Image microSD card

Always use Raspberry Pi Imager to flash microSD cards (or USB Drives).

The tool is fool-proof. It runs on most operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS.

This guide assumes you have:

- Class 10 or better microSD Card (or USB Drive)
- USB microSD Card Adapter

Step 1. Download Raspberry Pi Imager

Download and install Raspberry Pi Imager following the directions

Step 2. Insert microSD Card (or USB Drive)

On my MacBook, read/write times are faster when I use a USB microSD card adapter, rather than the large SD Card adapter. My new MacBook doesn't have a large SD Card slot.

Insert the microSD Card into the adapter, and insert the adapter into a USB to USB-C cable.

If a Raspberry Pi 4B won't boot from USB drive, then follow these instructions:

In Raspberry Pi Imager, select Misc utility images and then latest version of EEPROM boot recovery image
Remove the USB Drive from the Raspberry Pi, and boot the Pi 4B using the SD card
The bootloader EEPROM will be updated to the latest version
Wait 10 minutes (I am color-blind and cannot see the colors of the flashing LED status lights)

Step 3. Launch Imager

Launch the Raspberry Pi Imager app

On MacBook, select Finder, New File Window, Applications, scroll to Raspberry Pi Imager and open.

I use Raspberry Pi Imager all the time so I pinned it to the Dock.

Step 4. Configure Raspberry Pi

Open the settings icon to see Adavnced Settings

Enable SSH, use password authentication
Set username and password (pi and raspberry)
Configure your wireless LAN (SSID, password and country)
Set Locale settings

Cllick Save

Step 5. Write (aka Flash or Burn) the image to the microSD Card

Imager has three steps:

- - Select a raspbian image
  - Select a microSD Card (or USB Drive)
  - Write

Step 6. Eject the microSD Card (or USB Drive)

In advanced settings, the ejection can be set to automatic

When the write is done. Click continue and the microSD Card will be ejected

You are done with this repeatable guide. Please return to the previous page.

Troubleshooting:

In the old raspi-config, avahi-daemon could be be enabled. In the version I used on 12APR2020, that is not possible, but there is an option to use Predictable Names. I assumed Predictable Names was just a more user friendly name for avahi-daemon. However, if this is enabled, then avahi-daemon will not work.

Another reason avahi-daemon may not work, is the name is already on the network. The name must be unique.

Also, it appears I must login once with the IP address before my laptop will allow me to login using the hostname.

Alternate Imaging Tool:

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.

Download Etcher

Follow the Etcher's directions to install Etcher

Etcher has three steps:

- - Select a raspbian image
  - 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.

To unmount on a Mac, select the microSD Card, which usually appears on the desktop as BOOT. Right-click (or CTRL-click) and eject, get the drop down menu and select Eject

Retired Steps:

With Raspberry Pi Imager, these steps are no longer required.

Step 1. 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 2. 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.

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

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

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