Imaging with Etcher

DO NOT USE

Etcher and Balena Etcher are replaced with Raspberry Pi Imager

For many years, I used Etcher and then Balena Etcher. Etcher was a reliable tool that worked every time. Raspberry Pi Imager improves on that by not requiring a separate image download step. And it seems much faster.

Etcher may still be required for non-Raspbian OS's, such as, OSMC, Kali, and so on

Step 1. Download Etcher

Follow the Etcher's directions to install Etcher

Step 2. Download latest version of raspbian

Download latest version of raspbian from this link

As of 11APR2020, there are three raspbian downloads. 

The choices are: A) Desktop with recommended software, B) Desktop , or C) Lite. If you don't know which to pick, then choose A)

Wait for the download to complete 

My MacBook places raspbian in my Downloads directory

Use an unzip utility to unzip the raspbian zip file. I use the unarchiver on a MacBook. Open a Finder window. Go to Downloads. Select the raspbian image. CTRL-click to get drop down, scroll down and select Open With, and select The Unarchiver.

When the Unarchiver completes, there will be a new folder in Downloads. Go into the folder and rename the image so it doesn't contain parentheses or spaces.

Step 3. Burn Image using Etcher

Insert a microSD card into a USB microSD Card reader, and then insert the USB device into the MacBook

I use etcher to burn microSD cards because it is idiot proof

Download Etcher from here

Follow the directions to install Etcher

Launch the Etcher app (On Mac, select Finder, New File Window, Applications, scroll to etcher and open). I use Etcher all the time so I pinned to the Dock). Etcher has three steps:

• • • Select a raspbian image (the one in your Downloads directory)

    • Select a disk

    • Flash

For whatever reason, when etcher completes it says the disk is unmounted, but if I take it out I get a message saying the disk was not properly dismounted. On the MacBook desktop select the USB drive, which will be named either NO NAME or boot. Select it, and CTRL-click will show a pop-up menu, and scroll down to eject.

Step 4. [Optional] Set up Raspberry Pi to run headless (no monitor)

Step 5. Done

Remove SD adapter from MacBook and remove micro SD card from adapter

Put the microSD Card in a Raspberry Pi