High-level Steps:
- Prepare a Micro SD Card
- Download Raspbian Image
- Flash the SD Card
- Start Raspberry Pi and Configure
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Prepare a Micro SD Card
The SD card should have the capacity to support your purpose with the Raspberry Pi (similar when you choose a mobile phone or a tablet).
My personal views are:
- 4GB – experimenting installation/configurations easy to make a backup
- 8GB – minimum for any project still relatively easy to make a backup
- 16GB – good size for any project that does not involve a large amount of files
- 32GB and above – project involves a large amount of files
Download Raspbian Image
Visit raspberrypi.org and find link to download a Raspbian image file.
There are 3 to choose from. It might be confusing for first-timer. My suggestions below:
- … with Desktop and recommended software – good for general use, when there is no specific purpose
- … with Desktop – good for project purpose, desktop makes it easier to implement even a project does not require it in the end
- … Lite – good for a specific purpose, preserving memory space SD card space, process power and reduce overall power consumption
I usually use “Raspbian … with Desktop” image.
Flash the SD Card
Flash image using a SD card flasher app, I used “balenaEtcher”.
Start Raspberry Pi and Configure
To operate Raspberry Pi for first time Raspberry Pi needs:
- Monitor connected
- Keyboard & Mouse connected
(There is a way to configure without network)
Then:
- Insert flashed SD card
- Connect power plug
Raspberry Pi should now boot into Windows-like GUI.
Follow the “Welcome to Raspberry Pi” configuration wizard.
- Set Country
- Enter Password
- Setup Screen
- Select WiFi Network & enter password
- Update Software
- Restart
The software update might be interrupted by network issue etc.
However, the next step will take care of the update.
Run following command in terminal.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgradeI suggest running the same command again if you see any error messages.
Other Tutorials
