Using Etcher to write an image file to MicroSD card

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

So i have installed Etcher on my Mac, and have downloaded a copy of Parrot OS which I want to use on my Pi3B. I extracted the downloaded file and have the .img file, then used Etcher to prepare the file as a bootable file for the Pi.

When I insert the microSd card into the Pi and power up, I see the colour swash spash graphic, a yellow power symbol in the top right corner of the Pi, and the red LED on the Pi flashes - then nothing happens!

I was going to ask for advice but as I am writing this it has occurred to me that maybe I should have formatted the new unused microSD card as FAT32 format - which I didn't do. I had assumed the Etcher tool would have taken care of this. i will try it but as I am here writing this post I guess I could ask experts here if this is correct?

Thanks

[FTrevorGowen]

Hi All
So i have installed Etcher on my Mac, and have downloaded a copy of Parrot OS which I want to use on my Pi3B. I extracted the downloaded file and have the .img file, then used Etcher to prepare the file as a bootable file for the Pi.
When I insert the microSd card into the Pi and power up, I see the colour swash spash graphic, a yellow power symbol in the top right corner of the Pi, and the red LED on the Pi flashes - then nothing happens!
I was going to ask for advice but as I am writing this it has occurred to me that maybe I should have formatted the new unused microSD card as FAT32 format - which I didn't do. I had assumed the Etcher tool would have taken care of this. i will try it but as I am here writing this post I guess I could ask experts here if this is correct?
Thanks

In "reverse order" ---
1) Etcher does not need a uSDHC card to be formatted in order to write the *.img file
2) If by "a yellow power symbol" you mean the "lightning bolt" symbol - that's one "low-voltage" warning & the other is the red PoWeR led flashing, therefore you probably need a better 5V PSU (not a 'phone charger!) and/or a shorter (lower resistance) uUSB connecting lead.
3) Are you sure that the version of "Parrot OS" you're using is P3B compatible (and you have a P3B and not a P3B+)?
4) Whilst, AFAIK, this may be less-likely for a Mac, "built-in" card slots are not always fully SDHC compatible, depending upon the m/c's age and an external, USB-card writer may be better.
Trev.

[drgeoff]

Also, Etcher is able to use the zip file. No need to extract the .img from it.

[davidcoton]

Your symptoms point to running a non-compatible OS on a Pi3B+. As FTG says, check your Pi version. If Pi3B, it could be a power problem. More likely you have a Pi3B+, and will have to wait until Parrot OS is released in a compatible version.

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

Thanks for the prompt replies.

I have an official Pi3B+ with official 2.5A supply (not using a USB phone charger type supply) - so that's not the issue as the Pi boots up fine with Kali-linux and also the Raspbian card supplied preinstalled. So I guess it is down to my attempting to run Parrot OS on the Pi3B+ when it has not been update so to do as yet.

Thanks for the info folks.