from there on. This policy was firmly established by realizing most of my friends and clients can't operate system admin utilities and most free Windows aps are either buggy or infected or will soon be infected. I run the #1 firewall made (some ratings/reviews) and stuff gets past it.
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I haven't read through all your replies - rather long - but seems to me the easiest way to migrate is:
1. defrag the drive. Data backup assumed.
2. Use parted magic (or tcl on a stick), or a win partition editor, shrink the win partition and make about 4GB room for a second partition.
3. Create an etx3 partition on that spare space. Or at least a 100MB FAT32 if you can't boot from a CD.
4. Manually create /boot and /tce folders, populate /boot with tinycore.gz and BzImage.
5. Use one of the excellent multi-boot sw packages to set up a dual boot with win and tcl. Boot into tcl.
6. From within tcl, load GParted and create a ext3 partition on the rest of the space. Set boot options to have your /opt and /home there, and the /tce.
7. Reboot. Go play.
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Jur - you are right again - for some folks used to Windows - and early backup policies are always wise.
But defrags and optimize etc. - in Windows? Been there - prefer to learn the Linux utils and automate them via command lines.
My method: Get TC installed - on NTFS - get the wifi/ethernet utils working so it can go online, install a Part/Optimize utility that can run automatically, then slice out the TC areas, then get TC working on EXT2 - with a FAT area for sharing across systems.
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ntfsresize
linux.die.net/man/8/ntfsresize
parted
linux.die.net/man/8/parted
These are common Linux utilities, probably already in TC, or one of the extensions.
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...and then a simple command line Partition manager.
ntfsprogs from the repo
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...and then a simple command line Partition manager.
ntfsprogs from the repo
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When making changes to partitions, bear in mind that the Windows boot partition may not always be C: - MS got over that hangup a long time ago.
Also, If I understand it correctly, a swap -file- is as good as a swap -partition- these days.
I know you are planing on the first boot being with Svolli's tc remix, but once you have an ext or fat partition, will you stick with that or switch to vanilla tc/mc? Any reason to go one way or the other? (I haven't tried Svolli's product myself, so I don't know what besides ntfs support he might have added to it).
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The method I outlined is possible of getting automated which is why I proposed it in the first place.
1. To defrag a drive is not rocket science - I say use one from PortableApps.com - no install required at all.
2. Shrinking the partition is possible via the built-in win one. I did not look to see if there is one at PortableApps.com. If there is, then this would be the one to use as well.
3. Make a small FAT partition to house the initial tcl installation.
4. Create /boot and /tce and populate /boot from the iso, or even from downloading the 2 files individually. When I said "manually create", I meant "don't use the built-in tcl installer" as I am assuming you can't boot yet. The "manually create" is obviously done by your (perl?) script.
5. Boot into tcl, and use GParted for the rest.
I still think it is the easiest most straightforward way to do it. You can be up and running (with network cable internet) on just about any hardware.
Wifi is more tricky but the stuff from puppylinux could probably be adapted/recompiled into a tcl extension.
Re data backup, well there you are on your own. You are as likely to lose data while using portable apps as you are using linux apps, both are opensource. Data backup is required in either case.
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Lee - as soon as possible I want a MicroCore to handle the front end phase and then move on to the EXT2, 3 or 4 partition with a real TC on it.
For now I (didn't quite beg Sven) but don't have a MC equivalent of the TC-NTFS-3G PLUS that package may require net to get the TCZ files.
So for the moment TC may be the best choice anyway. Would prefer a tighter MC version then get TC working on EXT2 drive after partition/install phase is done.
Parted or NTFS tools seems best choice.
Unfortunately, Svolli did a great job of making the compile - and has provided the scripts, but as typical in the Linux community in general, and a HUGE problem (I believe the biggest bug), he asked me - a total newbie who has never "fused" or "made" or in any way compiled or incorporated a single linux "anything", to use "scripts" to make a TC or MC file.
It is THE common Linux mistake to assume anyone attempting a migration or Linux install can do that.
So I ask - if anyone here who knows HOW to build a custom MC module might make a post.
Let me start it.
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SvOlli did provide the script to integrate ntfs-3g with initrd, so you could do this yourself for MC.
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Today - 6 weeks after starting with TC, I finally got my background desktop to save. Not sure how or why, but here are some hints for folks using the SVOLLI NTFS version - thelitecore.iso - that might help.
1. Since I was booting from C: (NTFS drive) according to Svolli's /TCE folder, and could never get a backup to save, I THINK (check with engineers here) that as TC is booting, the first drive it saw was my G: - not C:. G: was set up as my first hard drive TC and had mydata.tgz on it and was a Fat32. Since C: was NTFS and probably not recognized at first, perhaps TC would go to G: first and only after everything was loaded did it start to pull from C: (hda1) and not G: (hda2).
2. The other thing I did was mark the JPG being used for my background, which was generated by a Windows version of GIMP and stored on the NTFS drives, as +rwx+rwx+rwx - before copying it to the /opt/background folder in ram and then saving. The next boot it worked (after a month), though not sure if this helped.
3. Since I am shooting wifi signal 1/4 mile and it constantly dropped me every 10 - 30 seconds, whereas the Windows driver allowed for changing packet fragment threshold and RTS which kept it stable, I got into the WIFI script I use and that, plus the iwconfig pdf instructions allowed me to decrease RTS and fragement, keep power level at 100mW constant, and change sensitivity. As a result as I was downloading TCZ files - about an hour plus worth of time - the system never went offline. Additionally my Firefox is now rather robust, asked me for a profile which is also persistent now, and the system is getting pretty close to as robust as the Windows office I am used to and certainly runs faster. Adding Leaf was also a big help as whatever I don't do at a terminal is done in an editor like that and Leaf seems to have more normal page up/down and file open features I am used to.
I did get the menu adjusted with new aps I had installed (293 files thus far and growing, a lot of it due to my skype and flash requirements), but have not gotten skype to work yet: in fact one skype install script I found here wiped out my wmenu completely - as in dusted all icons and files - BE CAREFUL.
Since I could only HALT or REBOOT at that point if I was lucky enough to get a terminal, and didn't know if that would screw up my backup files and stick me with NO menu, and didn't know any other way to get to the control panel, I did a hard button shut down, came back up and everything was as it was the prior boot - so backup worked, but I don't know if all the TCZ files I had loaded were still there or not.
Will keep working on Skype - which, along with Flash, are the last major leg of this puzzle. Juanito was kind enough to point me towards the GCC compiler, but that may have to wait a bit as my intent is NOT to remaster or change the core - I don't need another maintenance child. The intent is to make sure anyone attempting a Windows Migration can easily get all required tools working - with one click.
Mplayer - no Dep - just locked up my entire system - had to do another hard reset - everything else came back fine - Firefox even remembered the last page I was on.
Not sure why gspdf still shows in wmenu - that program bombed first time and I ran it and it has been deleted - I tried epdfview and that worked well - am now testing TLC - a music player I am familiar with.
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Grandma: by any chance, are you a relative of Jerry Pournelle? 8) There seems to be at least some narative resemblance.
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Or Marcel Gagne?
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ooops - syntax error - "narrative" has 2 "r"'s
I am gonna guess if I ask Robert real sweet he MIGHT dust this entire post.
I wrote an install program so no one would have to endure what I went through and was pushed along - wonderful assistance - by a couple of admins here - and after trying nearly every flavor of Linux made its pretty obvious to this old bird Tiny Core rocks - just needs a few extra parts you folks may have forgotten for slow folks like me.
I'm fixing that right quick. Thank you for your patience as I live and learn.
By the way Gerald - looks like I owe you a favor - I looked up Marcel and saw they had a Windows Terminal Server program - wasn't sure how I was going to access one of my co-lo boxes that has bunch of clients on it - would love to change it to Linux but can't - and was stuck with the Microsoft ap to do that - but Marcel had the remote server ap in Linux and I grabbed that.
As soon as I figure out how to open a GZ file and run a program, I will let you know if you earned your burger and beer.
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Grandma: by any chance, are you a relative of Jerry Pournelle? 8) There seems to be at least some narative resemblance.
So I checked out Jerry - bit of a rambler and goof ball - guess I am too - but some of his stuff is sorta kewl - and I was able to post an article on the nuclear industry there - thanks for the tip Mike.
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gz file: just unzip it and see what you have. :)
Pournelle: great sci-fi over the years. -Long-time computer geek. Haven't read much of his other non-fiction.
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Need help with MC - am going to try to wean myself off the TCE Svolli version that is installed on my NTFS drive - have been using it for a few months now - do like it - want less
"Less is more"
Tried the new MC that can read NTFS - thank you RobertS
Don't really need to write to NTFS - though that would be nice - but not required at this point and I guess we can get the tools installed afterwards - that works - actually I kinda like the READ ONLY NTFS characteristic of the new MC.
So I wanna switch...but can't. Tried a MC boot today - got a neat black screen and VI editor - kewl. Uh...ooops - got stuck in VI with no memory of how to exit and made a pencil cheat sheet for use later so I don't have to use power button.
Need help with Xorg to replace Xvesa - read up on the xorg.conf files - not sure where to stick it ...
Need help with WGET - want to try using coreutils and other functions - and get rid of busy box. I have gotten good enough with SH now that I can write a loop to find dependencies...but haven't done my first WGET yet. Not sure how this works.
I THINK?
a) wget url - no clue on what the physical URL is for these files. Help!
b) unzip to /tce/optional - never did an unzip in Linux - help here would be appreciated - have no idea what tool to even use for that.
c) wget the url.info to nail dependencies - or one of those files -
d) script through - build dependency array recursively - got that - I assume someone has written this already - if available would be appreciated.
Ok - so a file has landed. Now what? Do I ?RUN IT AT TERM?
Am going to test tinywm - don't need a desktop and not sure I even need tinywm - but it seemed like the smallest puppy in the pack.
So...that leaves XORG and WGET as the only issues to date. Any help would be appreciated.
It looks like I am going through a somewhat common step-by-step transititon
1. Windows user gets tired of viruses - swears off windows and investigates TC
2. Installs TC, tries other packages, comes back to TC.
3. Gets some progress - likes TC speed and tight install
4. Has some headaches, swears they'll switch to another distro - tries Puppy (I did - nice - cute - sweet) - finds out it crashes too - goes back to TC
5. Makes a lot of progress in TC - slowly works up to an entire hour of Linux in a day - the other 15 hours are still Windows.
6. Gets to a point when they have enough confidence with tools to use Linux for an entire day. For me that took 2 months.
7. After a week of that, suddenly discovers they aren't using Windows at all - ooops - better go back and make sure it still works. It did - sort of - switched back to TC Linux.
8. After a month of that wants to shrink it further - at least the core - and starts switching around or eliminating components. In my case I want to dump flwm, busybox, Xprogs and Xlibs - replace them with a core and a few other standards and see how it works.
Naturally I expect enough problems that I may end up putting one or more back - but for now this is the plan.
Thank you for your patience and guidance.
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got stuck in VI with no memory of how to exit
:q or :wq to save
Need help with Xorg to replace Xvesa - read up on the xorg.conf files - not sure where to stick it
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
a) wget url - no clue on what the physical URL is for these files. Help!
They've not changed since the last time I posted them for you, for example:$ wget -c http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/wget.tcz
$ wget -c http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/wget.tcz.dep
$ wget -c http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/tinycorelinux/3.x/tcz/wget.tcz.md5.txt
b) unzip to /tce/optional - never did an unzip in Linux - help here would be appreciated - have no idea what tool to even use for that.
"unzip filename.zip" (provided by busybox in the base)
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Ok - I get it - I will try Xorg today when I get back - and yipper - looks like busy box is really the defacto Linux on most systems - didn't know just how wide spread that is, at least in the embedded world - thank you.