There are two ways to “image” (clone) a machine using a PCF USB Installer Flash Drive:

  1. Use the script that automates much of the process
  2. Perform the steps manually

Boot from the USB:

  1. Start up your computer from a PCF USB Installer Flash drive. Instructions to do so here »
  2. Start up the Terminal application. Double-click the App icon on the Desktop of choose it from the Favorites in the App menu.

Use the Automated Script:

  1. In Terminal, type sudo /install/PCF/install_script
    • NOTE: pressing the UP arrow key recalls the last commands in Terminal.
    • This means you may not have to type the the command above after you refurbish your first machine. Just type the up arrow key until the above command appears and then press Enter
  2. When prompted, enter the password “pcf“
  3. Wait between 3 and 15 minutes (depending on the USB port & hard drive R/W speeds)
  4. Power the computer down, remove the Flash drive and start up the computer to test it.

Use Manual Commands:

  1. In Terminal, type sudo su and then enter the Admin password “pcf“
  2. Type lsblk and make sure:
    • sda and sdb are both listed. If only /sda is listed (but no sdb or visa versa) then the machine does not have a hard drive installed (or it is broken)
    • if both are listed then make sure the line listing sdb or sdb1 ends with a slash “/”.
  3. Image the Internal Drive:
    • Assuming sda and sdb are both listed and sdb ends with a “/”, type: time cat /install/pcf.img > /dev/sda, OR
    • Assuming sda and sdb are both listed and sda ends with a “/”, type: time cat /install/pcf.img > /dev/sdb
  4. After 4-15 minutes, a window appears indicating the process is done. And the Terminal window will tell you how long the process took (due to the inclusion of the “time” command)
  5. Go to the application menu and open the Gparted App. Enter the password “pcf” to open it.
  6. Increase the size of the internal drive partition
    • From the volumes drop-down menu on the top right of the Gparted App, choose the internal drive. Typically “/dev/sda”
    • Click the main partition (white/yellow box next to the word “unallocated”) to select it (or click to select /dev/sda1 in the list below)
    • Then click the >| icon or choose “Resize/Move command from the Partition menu
    • Click and drag the partition size control to make the drive larger.
    • Click Resize button to close the popup and then click the Apply All button (green checkmark) in the icon bar.
  7. Power the computer down, remove the Flash drive and start up the computer to test it.