Is there a reason Raspbian would work on 3B and not on 3B+

[theMusicMan]

Hi All

So I bought a 3B a month or so ago, and recently decided I wanted to also try the 3B+, so this last week I bought one of those also.

During the month or so I have had the 3B, I have added a few things, done the usual updates etc, all mainly related to the Sense hat and other normal stuff. When I insert the same microSD that boots up perfectly well on the 3B into the 3B+, all I see is the rainbow square splash screen with the yellow lightning/power indicator in the top right of the screen.

The Pi3B+ boots up fine when I use the microSD that was supplied with it, but when using the same Pi3B+ and the same PSU that worked with the supplied raspbian microSD, it won't boot with the raspbian microSD that works perfectly on the 3B.

I am using the official RPi3B+, with an official 2.5A PSU.

Any pointers this fine Sunday, folks?

[fruitoftheloom]

Hi All

So I bought a 3B a month or so ago, and recently decided I wanted to also try the 3B+, so this last week I bought one of those also.

During the month or so I have had the 3B, I have added a few things, done the usual updates etc, all mainly related to the Sense hat and other normal stuff. When I insert the same microSD that boots up perfectly well on the 3B into the 3B+, all I see is the rainbow square splash screen with the yellow lightning/power indicator in the top right of the screen.

The Pi3B+ boots up fine when I use the microSD that was supplied with it, but when using the same Pi3B+ and the same PSU that worked with the supplied raspbian microSD, it won't boot with the raspbian microSD that works perfectly on the 3B.

I am using the official RPi3B+, with an official 2.5A PSU.

Any pointers this fine Sunday, folks?

What Raspbian release are you running on the RPi 3B ?

You need to fully update Raspbian when running in the 3B:

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sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
sudo reboot

Additionally if running Raspbian Jessie you will also need:

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sudo rpi-update

Though this has been covered in various posts, the most recent this last week !!

[theMusicMan]

Many thanks for this. I will take a look this morning.

So... running

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uname -a

... on my Pi3 before the update commands, yields...

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Linux raspberrypi 4.14.34-v7+ #1110 SMP Mon Apr 16 15:18:51 BST 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux

... and after all of the update commands (including rpi-update)

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Linux raspberrypi 4.14.37-v7+ #1111 SMP Thu Apr 26 13:56:59 BST 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux

I did this on the RPi3, everything updated, and booted up corectly - and also informed me configuration changes would be lost etc. However, when I insert the same microSD into my Pi3B+, I still get the rainbow screen with the yellow lightning/power indicator in the top right.

I have bought another microSD card that i am happy to put the latest download of raspbian on from the downloads section on here, so only a couple of weeks python files will be needed to be brought across.

Any pointers though, would be most appreciated. Thanks for the help so far.

[fruitoftheloom]

Many thanks for this. I will take a look this morning.

So... running

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uname -a

... on my Pi3 before the update commands, yields...

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Linux raspberrypi 4.14.34-v7+ #1110 SMP Mon Apr 16 15:18:51 BST 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux

... and after all of the update commands (including rpi-update)

Code: Select all

Linux raspberrypi 4.14.37-v7+ #1111 SMP Thu Apr 26 13:56:59 BST 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux

I did this on the RPi3, everything updated, and booted up corectly - and also informed me configuration changes would be lost etc. However, when I insert the same microSD into my Pi3B+, I still get the rainbow screen with the yellow lightning/power indicator in the top right.

I have bought another microSD card that i am happy to put the latest download of raspbian on from the downloads section on here, so only a couple of weeks python files will be needed to be brought across.

Any pointers though, would be most appreciated. Thanks for the help so far.

Yet again what release of Raspbian ????

As stated above rpi-update is only needed on Jessie and Wheezy !!

[pieatingconda]

I have roughly the same problem on an working image on a Pi 3B i want to use with a new (and working) 3B+ but not even getting the rainbow screen.
i have made sure no usual problem with power source and video signal exist.
In fact i have one installation wich is working fine on both Pi's after doing the update and upgrade commands yesterday.

I've tried to resolve the Problem by copying the contents of the boot partition from the working install to the non working, without success (after that it did not boot on any of the both pi's. So restore the old content and its booting on Pi 3B again).

Does the pi 3B+ do new tricks with the Power LED? If i try to boot the failing installation, it shows nothing on screen, no rainbow, no "press shift to..". Only that red LED blinks: four times medium, three times fast and one long blink.

Thanks for your replies an sorry for the bad english

[theMusicMan]

How do I determine which version of raspbian I have, please? Not sure how I do this. I have used whichever version was on the included microSD cards supplied with each unit.

[theMusicMan]

So

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cat /etc/os-release

yields...

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PRETTY_NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux 9 (stretch)"
NAME="Raspbian GNU/Linux"
VERSION_ID="9"
VERSION="9 (stretch)"
ID=raspbian
ID_LIKE=debian
HOME_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/"
SUPPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianForums"
BUG_REPORT_URL="http://www.raspbian.org/RaspbianBugs"

[jamesh]

Hmm, you appear to have done everything correctly to make it all work. SO not sure why it isn't!

Have you tried a fresh SD card with the very latest Raspbian download, installed with Etcher?

[theMusicMan]

Hmm, you appear to have done everything correctly to make it all work. SO not sure why it isn't!

Have you tried a fresh SD card with the very latest Raspbian download, installed with Etcher?

Yep, despite being a relative noobie, it is a case of confused dot com here haha!!!

I am in the process of downloading the latest version of NOOBS from the downloads section on here to a new 32GB microSD card delivered by Amazon yesterday. I will be sure to update the thread here with what transpires.

Thank goodness for lazy Sundays, eh

[theMusicMan]

I have roughly the same problem on an working image on a Pi 3B i want to use with a new (and working) 3B+ but not even getting the rainbow screen.
i have made sure no usual problem with power source and video signal exist.
In fact i have one installation wich is working fine on both Pi's after doing the update and upgrade commands yesterday.

I've tried to resolve the Problem by copying the contents of the boot partition from the working install to the non working, without success (after that it did not boot on any of the both pi's. So restore the old content and its booting on Pi 3B again).

Does the pi 3B+ do new tricks with the Power LED? If i try to boot the failing installation, it shows nothing on screen, no rainbow, no "press shift to..". Only that red LED blinks: four times medium, three times fast and one long blink.

Thanks for your replies an sorry for the bad english

It's a frustrating one for sure, eh! I am in the process of trying the latest raspbian from on here and will be sure to drop an update reply later as and when and if it works.

[drgeoff]

Does the pi 3B+ do new tricks with the Power LED? If i try to boot the failing installation, it shows nothing on screen, no rainbow, no "press shift to..". Only that red LED blinks: four times medium, three times fast and one long blink.

Yes, the 3B+ does "new tricks with the power LED". What you have experienced is normal behaviour on a RPi 3B+ that is booted with software that is too old.

[pieatingconda]

Ok, thanks for the Linux skills i'm lacking...

the cat /etc/os-release yields pretty the same output as your example. Raspian 9 (stretch) on both installations.

Strange to me the booting install on 3B+ respond to uname -a with a 4.14.34-v7+ whereas the install only running on 3B tells me 4.14.37-v7+


relatively new to raspberry and linux, thanks to the community i've set up a weatherstation (TFA Sinus) with weewx and the pi as webcam. I've done some electronic development in days of 8051 Microcontrollers and after that being part of an IT-Department

[theMusicMan]

Ok, thanks for the Linux skills i'm lacking...

the cat /etc/os-release yields pretty the same output as your example. Raspian 9 (stretch) on both installations.

Strange to me the booting install on 3B+ respond to uname -a with a 4.14.34-v7+ whereas the install only running on 3B tells me 4.14.37-v7+


relatively new to raspberry and linux, thanks to the community i've set up a weatherstation (TFA Sinus) with weewx and the pi as webcam. I've done some electronic development in days of 8051 Microcontrollers and after that being part of an IT-Department

Great that you are getting stuck into weatherstations, with success too. I started with the Arduino about 18 months ago, still use them regularly now. they have their place - especially when used with the Pi. I have aspirations of a pretty decent home project using Arduinos and Pi's, an idea first thought of many years ago when I did my higher diploma in electronics and control systems. Not been involved in that for many years now though after a career move some 30 years ago. I am only a few weeks ahead of you in the linux learning curve, venturing into raspbian only a month ago. I'll be installing the latest raspbian from here soon enough, and will let you know how it goes.

[pieatingconda]

Ok drgeoff,

do you know how to update or upgrade the files in the boot process? I thougt of some wrong software for the GPU but expected the update / upgrade to do that trick with the bootfiles and not only with raspian?

I tried to excange the bootcode.bin and .elf Files, but that dont work for me.

Thank you in advance.

[drgeoff]

Ok drgeoff,

do you know how to update or upgrade the files in the boot process? I thougt of some wrong software for the GPU but expected the update / upgrade to do that trick with the bootfiles and not only with raspian?

I tried to excange the bootcode.bin and .elf Files, but that dont work for me.

Thank you in advance.

There have been umpteen posts about that since the 3B+ became available. I'm sure you can find one just as easily as I could.

[B.Goode]

I am in the process of downloading the latest version of NOOBS from the downloads section on here

To both problem posters:

In the current context, of getting a working system from a 3B to boot on a 3B+, it is important to note that the NOOBS Installer is not synonymous with Raspbian. And if you have used NOOBS to install Raspbian, NOOBS remains the mechanism by which your RPi is booted thereafter.

So in that case the instructions to fully update Raspbian are essential, but not of themselves sufficient to move a NOOBS installation from a 3B to a 3B+.

The latest (mid-April 2018 at the time of writing) version of NOOBS, released concurrently with Raspbian, should boot on any current or past model of RPi.

[theMusicMan]

I am in the process of downloading the latest version of NOOBS from the downloads section on here

To both problem posters:

In the current context, of getting a working system from a 3B to boot on a 3B+, it is important to note that the NOOBS Installer is not synonymous with Raspbian. And if you have used NOOBS to install Raspbian, NOOBS remains the mechanism by which your RPi is booted thereafter.

So in that case the instructions to fully update Raspbian are essential, but not of themselves sufficient to move a NOOBS installation from a 3B to a 3B+.

The latest (mid-April 2018 at the time of writing) version of NOOBS, released concurrently with Raspbian, should boot on any current or past model of RPi.

The last para there is the important and most useful one to me sir, thanks for that. I don't mind starting again as it were with the latest version of raspbian and noobs, that I am then able to use on both my Pi3B+ and Pi3B.

Having said (or written) that... do you suggest I NOT use NOOBS, and download the Raspbian instance instead? Would that be a better option?

[B.Goode]

My reply was mainly in the context of the title of the thread: "Is there a reason Raspbian would work on 3B and not on 3B+"

I was trying to point out that if your original installation was performed via the NOOBS Installer, even though you had not thought it relevant to mention it, the advice to update Raspbian would not of itself be sufficient to allow you to move the microSD card to a later model of RPi.

If relevant, a more useful question would be "Is there a reason why an old version of NOOBS would work on 3B and not on 3B+ ?" To which the answer is Yes, there is a reason.

But if you did not originally use the NOOBS Installer this is just interesting but unhelpful distraction.

NOOBS vs not NOOBS has been debated many times in these forums - I decline to reignite that debate.

[theMusicMan]

OK, I hear ya!

For each of the Pi models I have, I used the microSD card that came with each of them and if I am perfectly honest, because I have only installed onto two Pi's, I have no idea if one or either of the installs were NOOBS or just Raspbian. I simply inserted the cards into the Pi's and booted them up.

[B.Goode]

Having 2 people pursuing issues in the same thread can be confusing...

@pieatingconda wrote:

If i try to boot the failing installation, it shows nothing on screen, no rainbow, no "press shift to..".

If that means you normally see "Press shift to.. " on the working 3B then you have got the NOOBS Installer on the microSD card taking charge of the initial stages of the boot process at every power on.

[B.Goode]

For each of the Pi models I have, I used the microSD card that came with each of them and if I am perfectly honest, because I have only installed onto two Pi's, I have no idea if one or either of the installs were NOOBS or just Raspbian. I simply inserted the cards into the Pi's and booted them up.

As the other poster has indicated, booting an RPi into any OS via an unmodified version of the NOOBS Installer should display a small dialogue box that says something like Press Shift for Recovery for a few seconds immediately after power on.

With a standalone installation of Raspbian there is no recovery mechanism and that message won't be displayed.

[fruitoftheloom]

OK, I hear ya!

For each of the Pi models I have, I used the microSD card that came with each of them and if I am perfectly honest, because I have only installed onto two Pi's, I have no idea if one or either of the installs were NOOBS or just Raspbian. I simply inserted the cards into the Pi's and booted them up.

IMO NoobS is not fit for purpose



Using Etcher to install just Raspbian is IMO easier.

Etcher both unzips and writes the resulting .img to a SD Card in a SDHC Card Reader in one seamless operation complete with error checking.

No faffing around formatting SD Card, no faffing around trying to find an unzipper which can actually properly unzip, no making sure the contents of the unzip are copied properly......

https://etcher.io

[theMusicMan]

OK, I hear ya!

For each of the Pi models I have, I used the microSD card that came with each of them and if I am perfectly honest, because I have only installed onto two Pi's, I have no idea if one or either of the installs were NOOBS or just Raspbian. I simply inserted the cards into the Pi's and booted them up.

IMO NoobS is not fit for purpose



Using Etcher to install just Raspbian is IMO easier.

Etcher both unzips and writes the resulting .img to a SD Card in a SDHC Card Reader in one seamless operation complete with error checking.

No faffing around formatting SD Card, no faffing around trying to find an unzipper which can actually properly unzip, no making sure the contents of the unzip are copied properly......

https://etcher.io

Yup... I have etcher... so I will now download Raspbian instead of NOOBS and have a go with that. Thanks.

[pieatingconda]

Ok,

so its NOOBS to blame and i shred the system twice trying to update it. Always ends with formating the SD-Card and loosing the old raspian... but before shreding the normal rainbow screen appears and then NOOBS is starting. So, yes it was NOOBS...

Think on the other SDCard i did an install with etcher, and it was updated. I'll reinstall the software that way now.

So the outcome is: don't use NOOBS? Its a bit sad, cause it feel easier to copy some files to an SDCard.
And for shure there had to be a way of updating NOBBS too, without loss of data. Maybe there is a way and i didn't find it?

I'd like to thank all of you for your help!

[mahjongg]

Maybe there is a way and i didn't find it?

why not ask the question "is there a way to update NOOBS?" in a new thread!