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configuring a Raspberry Pi with a Windows computer
2013-Jan-22, Tuesday 09:42 amYou collected the hardware and software, so now you're ready to configure your Pi. It's surprisingly easy. You can complete the process in less than 10 minutes.
1) Write the image to the memory card.
Put the SD memory card into your card reader. Run your Win32DiskImager software. Make very sure that you are writing the image file onto the correct drive letter. You could destroy your Windows boot drive if you choose the wrong drive letter! It takes a few minutes to finish writing the image to the card.
If you're assigning a permanent ip address, proceed to step 2. If you're using the IP Scanner to find your network address, then skip to step 3.
2) Edit "cmdline.txt".
You may need to remove the memory card and reinsert it before you see the new drive in your Windows system. If it asks, do NOT scan or repair. Open up the drive letter and edit the boot configuration file using the default Notepad. Look for the "console=tty1" parameter. After it, you'll need to insert another parameter, constructed with the new A) ip address, B) gateway, and C) netmask (in that order) that you already selected. For instance, I used this parameter:
3) Power up.
Insert the memory card into your Pi. Connect the Pi to the ethernet cable and the USB power cable. Within a few seconds, you should see the green lights start flashing on your Pi. You're ready to connect.
4) Telnet into it.
Run the Secure Shell telnet program called Putty. Enter the IP address that you configured above. (Or use the network scanner software to find the temporary address automatically given to your Pi.) In this example, I'm connecting to 192.168.0.200. Use the default port number (22) and protocol (SSH).
The first time that you connect to your Pi, Putty will warn you with an imposing message about a potential security breach. Click Yes to accept. It's just warning you that it hasn't previously connected to the destination computer that you're contacting now.
Use the default userid ("pi") and password ("raspberry"). Congratulations, you're working on your new Raspberry Pi.
5) Change the password.
For safety's sake, never leave the default userid on any device in your network. Type this command and press Enter.
6) Update your configuration.
Select "expand_rootfs" and press Enter. This utility will reconfigure your filesystem to take advantage of all available space. The operating system image that you installed was made for the minimum 2GB memory card. If you bought a larger card, that extra space is not available until you reconfigure. After it's done, select "Finish" and press Enter. Do not select to reboot.
7) Enable fullscreen gui.
The standard Microsoft method of connecting to remote computers is via Remote Desktop Protocol. You already have an RDP program on your Windows computer, but you'll need to install an RDP service on your Pi.
8) Connect with fullscreen gui.
Go to the Start menu on your Windows computer and enter "mstsc" into the text box, then press Enter. That abbreviation stands for "Microsoft Terminal Services Client". It's the program that Microsoft uses for its RDP sessions.
In the popup dialog box, enter the network address of your Raspberry Pi.
Remember, though, that your Pi does not have a powerful cpu, so it cannot quickly construct screens at resolutions that you're probably using on your Windows computer. I got a faster response by toning down the screen requirements.
Click the down arrow next to "Options". Go to the "Display" tab.
Change the configuration to something smaller, like "1280 by 1024" pixels. Change the colors to something smaller, like "High Color (16 bit)".
Press Connect to accept all other defaults.
Enter the username and the password that you've previously used for your Pi, then click the OK button to connect.
Do not click on any other buttons during the setup process. If you do, you may accidentally interrupt the initialization. You will have to close the window and start again. Be patient. Eventually, you will see the traditional Raspbian desktop image.
The web browser is called Midori. Use it to login to G+ and read your news. It was slow, but it worked for me. Whenever you're ready to quit your session, use the icon in the bottom left corner (like the Windows Start button) to select Logoff.
Have fun!
1) Write the image to the memory card.Put the SD memory card into your card reader. Run your Win32DiskImager software. Make very sure that you are writing the image file onto the correct drive letter. You could destroy your Windows boot drive if you choose the wrong drive letter! It takes a few minutes to finish writing the image to the card.
If you're assigning a permanent ip address, proceed to step 2. If you're using the IP Scanner to find your network address, then skip to step 3.
2) Edit "cmdline.txt".
You may need to remove the memory card and reinsert it before you see the new drive in your Windows system. If it asks, do NOT scan or repair. Open up the drive letter and edit the boot configuration file using the default Notepad. Look for the "console=tty1" parameter. After it, you'll need to insert another parameter, constructed with the new A) ip address, B) gateway, and C) netmask (in that order) that you already selected. For instance, I used this parameter:
ip=192.168.0.200::192.168.0.1:255.255.255.0:raspberrypi:eth0:noneAfter the console parameter, insert a space character, then the above line, then another space. Do not delete the other parameters that come afterwards. Do not press Enter; let it all run together as one line. Save the file and exit.
3) Power up.
Insert the memory card into your Pi. Connect the Pi to the ethernet cable and the USB power cable. Within a few seconds, you should see the green lights start flashing on your Pi. You're ready to connect.
4) Telnet into it.Run the Secure Shell telnet program called Putty. Enter the IP address that you configured above. (Or use the network scanner software to find the temporary address automatically given to your Pi.) In this example, I'm connecting to 192.168.0.200. Use the default port number (22) and protocol (SSH).
The first time that you connect to your Pi, Putty will warn you with an imposing message about a potential security breach. Click Yes to accept. It's just warning you that it hasn't previously connected to the destination computer that you're contacting now.
Use the default userid ("pi") and password ("raspberry"). Congratulations, you're working on your new Raspberry Pi.
5) Change the password.
For safety's sake, never leave the default userid on any device in your network. Type this command and press Enter.
sudo passwd piEnter a new password; enter it again for confirmation.
6) Update your configuration.
sudo raspi-configUse the arrow keys to navigate the menu, then select "change_timezone" and press Enter. Wait for this utility to build a menu for your system. Use the arrows and Enter to select your geographic region. When it's done, you will return to the main menu.
Select "expand_rootfs" and press Enter. This utility will reconfigure your filesystem to take advantage of all available space. The operating system image that you installed was made for the minimum 2GB memory card. If you bought a larger card, that extra space is not available until you reconfigure. After it's done, select "Finish" and press Enter. Do not select to reboot.
dateUse this command to confirm that your Pi is in the correct timezone. Restart the configuration menu if you need to make another change.
sudo rebootUse this convenient command to reboot your Pi now. Your Putty connection will drop as your Pi reboots. Wait a few seconds for the green lights to reappear, then connect to your Pi again. It may take longer than usual for this reboot to enable the telnet connection. It took over a whole minute in my case. Subsequent reboots will complete faster.
df -hAfter the reboot, telnet back to your Pi and use this command to check your drive space. You should see the Size for "rootfs" appropriate for your memory card capacity.
7) Enable fullscreen gui.
The standard Microsoft method of connecting to remote computers is via Remote Desktop Protocol. You already have an RDP program on your Windows computer, but you'll need to install an RDP service on your Pi.
sudo apt-get install xrdpIt will ask if you want to continue. Press 'Y' (for 'yes') and Enter, then it will install the package.
exitThis command will logout your userid and close your telnet session.
8) Connect with fullscreen gui.Go to the Start menu on your Windows computer and enter "mstsc" into the text box, then press Enter. That abbreviation stands for "Microsoft Terminal Services Client". It's the program that Microsoft uses for its RDP sessions.
In the popup dialog box, enter the network address of your Raspberry Pi.
Remember, though, that your Pi does not have a powerful cpu, so it cannot quickly construct screens at resolutions that you're probably using on your Windows computer. I got a faster response by toning down the screen requirements.
Click the down arrow next to "Options". Go to the "Display" tab.
Change the configuration to something smaller, like "1280 by 1024" pixels. Change the colors to something smaller, like "High Color (16 bit)".Press Connect to accept all other defaults.
Enter the username and the password that you've previously used for your Pi, then click the OK button to connect.
Do not click on any other buttons during the setup process. If you do, you may accidentally interrupt the initialization. You will have to close the window and start again. Be patient. Eventually, you will see the traditional Raspbian desktop image.
The web browser is called Midori. Use it to login to G+ and read your news. It was slow, but it worked for me. Whenever you're ready to quit your session, use the icon in the bottom left corner (like the Windows Start button) to select Logoff.
Have fun!