Installing the BeOS
From a Downloaded
Disk Image File

The information that follows describes how to install the BeOS Preview Release 2 onto your BeOS Ready System using the BeOS Image Installer and a BeOS disk image file that you download from the Be web site. The Be Operating System that you install from this disk image file is a slimmer version of the BeOS, to make it easier to download. It doesn't include some components of the full-featured BeOS, such as Metrowerks Code Warrior, the MIDI app, some demos, and some command line tools. You will, however, be able to install most of these missing parts from the supplemental download packages, described in "Installing Supplemental Software Packages."

If you want to install the complete BeOS with all files, we recommend that you purchase a copy of the BeOS Preview Release Version 2 CD. This software is available for as little as $9.95; you can order your copy from the Be web site: <http://www.be.com/purchase/ordering/beos_order_form.html>.

Note: You cannot upgrade an existing BeOS system with the BeOS Image Installer. You must upgrade using a Preview Release 2 CD.

Before You Install the BeOS

Before you download and install the BeOS, you need to answer two questions:

The following sections, "Deciding Which BeOS Disk Image to Download" and "Selecting a Partition or Device for Installation" help you answer these questions.

Deciding Which BeOS Disk Image to Download

There are two BeOS disk image files available for download from the Be web site -- a 100 MB version and a 200 MB version. The two versions are essentially the same: They have the same contents, they are the same size to download, and there's no difference in the way they're installed or launched. The distinction between the two is that the 100 MB version creates a 100 MB BeOS disk, while the 200 MB version creates a 200 MB BeOS disk. This means that the 200 MB version gives you an extra 100 MB for adding supplementary or third-party apps or other files to use with the BeOS.

If you're going to install onto a "small" device (such as a Zip cartridge), then you should choose the 100 MB version. In all other cases -- in other words, when the device you're downloading onto can accommodate the larger file -- the choice is yours. If you want some extra space to download more apps, then choose the 200 MB version; if you just want to stick with the basics, choose the 100 MB version.

Note: You cannot "resize" your BeOS disk by installing the disk image onto a smaller or larger device or disk partition, or by modifying the disk or partition later. Your BeOS disk will be exactly the same size as the disk image you install. If you need a different size than 100 MB or 200 MB, you should purchase the BeOS Preview Release 2 CD, which gives you complete flexibility in the disk size for your BeOS system. See the ordering information at the beginning of this document.

Selecting a Partition or Device for Installation

Before installing the BeOS, you need to decide where to install it. The Installer will ask you whether you want to install onto

In most cases, you should install onto a partition that you've specifically created to fit your BeOS image file. For more information on creating a partition, see the section "Partitioning Your Hard Drive."

If you install onto an entire device, you may end up wasting some disk space. When installing onto an entire device, the BeOS Image Installer creates a partition that just fits the BeOS disk image; the remaining space is left free but unavailable. (That is, there will be one BeOS_BFS partition of 100 or 200 MB, and the remaining space will be apple_free, not a usable partition type.)

!!! Warning: Allowing the BeOS Installer to partition a drive for you destroys all data already on that drive.

You can reclaim the remaining space (the apple_free partition) using the disk utility that came with your operating system and converting it to a Mac OS (HFS) partition. You can also reclaim that space by converting it to a second BeOS partition, using the DriveSetup preference application that comes with the BeOS. Instructions for using DriveSetup can be found in the BeOS User's Guide, "Customizing the BeOS: Using DriveSetup": <http://www.be.com/documentation/user_docs/10_beos_customize.html#5524>.

If you install onto a disk partition which is larger than the disk image you are installing, any extra space will be wasted. No additional partition will be created, and it will be impossible to reclaim this wasted space without destroying the existing BeOS partition. You should instead repartition your disk to create a partition the same size as your BeOS disk image, using the disk utility that came with your system, and then begin the installation. See the section "Partitioning Your Hard Drive" for more details.

If you choose to install onto an external device, such as a Zip, Jaz, or Syquest drive, you'll need a cartridge large enough for the BeOS disk image file you've downloaded:

When installing onto a hard drive, it's recommended that you use a second drive (not your boot drive).

!!! Once again, keep in mind that the Installer will delete all data on the partition or device that you're installing onto.

Partitioning Your Hard Drive

If you plan to install the BeOS onto a partition of a hard disk or cartridge, use the disk utility that came with your computer to create a partition on your hard drive. These utilities vary, but in general they have a window where you select the drive you want to partition and a feature for setting or specifying partition size. Check your operating system manuals or the individual utility manual for more information.

!!! Warning: Partitioning or altering the partitioning of your hard disk or cartridge can destroy all data on that hard disk or cartridge. Back up all files that you are not prepared to lose.

When you create a partition, tailor it to the size of the BeOS disk image file you've downloaded:

For more detailed information on how to partition your hard drive, see the the software manual for your disk utility, or the BeOS User's Guide, "Advanced Installation Option: Creating a Hard Disk Partition for the BeOS for Mac OS Systems": <http://www.be.com/documentation/user_docs/05_install.html#7626>.

Installation Requirements

In order to download the BeOS disk image file, you'll need a BeOS Ready System. See the BeOS Ready Systems list for specific models and configurations: <http://www.be.com/products/beosreadylist.html>.

Installing the download version of the BeOS also requires:

Preparing a Power Macintosh for Installation

If you have any earlier versions of the BeOS files for Macintosh on your system, delete them. In particular, delete the BeOS Mac Tools folder and its contents, and the OS Chooser extension, which you'll find in the Extensions folder of your System folder.

Before you install the BeOS onto your system, back up! The BeOS Image Installer is capable of making you very unhappy, by erasing all of your data. In addition to carefully reading and following these instructions, you should back up your system and any and all files you would not want to lose, as you should before installing any system software.

!!! Warning: Installing the BeOS onto a hard drive or existing partition erases all information on that drive or partition. Back up all files that you are not prepared to lose.

Installing the BeOS Disk Image File

If you're installing the BeOS onto a dedicated hard drive or device, the procedure is straightforward. If you're installing onto a partition on a drive or device, however, there are a few additional things you need to be aware of. Be sure to read the instructions completely before you begin the installation process.

The installation instructions that follow assume that you have already downloaded from the Be web site the BeOS disk image file you want to install.

1. When the download is finished, if the archive was not decompressed automatically, drop the downloaded archive icon (named either "beos_install_100.sit.hqx" or "beos_install_200.sit.hqx") onto Stuffit Expander(TM) to unstuff the BeOS Mac Tools folder.

2. In the Mac OS Finder, open the BeOS Mac Tools folder. You should see icons for the OS Chooser extension, the BeOS Image Installer utility, the BeOS Launcher, a BeOS disk image, and this instruction document (and its graphics in the "resources" folder).

In the Mac OS Finder, drop the OS Chooser icon onto your Mac's System Folder (this will automatically move the OS Chooser into the Extensions folder). Put the BeOS Launcher icon on your desktop.

3. In the Mac OS Finder, double-click on the BeOS Image Installer icon to bring up the BeOS Setup dialog.

4. Click the top button in the dialog and read the BeOS license agreement before proceeding with your installation:

You must accept the agreement before you can proceed with the installation.

5. Next click the BeOS button. In the file selection dialog that appears, choose the BeOS disk image file you've already downloaded.

6. Now click the bottom button in the Setup dialog to select where you want to install the BeOS. The selection dialog that appears gives you the choice of installing onto a device or a partition:

If you choose "Device", as shown above, the central part of the dialog shows a list of available devices onto which you can install the BeOS image file.

If you're installing onto a disk partition, pop up the "Install Onto:" menu and and choose "Partition". The list now shows the available partitions on all devices:

You must also choose the correct bus (ATA/IDE or SCSI) for the device (this is the interface that connects your storage devices [hard disk, Zip drive, etc.] to your computer). If you don't know the bus type for your drive, your disk utility application should tell you. If the partition or device you want to install onto doesn't appear in the selection dialog window, it's either because you've chosen the wrong bus setting or because the device or partition is too small for the disk image you selected in Step 5.

7. Once you have completed the three steps required by the Installer, the "Next" button will change to "Install":

Click the Install button in the BeOS Setup dialog. You'll be presented with a series of dialogs (but only the ones relevant to your situation) which warn you of problems or let you back out of the installation.

If you have selected a partition which is actually in use by the Mac OS, such as your System disk, you'll see a dialog informing you that installation cannot take place:

This is a good way to prevent any of your important Mac OS volumes from being destroyed: Simply open a document or application on every disk or partition you want to protect, and the BeOS Image Installer will be prevented from installing onto (and destroying) those disks and partitions.

If you're installing onto a partition that's too large you'll see a warning dialog:

You should stop your installation at this point, and repartition your hard drive or cartridge to use a smaller partition size for the BeOS. See the section Selecting a Partition or Device for Installation for more details.

For all installations a dialog warns you that installation will destroy all data on the entire device...

...or the partition. (Other partitions will be safe.)

8. Once you click the Install button, the progress meter will appear to show that the BeOS is being installed onto your selected device or partition:

If you click the Stop button, you will be informed that cancelling will result in an unbootable BeOS system (it will have no effect on your Mac OS system):

We recommend you click the Continue button. If you confirm stopping the installation, do not attempt to boot the BeOS; unpredictable things, most likely bad or very bad, will happen.

9. Once you've completed the installation, you can start the BeOS by double-clicking on the BeOS Launcher icon on your desktop. The first time you boot the BeOS, you'll be greeted with a "Welcome to the BeOS" show!

Installing Supplemental Software Packages

The downloadable BeOS disk image files let you experience working with the BeOS, but to keep the download archives to a reasonable size, the system installation is leaner than the full-featured BeOS. To enhance what you can do with your BeOS installation, you'll find supplemental packages on the Be web site that include files which were taken out of the 100 MB and 200 MB disk image files. Here's what you can add to your BeOS system:

Installation

Before you download a supplemental package in NetPositive, make sure that the BeOS Expander utility preferences are not set to expand archives automatically. The correct setting is the default setting, so if you have just installed the BeOS, you don't need to do anything, but if you have experimented with Expander's settings, make sure you change them back.

To expand and install any of the above supplemental packages, double-click it to bring up the BeOS Expand-O-Matic window. Change the Destination directory to /boot (just delete the text in the textbox until it looks like the screen shot):

Click the Expand button. This will expand the archive and its contents into the correct folder, or folders, starting from the /boot directory.

You must change the Destination directory for each supplemental package in order to install all files in their correct locations.