Trouble getting started

[rowan.bradley]

I am trying to get a Rasp Pi Zero W up and running for a project that I'm working on. Here is what I've done so far:
1. Download Raspbian Lite from https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/ . Leave the downlaoded ZIP file in the Downloads folder.
2. Obtain a micro-SD card. I used a 32GB card. Insert it into an SD to Micro-SD adapter and then into the desktop PC (running Windows 8.1).
3. Run Balena Etcher v1.5.63
4. Select the image file (which in my case was 2020-02-13-raspbian-buster-lite.zip).
5. Select the Micro-SD card.
6. Click Flash. It should write the image to the card. It apparently gave a verification error, which I ignored for now.
7. Remove the SD card from the PC, and plug it in again. This is necessary because Etcher ejects the card after flashing it.
8. Create a blank file containing a single space, and write it to the Boot partition on the card as file name ssh (no extension).
9. Create a file using Notepad++ containing the text:
country=GB
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
ssid="Brightwell"
psk="MyNetworkKey"
}
10. After creating the file select Edit/EOL Conversion/Unix
11. Save the file to the Boot partition on the card as wpa_supplicant.conf
12. Eject the card from the PC, remove it, and plug it into the Rpi.
13. Power up the Rpi.

How do I know that the Pi has booted successfully? Does it flash a LED or something? If it doesn't do this by default, can I load a program that does this, just so I know it's alive?

How do I know its IP number or its WiFi MAC address so that I can connect to it? Does its MAC address start with a fixed 3 bytes representing the manufacturer? What are they?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Rowan

[neilgl]

Have a look in your router (attached devices) or using fing on ipad/phone to look for the ip address of the pi.

[B.Goode]

Does its MAC address start with a fixed 3 bytes representing the manufacturer?

Most of what you have written looks broadly correct, apart from the verification failure...

Regarding that specific detail above

B8:27:EB:xx:xx:xx
DC:A6:32:xx:xx:xx

Your zero will be in the first range.

[drgeoff]

6. Click Flash. It should write the image to the card. It apparently gave a verification error, which I ignored for now.

Nuff sed!

[jbudd]

When you power up the Pi Zero you ought to see the green LED flickering.

Take a look at the SD card back in your PC. If it has ever booted, wpa_supplicant.conf will have disappeared from the boot partition. Same with ssh or ssh.txt if you created those.

This page describes how to tell if the board is alive https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi ... -zero-dead

[fruitoftheloom]

I am trying to get a Rasp Pi Zero W up and running for a project that I'm working on. Here is what I've done so far:
1. Download Raspbian Lite from https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/ . Leave the downlaoded ZIP file in the Downloads folder.
2. Obtain a micro-SD card. I used a 32GB card. Insert it into an SD to Micro-SD adapter and then into the desktop PC (running Windows 8.1).
3. Run Balena Etcher v1.5.63
4. Select the image file (which in my case was 2020-02-13-raspbian-buster-lite.zip).
5. Select the Micro-SD card.
6. Click Flash. It should write the image to the card. It apparently gave a verification error, which I ignored for now.
7. Remove the SD card from the PC, and plug it in again. This is necessary because Etcher ejects the card after flashing it.
8. Create a blank file containing a single space, and write it to the Boot partition on the card as file name ssh (no extension).
9. Create a file using Notepad++ containing the text:
country=GB
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1

network={
ssid="Brightwell"
psk="MyNetworkKey"
}
10. After creating the file select Edit/EOL Conversion/Unix
11. Save the file to the Boot partition on the card as wpa_supplicant.conf
12. Eject the card from the PC, remove it, and plug it into the Rpi.
13. Power up the Rpi.

How do I know that the Pi has booted successfully? Does it flash a LED or something? If it doesn't do this by default, can I load a program that does this, just so I know it's alive?

How do I know its IP number or its WiFi MAC address so that I can connect to it? Does its MAC address start with a fixed 3 bytes representing the manufacturer? What are they?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Rowan

It apparently gave a verification error, which I ignored for now.

Do not ignore errors, that message is there for a reason !

I would suggest your SD Card Reader may not be SDHC / SDXC compliant, suggest spend a couple of ££ on a USB Card Reader.

[peppe8o]

Addictional check using Balena Etcher. In past, I sometimes experienced different results between running it as simple user and using it as Administrator. Try running Balena Etcher as administrator, maybe it solves the error

[fruitoftheloom]

Addictional check using Balena Etcher. In past, I sometimes experienced different results between running it as simple user and using it as Administrator. Try running Balena Etcher as administrator, maybe it solves the error

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