Putting a file in Pi user home directory before install/initial boot.

[raidoo9]

Hi,

I am looking for a way to put a file onto my SD card after flashing it with the Raspbian image, so it appears in the Pi user home directory on initial boot.

Is this possible?

Thanks

[deepo]

Maybe have a look at this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=265248&p=1612640

[kerry_s]

i been thinking about something like that, but never got around to testing it.
my idea was to put the files/folder on the sdcard(/boot) & then add something to /etc/xdg/autostart to run a script to copy/move whatever to where I wanted to.

just a thought

[kerry_s]

sorry, i was on my tablet.
so let me explain.
autostart uses the desktop files format.

example /etc/xdg/autostart/copy-to.desktop

Code: Select all

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=cp /boot/file /home/pi/Desktop/

something like that, in theory should work.

[thagrol]

Hi,

I am looking for a way to put a file onto my SD card after flashing it with the Raspbian image, so it appears in the Pi user home directory on initial boot.

Is this possible?

Thanks

Yes, but it depends on which operating system you're using to flash the SD card.

Linux: just mount the relevant partition of the SD card.
Windows: you'll need to find and install software that can read & write ext4 partitions. Once you have that open the SD card partition the same way you would any other USB drive.
MacOS: no idea. Don't have a Mac.

[kerry_s]

just thinking a little more, you might want to run a script instead, cause you'd want to delete it after first run, so it's not running at every boot.

[hippy]

This inquiry crops up enough times that I believe it would be worth implementing some official mechanism which allows it to be done, expanding on the way by which SSH is set-up to make that a more general purpose mechanism.

Just being able to drop stuff in a 'setup' directory in the FAT formatted partition and have those files copied elsewhere and/or executed upon first boot would be a godsend.

Not sure to whom or where such a request would need to be directed to have it brought about.

[HawaiianPi]

If this is something you want to do on lots of cards, you can embed your file in a Raspbian image before writing.

STICKY: Making your own custom burn-n-boot Raspbian image.

[procount]

PiBakery did this. I know it has not been maintained in a while so I don't know if it still works with the latest Buster, but worth a look.

If you want to install your OS with PINN, you can make use of it's flavours to install any files you want AFTER the OS has been installed but BEFORE it is first booted. See https://github.com/procount/pinn/blob/m ... sconfig.md

[Botspot]

If you want to edit an .IMG file (before flashing it to a SD card) - have a look at Pi Power Tools. It's a GUI bash script that runs on Raspberry Pi, and lets you customize your own Raspbian IMG file.

img-mode.png (21.47 KiB) Viewed 277 times

(In your case you would want to push the View button to mount the IMG file. After that, file manager will open and let you change stuff)

All feedback is welcome!

[thagrol]

If you want to edit an .IMG file (before flashing it to a SD card) - have a look at Pi Power Tools. It's a GUI bash script that runs on Raspberry Pi, and lets you customize your own Raspbian IMG file.

[...]

All feedback is welcome!

Isn't that a bit chicken and egg?* In order to customise an image you first have to witre one to an SD card? And don't forget you can't write the modified image back to the SD card you're running from.

Not to denegrate your work, but to use it you'd either need two SD cards or you'd need to faff around with USB or network storage and another computer.

*: as in which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[Botspot]

If you want to edit an .IMG file (before flashing it to a SD card) - have a look at Pi Power Tools. It's a GUI bash script that runs on Raspberry Pi, and lets you customize your own Raspbian IMG file.

In order to customise an image you first have to witre one to an SD card? And don't forget you can't write the modified image back to the SD card you're running from.

If the OP wants to do this for a lot of cards, HawaiianPi's answer applies as well as my answer. But if not, then I'm sure these answers will help others who were thought to google it.

[raidoo9]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like there are a couple of good options here, been a bit busy to try during the week but i'll have a look this weekend.