Original Method - minios-linux/minios-live GitHub Wiki

Original Installation Method (Windows/Linux)

The original MiniOS installation method involves copying system files directly to the drive and installing the bootloader. This method provides maximum configuration flexibility and compatibility with various media types.

⚠️ Note: This method only works on Windows and Linux due to the use of the SYSLINUX bootloader.

Important

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect device selection will result in data loss! Always double-check the selected drive and backup important data.

Drive Requirements

Drive Size

See Hardware Compatibility Guide for detailed system requirements and drive sizes.

Technical Requirements

  • File systems: FAT32, NTFS, ext2/3/4, Btrfs
  • Partition scheme: MBR
  • ⚠️ EFI booting: When using NTFS, exFAT, or ext2/3/4 file systems, EFI mode booting may be unavailable. For EFI support, FAT32 is recommended.

Creating Bootable USB Drive

Step 1: Prepare the Drive

Windows:

  1. Open "Disk Management" (Win+R → diskmgmt.msc)
  2. Find the USB drive → right-click → "Delete Volume"
  3. Right-click on unallocated space → "New Simple Volume"
  4. Choose file system: FAT32 (recommended) or NTFS

Linux:

# Identify the device
lsblk

# Create new MBR partition table
sudo fdisk /dev/sdX
# In fdisk: o (new table), n (new partition), p (primary), a (bootable), w (write)

# Create file system
sudo mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdX1  # For FAT32
sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdX1         # For ext4

Step 2: Extract and Copy Files

Mounting ISO:

Windows:

  • Right-click the ISO file → "Mount"

Linux:

sudo mkdir /mnt/minios-iso
sudo mount -o loop MiniOS.iso /mnt/minios-iso

Copying Files:

  1. Find the /minios/ folder in the mounted ISO
  2. Copy the entire /minios/ folder to the root of the USB drive

Step 3: Install Bootloader

Navigate to the /minios/boot/ folder on the drive and run the installer:

Windows:

  • Run bootinst.bat as administrator

Linux:

cd /media/$USER/*/minios/boot/
chmod +x bootinst.sh
sudo ./bootinst.sh

Automatic Change Persistence

On first boot, MiniOS will check the drive's file system type and attempt to use the optimal change persistence mode:

  • ext2/3/4, Btrfs: attempts to use native mode (direct saving)
  • FAT32/NTFS: uses dynfilefs mode (dynamic file)
  • When native mode is unavailable, automatically switches to dynfilefs

Parameter Configuration (for Advanced Users)

When precise persistence configuration is needed, boot parameters can be used:

  • perchmode=native - Direct saving to partition (for ext4)
  • perchmode=dynfilefs - Dynamically expandable file
  • perchmode=raw - Fixed-size file
  • perchsize=8000 - Data storage space size in MB

Details in boot parameters.