Raspberry Pi online course

Install Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi with NOOBS

Learn how to prepare an SD card with NOOBS, install Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi, complete raspi-config, change the default password, and start the LXDE desktop.

This lesson explains how to install Raspbian on a Raspberry Pi using the NOOBS installer. You will prepare the installation media on another computer, connect the Pi to a display and USB input devices, install the operating system, complete the first configuration, and start the graphical desktop.

You should be comfortable downloading and extracting a ZIP archive, copying files to removable storage, and identifying the Raspberry Pi's HDMI, USB, power, and SD card connections. For an introduction to the hardware, see Raspberry Pi Board.

What Is Raspbian?

Raspbian is a Debian-derived operating system tailored for Raspberry Pi hardware. Debian is a Linux distribution family known for its large software collection and package-management system.

Raspbian is suitable for beginners because it provides a ready-to-use graphical desktop and commonly needed software. You can use it for programming, file management, web browsing, electronics projects, and command-line work without assembling a desktop environment yourself.

The traditional graphical stack described in this lesson consists of:

• LXDE: a lightweight desktop environment that provides the panels, menus, desktop, and applications interface.
• Openbox: a lightweight window manager used to control application windows within the graphical environment.

These components are designed to provide a responsive desktop on Raspberry Pi hardware. Raspbian also includes a shell, where you can run commands and administrative tools.

How NOOBS Works

NOOBS is an installation manager for Raspberry Pi. It presents one or more operating-system choices and writes the selected system to the Pi's SD card.

The relationship between the parts is straightforward:

• The computer downloads and unpacks the NOOBS package.
• The unpacked NOOBS files are copied to the SD card.
• The Raspberry Pi starts from the prepared SD card when power is applied.
• The NOOBS interface displays the available operating-system choices.
• Selecting Raspbian tells NOOBS to install Raspbian onto the SD card.

After the card is prepared, the installation can be performed locally with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The required installer files are already on the card, so the installation does not depend on downloading the operating system over the network.

Installation Requirements

Prepare the SD Card

1. Download NOOBS

On a computer, download the NOOBS ZIP package. Keep the downloaded archive on the computer until its contents have been copied to the card.

Before starting, make sure the SD card contains no files you need. Preparing installation media can overwrite or replace data on the card. If necessary, back up the card first.

2. Extract the ZIP archive

Use the computer's archive utility to extract the downloaded ZIP file into a local folder. Extraction produces the installer files and folders that NOOBS needs at startup.

Do not copy only the ZIP file to the SD card. The Raspberry Pi needs the extracted contents, not an unopened archive.

3. Copy the extracted contents

Insert the SD card into the computer. Open the folder created when you extracted NOOBS, select all of its files and folders, and copy them to the top level of the SD card.

“Top level” means the card's main directory, not a new folder containing all the files. When you open the card, the NOOBS files and folders should be visible immediately.

4. Safely eject the card

Wait for the file copy to finish, then safely eject or unmount the SD card using the computer's operating-system controls. This ensures pending writes have completed and reduces the chance of a damaged installer card.

After ejecting the card, remove it from the computer and move it to the Raspberry Pi.

Connect the Raspberry Pi

1. Turn off or disconnect the Raspberry Pi's power.
2. Insert the prepared SD card into the Raspberry Pi's SD card slot.
3. Connect the HDMI cable or adapter from the Pi to the monitor or television.
4. Connect the USB keyboard and USB mouse.
5. Turn on the display and select the HDMI input used by the Pi.
6. Connect the compatible power supply to the Raspberry Pi last.

Connecting the peripherals before applying power ensures that you can see and operate the installer as soon as it starts. The Pi normally begins booting as soon as power is connected.

Select and Install Raspbian

1. Wait for NOOBS

After startup, wait for the NOOBS interface to appear on the display. The first startup may take a little time while the installer detects the card and loads its interface.

2. Select Raspbian

In the list of available operating systems, select the checkbox associated with Raspbian. A selection control in the installer should indicate that Raspbian is enabled for installation.

If the list or controls have not finished loading, wait before making a selection. Use the mouse or keyboard to operate the interface.

3. Begin installation

Use the install control in NOOBS to begin. NOOBS will write the selected operating system to the SD card. This process can take some time, depending on the card and Raspberry Pi.

Installation Workflow

Complete the First Boot Configuration

When installation completes, the Raspberry Pi configuration utility, raspi-config, appears. This utility provides setup options for the system, such as regional settings and other basic configuration choices. Follow the prompts, review the available options, and finish the initial configuration.

When you have completed the required settings, choose the option to finish or exit the utility. The Raspberry Pi can then continue booting into Raspbian. For a detailed guide to this utility, see Raspi Config.

Historical default login

For the historical Raspbian setup covered here, the initial account details are:

These are default credentials, meaning the initial account name and password supplied with the operating system setup. A known default password is not suitable for continued use, especially if the Raspberry Pi will later connect to a network. Change it as an immediate security task. See Change Password for the next step.

Start the Graphical Desktop from a Shell

A shell session is a text-based interface where you log in and enter commands. If the Pi finishes setup at a console prompt instead of opening the desktop automatically, log in with the initial account and run the X desktop-start command:

startx

startx starts the graphical X session. On this Raspbian setup, that session leads to the lightweight LXDE desktop and uses Openbox as its window manager.

After changing the default password, enter startx at the shell prompt. If you want to learn more about working in the console, see Terminal In Raspbian and Useful Terminal Commands.

Troubleshooting

NOOBS does not appear

Check the following:

• Open the SD card on the preparation computer and verify that the extracted NOOBS files are at the card's top level.
• Confirm that you copied the unpacked contents rather than only the ZIP archive.
• Recreate the card from the NOOBS package if the file copy was incomplete or the card was not prepared correctly.
• Check that the HDMI cable is connected at both ends and that the display is set to the correct input.
• Confirm that the Raspberry Pi is receiving power from a suitable power supply.

Raspbian is not selected or installation will not start

• Wait for the NOOBS interface to finish loading.
• Select the checkbox next to Raspbian before using the installation control.
• Reconnect the USB keyboard and mouse, then try the selection again.
• If the input devices are still not recognized, test them with another compatible USB device.

The Pi does not boot after installation

Installation may have been interrupted by power loss or removal of the SD card. The card may also have failed or may be incompatible. Recreate the installer card and repeat the installation using reliable power. If the problem continues, try another known-good SD card.

Only a command-line login appears

The system may have started in a console session rather than launching the graphical environment. Log in and run:

startx

If the desktop still does not start, review the installation and recreate the SD card if necessary.

The initial password is rejected

• Check that the username and password were typed correctly.
• Remember that password characters are normally hidden while typing.
• Check the keyboard layout selected during configuration; symbols can be different on another layout.
• After a successful login, change the default password immediately.

Next Steps

Once the desktop is running, configure the system for regular use. Useful follow-up tasks include connecting to a network, expanding the filesystem when appropriate, updating Raspbian, and learning basic terminal commands.

• Connect To The Internet
• Expand Raspbian Filesystem
• Update Raspbian
• Enable Ssh In Raspbian
• Operating Systems For Raspberry Pi

Exam-Relevant Notes

• Raspbian is derived from Debian and is tailored for Raspberry Pi hardware.
• NOOBS is the installer manager; Raspbian is the operating system selected within it.
• The ZIP archive must be extracted before its contents are copied to the SD card.
• The extracted files belong at the top level of the SD card.
• Insert the SD card and connect the display and USB devices before applying power.
• Do not remove power or the SD card while NOOBS is writing the operating system.
• raspi-config is the initial Raspberry Pi configuration utility.
• The historical default credentials are username pi and password raspberry; change the password immediately.
• startx starts the graphical X session from a shell.