RPi Easy SD Card Setup - Revision history

Benmadin: Added note about using /dev/rdisk#

2013-05-06T13:08:03Z

Added note about using /dev/rdisk#

Benmadin: Added note about difference between /dev/disk and /dev/rdisk

2013-05-06T13:06:32Z

Added note about difference between /dev/disk and /dev/rdisk

Simon Small: /* Using flashnul (if Win32DiskImager isn't successful) */ Checked and tidied

2013-05-03T16:05:29Z

‎Using flashnul (if Win32DiskImager isn't successful): Checked and tidied

Simon Small: /* Using the Win32DiskImager program */ fix link

2013-05-03T15:40:20Z

‎Using the Win32DiskImager program: fix link

Simon Small: /* Using the Win32DiskImager program */ Checked and tidied

2013-05-03T13:53:32Z

‎Using the Win32DiskImager program: Checked and tidied

Simon Small: Restructured page

2013-05-03T11:51:41Z

Restructured page

Show changes

Simon Small: /* Easiest way */ Splitting the page into Operating Systems for writing to a card

2013-05-03T10:53:42Z

‎Easiest way: Splitting the page into Operating Systems for writing to a card

Simon Small: /* Safest/Laziest way */ Renamed section / tidied

2013-05-03T10:30:07Z

‎Safest/Laziest way: Renamed section / tidied

Simon Small: /* SD card setup */ Preloaded card buying is shown below

2013-04-28T21:08:34Z

‎SD card setup: Preloaded card buying is shown below

Simon Small: /* SD card setup */ spelling errors

2013-04-28T20:39:21Z

‎SD card setup: spelling errors

@@ Line 118: / Line 118: @@
 #* '''sudo dd if=''path_of_your_image.img'' of=/dev/disk''n'' bs=1m'''
 #* Remember to replace ''n'' with the number that you noted before!
-# Wait a LONG time!
+# Wait a LONG time! ''(or see the note above about using /dev/rdisk#...)''
 # You're done! Insert it in the Raspberry Pi, and have fun

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:06, 6 May 2013
Line 90:		Line 90:

	== Using Mac OSX ==		== Using Mac OSX ==
		+	'''Note:''' In OS X each disk may have two path references in /dev:
		+	* /dev/disk# is a buffered device, which means any data being sent undergoes extra processing.
		+	* /dev/'''r'''disk# is a ''raw'' path, which is much faster, and perfectly OK when using the dd program.
		+	On a Class 4 SD card the difference was around 20 times faster using the rdisk path.

	=== Run an App (Only with graphical interface) ===		=== Run an App (Only with graphical interface) ===

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 === Using flashnul (if Win32DiskImager isn't successful) ===
-I wasn't able to choose device in Win32DiskImager on my notebook so I found a different way to achieve the same thing on a Windows machine..
+You may not be able to choose the device in Win32DiskImager on some notebooks so this is a different way to achieve the same thing on a Windows machine.
-# Download the image from a mirror or torrent
+* Download the distribution from the [http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads | raspberrypi.org downloads page] or from a mirror or torrent. Make sure the distribution is for the Raspberry Pi, as others will not work. Usually these are zipped (compressed) files ending in .zip or .gz (something like "distribution-name.zip").
-#* http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
+* Extract the image file from the downloaded .zip file, so you now have "distribution-name.img".
-# Extract the image file 2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.img from 2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.zip
+* Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example G:) by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer. You can use the SD Card slot (if you have one) or a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.
-# Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example H:) by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer.
+* Download the flashnul software from http://shounen.ru/soft/flashnul/ ; here is the English [http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshounen.ru%2Fsoft%2Fflashnul%2F&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=ru&tl=en Translated version] with a link to instructions (also translated)
-# Download flashnul software from http://shounen.ru/soft/flashnul/ here is [http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fshounen.ru%2Fsoft%2Fflashnul%2F&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=ru&tl=en Translated version]
+* Download the latest version. At the time of writing it was flashnul-1rc1.
-#* Download the latest version. At the time of writing it was flashnul-1rc1.
+* Extract the application from the archive.
-#* Extract the application from the archive.
+* Click Start button > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, right click on it and Run as Administrator.
-#* Click Start button > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt, right click on it and Run as Administrator.
+* Run flashnul with argument "-p":
-#* Run flashnul with argument "-p":
   C:/flashnul/flashnul.exe -p
-#* Flashnul will tell you something like:
+* Flashnul will tell you something like this (it should be different, as it depends on the drives on your machine):
-−
   Available physical drives:
        size = 250059350016 (232 Gb)
@@ Line 78: / Line 76: @@
   C:\
   D:\
   F:\
   Press ENTER to exit.
+* Use the Load option of flashnul to put the image file on the SD Card. '''Make sure that you use the correct drive letter for the SD Card as that drive will be overwritten!'''
-'''SDCARD number is on left! In my case it is number 1'''
+  C:/flashnul/flashnul.exe E: -L C:/temp/distribution-name.img
+using the correct paths to the flashnul.exe program and the distribution-name.img file
-#* Now we will use the Load argument:
+* Flashnul will give you a device summary and a caution message. Check the information to make sure you have selected the correct device, then type yes and press enter.
-  C:/flashnul/flashnul.exe 1 -L C:/2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.img
+* If you get an access denied error, make sure to close all explorer windows or folders open for the device, then try re-plugging the SD card.
-where '''<Path to flashnul directory>'''flashnul.exe '''<device number>''' -L '''<img file path>'''
-−
-#* Flashnul will give you a device summary and proceed caution, have a quick scan through the information to make sure you have selected the correct device, then type yes and press enter.
-#* If you get a access denied error, try re-plugging the SD card. Also make sure to close all explorer windows or folders open for the device.
-#* If you still get a access denied error, try substitute the device number with the drive letter followed by a colon. Eg:
- C:/flashnul/flashnul.exe H: -L C:/debian6/debian6-19-04-2012.img
-* If the device summary does not match Your card (the size is smaller, for example, 75&nbsp;MB), but you are sure, that the letter is correct - please continue and then try again with the device number.
 === Using the Fedora Remix Installer ===

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 === Using the Win32DiskImager program ===
-# Download the distribution from [http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads] or from a mirror or torrent. Make sure the distribution is for the Raspberry Pi, as others will not work. Usually these are zipped (compressed) files ending in .zip or .gz (something like "distribution-name.zip").
+# Download the distribution from the [http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads raspberrypi.org downloads page] or from a mirror or torrent. Make sure the distribution is for the Raspberry Pi, as others will not work. Usually these are zipped (compressed) files ending in .zip or .gz (something like "distribution-name.zip").
 # Extract the image file from the downloaded .zip file, so you now have "distribution-name.img".
 # Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example G:) by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer. You can use the SD Card slot (if you have one) or a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 === Using the Win32DiskImager program ===
-# Download the  image from a mirror or torrent. The remainder of this assumes you are using the Raspbian "wheezy" download 2012-12-16-wheezy-raspbian.zip
+# Download the distribution from [http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads] or from a mirror or torrent. Make sure the distribution is for the Raspberry Pi, as others will not work. Usually these are zipped (compressed) files ending in .zip or .gz (something like "distribution-name.zip").
-#* http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads
+# Extract the image file from the downloaded .zip file, so you now have "distribution-name.img".
-# Extract the image file 2012-12-16-wheezy-raspbian.img from the downloaded .zip file.
+# Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example G:) by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer. You can use the SD Card slot (if you have one) or a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.
-# Insert the SD card into your SD card reader and check what drive letter it was assigned. You can easily see the drive letter (for example G:) by looking in the left column of Windows Explorer. '''If the card is not new, you should format it and make sure there is only one partition (FAT32 is a good choice); otherwise Win32DiskImager can make corrupt your SD card!'''
+# Download the [http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager Win32DiskImager] utility (it is also a zip file). You can run this from a USB drive. [[File:Win32DiskImager.png‎|300px|right|frameless|Win32DiskImager screen]]
-# Download the [http://sourceforge.net/projects/win32diskimager Win32DiskImager] utility. You can run this from a USB drive.
+# Extract the executable from the zip file and run the Win32DiskImager utility; you may need to run the utility as Administrator! Right-click on the file, and select 'Run as Administrator'
-# Extract the executable from the zip file and run the Win32DiskImager utility. '''You should run the utility as Administrator!'''
+# Select the image file you extracted above.
-# Select the 2012-12-16-wheezy-raspbian.img image file you extracted earlier
+# Select the drive letter of the SD card in the device box. '''Be careful to select the correct drive; if you get the wrong one you can destroy your data on the computer's hard disk!''' If you are using the SD Card slot (if you have one) and can't see the drive in the Win32DiskImager window, try using a cheap Adapter in a USB slot.
 # Select the drive letter of the SD card in the device box. '''Be careful to select the correct drive; if you get the wrong one you can destroy your data on the computer's hard disk!'''
 # Click Write and wait for the write to complete.
 # Exit the imager and eject the SD card.
-# Insert the card in the Raspberry Pi, power it on, and it should boot up. There is an option in the raspi-config script that comes up to automatically expand the partitions to use all of the SD card if you have used one larger than 4&nbsp;GB
+# You are now ready to plug the card into your Raspberry Pi. See [[RPi_Hardware_Basic_Setup]] for the other things you need.
-''In Windows the SD card will appear only to have a fairly small size - about 75&nbsp;Mbytes. This is because most of the card has a partition that is formatted for the Linux operating system that the Raspberry Pi uses and is not visible in Windows. If you are about to manually resize this Linux partition you should read [[RPi Resize Flash Partitions|this]] page as well.''
+''In Windows, the SD card will appear only to have a fairly small size - about 55 to 75 MB. This is because most of the card has a partition that is formatted for the Linux operating system that the Raspberry Pi uses which is not visible in Windows. If you don't see this small directory with files such as kernel.img then the copy may not have worked correctly.
 === Using flashnul (if Win32DiskImager isn't successful) ===

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 '''[http://www.raspberrypi.org/archives/3534 Public Service Announcement on SD Cards]'''. There have been reports of problems with SD cards purchased from ebay and Amazon. Make sure the SD card you're purchasing is up to date with the latest version of your chosen operating System to avoid any issues.
-=Easiest way=
+= Create your own =
 * ('''Fedora, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Other Linux''') Use an installer program. The [http://zenit.senecac.on.ca/wiki/index.php/Raspberry_Pi_Fedora_Remix_Installation#SD_Card_Installation_Using_the_Installer Fedora ARM Installer] will download and install Raspberry Pi Fedora Remix images, but it will also install other images if they are already downloaded and in uncompressed or .gz format.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 '''Note: It is highly recommended that you start with the latest official Raspbian distribution: check the Raspberry Pi official website (http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads) for the current version. This includes the latest bug fixes and ensures you will not spend time dealing with problems that have already been fixed, or having to apply updates. Once you have tried the latest Raspian build you can then move on to trying other operating systems if you so wish.'''
-=Safest/Laziest way=
+= Safe / Easy way =
-Buy a preloaded SD card from a reputable supplier:
+Buying a preloaded SD card from a reputable supplier means that you can just plug it in and power up your Raspberry Pi; it should then just work. If you don't buy one of these, you will have to create your own using the instructions below
-−
 *RS Components
 *Element14 (Farnell)
 *[http://thepihut.com/ The Pi Hut's Raspberry Pi Store] offer SD cards preloaded with either:
 **[http://thepihut.com/products/raspbian-preinstalled-sd-card Raspbian].
 **[http://thepihut.com/products/xbmc-preinstalled-sd-card OpenELEC XBMC].
 *[http://modmypi.com/ ModMyPi] Sell high quality Samsung SD cards pre-loaded with the latest Raspian Wheezy OS.
 **[https://www.modmypi.com/sd-cards-and-adaptors/samsung-8gb-sd-card-pre-loaded-with-debian-linux-os 8GB Raspian Wheezy Pre-Loaded]

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 You will also need to choose a distribution. Available distributions [[RPi_Distributions | are shown here]]; you will need the RPi bootloader to launch your distribution, so you need one for the Raspberry Pi and cannot download a PC based distribution and use that. Note that you can have several SD Cards with a separate distribution on each, then power off, swap cards and restart the Pi to use that card.
-Some Raspberry Pi kits will come with a ready-to-go card with the distribution pre-installed, or these can be bought separately. There is a [[RPi_SD_cards#Preinstalled_SD_cards | list here]].
+Some Raspberry Pi kits will come with a ready-to-go card with the distribution pre-installed, or these can be bought separately. There is more on this below.
 If you don't have a pre-installed card you will need to prepare your own. Make sure you get a reasonable quality card rather than a cheap one. Check the [[RPi_SD_cards | SD Card list]] if you are not sure. Warning! When you write the Raspberry Pi image to your SD card you will lose all data that was on the card. Official images are available from http://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads.