Commodore OS Installation Instructions
Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2024 6:25 am
Installation Instructions
The iso file is a live image of Commodore OS Vision 2.0.
Commodore OS is a 64-bit image and will not run on 32-bit machines. (Anything less than 15 years old)
To run comfortably I would recommend a 100Gb drive or larger (but no less than 40Gb).
There is an optional script that will also download and install 50+ Linux games.
Step 1
You have a number of options:
a) You can run the image directly within a Virtual machine like VirtualBox.
To do so create a new Machine with the desired specification(Enable 3D Acceleration),
and in Settings choose the ISO from the Storage section Optical Drive (Select Live CD/DVD).
You should get all the effects(a little choppier) but Wine Games won't work well if at all.
b) You can install Commodore OS to your PC via an SD card or USB stick.
Use a USB imaging tool to copy the ISO installation image file to your USB stick or SD Card.
Rufus for Windows(https://rufus.ie/en/) is recommended and Unetbootin for Linux would most likely work.
There is a high likelihood that you will need to get into your computer's BIOS(a key specified during boot up) to change
the Boot drive order to boot from the USB stick or SD card instead of your PC's Hard Drive.
(You may need to set it back after installation).
c) You can also run Commodore OS directly off the USB stick or SD card, which is usually the same experience but loads files slower.
If you've set persistence during the image creation your modifications might stick.
Step 2
Select the Commodore OS Vision menu option to launch into the Commodore OS desktop experience.
Follow the prompts in the Commodore OS Greeter Window to launch the installer.
Options:
a) A regular install using the entire disk is the fastest and easiest option and recommended. (I wouldn't bother with the Encryption option)
b) Choose "Customize the disk layout" if you want to try and install other operating systems later that may be selected via the Grub boot menu.
The best way to set up the partitions to facilitate the other OSes is beyond the scope of this document
but may be discussed on the Commodore OS forum (http://forum.commodoreos.net).
Note: When presented to "Choose partitions" if you want to alter the partition sizes you will need to run
the partition management application by clicking on the tiny icon near the bottom of the list area.
(the default password is "C=". A "C" followed by "=")
If you do install other OSes you can attempt to re-instate the Grub Boot menu from within the Live USB desktop menu.
System --> Commodore OS --> Restore Boot Menu
Click the "Next" button to proceed through the installation and agree to formatting the Hard Disk.
I would recommend the following settings:
Computer Name: Commodore
Computer domain: Commodore
Click "Next" and set your locale appropriately.
Installation should then proceed to completion and the computer can reboot when you click the "Finish" button.
Remove the USB stick or SD Card you had inserted. You may have to re-enter BIOS to enable booting off the Hard Disk.
Enjoy!!!
Some of the unique features included in the Commodore OS menu are presented below:
System --> Commodore OS
It is a good idea to update the kernel on a new installation to ensure that more current hardware is supported. (So far this hasn't caused problems.)
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Install Latest Linux Kernel
There is an OEM option that configures the desktop so that next time the user turns on the PC they are treated as a new user and can go through the welcome wizard without the installation step.
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Set OEM
Also, if you are setting this system up for someone who is interested in games, 50 of the best linux games can be auto installed from the menu:
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Free Games Installer
Click here for a list of the games: viewtopic.php?t=10 complete with install/uninstall commands.
Instructions on how to obtain and install legal Commodore ROMS can be found here:
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Cloanto Commodore ROM Setup
Don't forget to try clicking on the Commodore/C= logo in the dock which will take you to a number of nostalgia filled retro games, demos and music for various retro systems. Definitely check out what's under DOS, Windows and Linux, but obviously the focus is on Commodore.
The iso file is a live image of Commodore OS Vision 2.0.
Commodore OS is a 64-bit image and will not run on 32-bit machines. (Anything less than 15 years old)
To run comfortably I would recommend a 100Gb drive or larger (but no less than 40Gb).
There is an optional script that will also download and install 50+ Linux games.
Step 1
You have a number of options:
a) You can run the image directly within a Virtual machine like VirtualBox.
To do so create a new Machine with the desired specification(Enable 3D Acceleration),
and in Settings choose the ISO from the Storage section Optical Drive (Select Live CD/DVD).
You should get all the effects(a little choppier) but Wine Games won't work well if at all.
b) You can install Commodore OS to your PC via an SD card or USB stick.
Use a USB imaging tool to copy the ISO installation image file to your USB stick or SD Card.
Rufus for Windows(https://rufus.ie/en/) is recommended and Unetbootin for Linux would most likely work.
There is a high likelihood that you will need to get into your computer's BIOS(a key specified during boot up) to change
the Boot drive order to boot from the USB stick or SD card instead of your PC's Hard Drive.
(You may need to set it back after installation).
c) You can also run Commodore OS directly off the USB stick or SD card, which is usually the same experience but loads files slower.
If you've set persistence during the image creation your modifications might stick.
Step 2
Select the Commodore OS Vision menu option to launch into the Commodore OS desktop experience.
Follow the prompts in the Commodore OS Greeter Window to launch the installer.
Options:
a) A regular install using the entire disk is the fastest and easiest option and recommended. (I wouldn't bother with the Encryption option)
b) Choose "Customize the disk layout" if you want to try and install other operating systems later that may be selected via the Grub boot menu.
The best way to set up the partitions to facilitate the other OSes is beyond the scope of this document
but may be discussed on the Commodore OS forum (http://forum.commodoreos.net).
Note: When presented to "Choose partitions" if you want to alter the partition sizes you will need to run
the partition management application by clicking on the tiny icon near the bottom of the list area.
(the default password is "C=". A "C" followed by "=")
If you do install other OSes you can attempt to re-instate the Grub Boot menu from within the Live USB desktop menu.
System --> Commodore OS --> Restore Boot Menu
Click the "Next" button to proceed through the installation and agree to formatting the Hard Disk.
I would recommend the following settings:
Computer Name: Commodore
Computer domain: Commodore
Click "Next" and set your locale appropriately.
Installation should then proceed to completion and the computer can reboot when you click the "Finish" button.
Remove the USB stick or SD Card you had inserted. You may have to re-enter BIOS to enable booting off the Hard Disk.
Enjoy!!!
Some of the unique features included in the Commodore OS menu are presented below:
System --> Commodore OS
It is a good idea to update the kernel on a new installation to ensure that more current hardware is supported. (So far this hasn't caused problems.)
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Install Latest Linux Kernel
There is an OEM option that configures the desktop so that next time the user turns on the PC they are treated as a new user and can go through the welcome wizard without the installation step.
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Set OEM
Also, if you are setting this system up for someone who is interested in games, 50 of the best linux games can be auto installed from the menu:
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Free Games Installer
Click here for a list of the games: viewtopic.php?t=10 complete with install/uninstall commands.
Instructions on how to obtain and install legal Commodore ROMS can be found here:
System --> Commodore OS --> Additional Features --> Cloanto Commodore ROM Setup
Don't forget to try clicking on the Commodore/C= logo in the dock which will take you to a number of nostalgia filled retro games, demos and music for various retro systems. Definitely check out what's under DOS, Windows and Linux, but obviously the focus is on Commodore.