The reason why Raspberry is so popular is because of its versatility. Its uses are multiple and can be from a portable retro video game console to a multimedia server at home. You can even install a popular operating system like Windows on the Raspberry to use as a computer.
A Raspberry can be purchased at very reasonable prices in the market and although it is not a full-fledged computer due to its limited features. It complies with all the necessary features to make it work as is, with the right software.
Requirements
The latest versions of the Raspberry Pi have included Bluetooth and WiFi, USB ports and an HDMI port to connect all the necessary components. Due to its small size, it uses a MicroSD to store information and it is just what will be used to install the operating system.
- Raspberry Pi 4 (or recent versions)
- Micro USB
- Class 10 SD card (32GB or 64GB preferred)
- USB keyboard
- USB mouse
- Monitor (with HDMI connector)
Operating systems that can be installed
- Windows 10 loT Core
- Ubuntu MATE
- Snappy Ubuntu
- RISC OS
- PiNet
- OSMC
Preparing the operating system
First you have to prepare the SD card with a previous format. You can use a third party application such as Memory Card Formatter which is available for Mac and Windows. If you have Linux you can format the SD card by means of commands.
How to install an operating system on the Raspberry Pi
Now with all the necessary implements it is time to install the operating system on the Raspberry. You don’t have to be an expert to know that we will need the help of our friend NOOBS.
Download NOOBS
Its acronym stands for New Out the Box Software and for those who are related to the term the word also means someone with little or no experience. It is an operating systems installation wizard, specialized for Raspberry, for people who have little experience.
There are two versions of NOOBS. The standard version has Raspbian pre-installed with a select group of operating systems designed for the Raspberry and the Lite version does not include Raspbian and only has the operating system you choose to install.
The Lite version is lighter and faster, but if you plan to use Raspbian it is best to choose the standard version. Download it from its official website and at the end you will have a single file in .ZIP format.
Unzip the archive and copy the files and folders to the SD card. You must first format the SD card to avoid any kind of inconvenience.
Start the installation on the Raspberry
Connect all the components to the Raspberry Pi and insert the SD card . Once the monitor, mouse and keyboard are connected, we turn on the Raspberry. Upon startup, the NOOBS wizard should start automatically.
The first thing that is displayed is a list of all the operating systems that you can install. Along with keyboard and language settings.
Selecting each operating system displays a brief description of it. Although the most advisable thing is to investigate before doing the installation how each one works to choose the one that best suits your needs.
After choosing the operating system, you must connect to the WiFi network to download it . Select WiFi network and from the list of available connections select yours. There are some versions of Raspberry that include an ethernet port to connect directly to the router via cable.
Press the Install button to begin the download and installation. A warning message is displayed to verify that everything is selected correctly. Confirm the installation and wait for everything to install automatically.
Configure the operating system
When the installation process is complete, the Raspberry should restart itself . The moment you start the system configuration begins. Add basic information like language, time zone, name and network. At the end you will be able to use the Raspberry as one more computer in your home.
