Can't Load OS on Raspberry Pi 4

[Selendile]

VERY new. Recently bought a Raspberry Pi 4 and a small monitor. Ultimately I want to use it for retro gaming and some basic computer functions (connected to my TV and using a small handheld keyboard/mouse combo)

Anyway, I had a 256GB microSD card free so I decided to use it to load in PINN lite. I used a partition program to format from exFAT to FAT32, DLed PINN lite and extracted the .zip file to my newly reformatted microSD.

I inserted the SD card into my Pi and connected it via HDMI to a small 7" touch screen I had purchased specifically for this purpose.

I get one red light and no green light. I thought perhaps PINN was the culprit, so I repeated the procedure using NOOBS. No luck. Ive searched this forum for similar issues but can't find anything specifically suited to me. I'm sure there may be, but figured it would be easier to simply ask for assistance.

Can anyone recommend some possible troubleshoots, or can spot a problem in my methodology? Is the MicroSD an issue? I figured formatting to FAT32 was all I needed to do. (Note: I didn't buy the microSD for this; I had a spare).

Thanks in advance,

- Sele

[jamesh]

I'd try using a standard Raspbian rather than NOOBS or PINN.

If the SD card cannot be read, or is not present, then the green light should flash 4 times. If you are getting no green light at all with no SD card in, something is a bit wrong, perhaps a broken board.

[FTrevorGowen]

W.r.t. writing to the, presumably, SDXC uSD card hopefully you were/are using a known SDXC compatible USB card reader or slot ...
Trev.

[Selendile]

I'd try using a standard Raspbian rather than NOOBS or PINN.

If the SD card cannot be read, or is not present, then the green light should flash 4 times. If you are getting no green light at all with no SD card in, something is a bit wrong, perhaps a broken board.

Thanks; I'll double check this after work and may end up having to contact the seller for a replacement. I'll also try your suggestion.

- Sele

[Selendile]

W.r.t. writing to the, presumably, SDXC uSD card hopefully you were/are using a known SDXC compatible USB card reader or slot ...
Trev.

Hello!

Correct, SDXC uSD card. I my reader is compatible. When plugging it into my PC, it is recognized as a suitable drive. I can write to/from it no problem. Is there something I should check w.r.t. to your concern? I'm not the most in depth computer savvy person. lol

Thanks for your help!

-Sele

[FTrevorGowen]

W.r.t. writing to the, presumably, SDXC uSD card hopefully you were/are using a known SDXC compatible USB card reader or slot ...
Trev.

Hello!

Correct, SDXC uSD card. I my reader is compatible. When plugging it into my PC, it is recognized as a suitable drive. I can write to/from it no problem. Is there something I should check w.r.t. to your concern? I'm not the most in depth computer savvy person. lol

Thanks for your help!

-Sele

Historically laptop/netbook/tablet card slots could not be "guaranteed" to be SDHC/SDXC compatible unless explicitly labelled as such (again rarely done). SDHC and later SDXC devices were "rolled out" in cameras first since such cards were primarily intended for use in such. To circumvent this several SD card manufacturers would supply external, compatible USB-based writers** and, in the U.K. at least, those could also be cheaply bought in "pound shops" . Whilst this may no longer be an issue with current laptops etc. it's still worth asking the question as, unless the forum poster has stated otherwise, we don't know ...
Trev.
** FWIW, some examples here: https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... cards.html and
here: https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... aders.html