====== piCore Prepare SD-Card ======

There are two ways to get the image on the sd-card.\\
If you start from a Windows pc you can use the [[https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/imager/imager_latest.exe|'Raspberry Pi Imager']] to get the image on the sd-card.\\
For Linux and a Mac you can use the dd command.

Depending on your RPi hardware you can choose for a 32-bit image or a 64-bit piCore image.\\  
On [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi#Simplified_Model_B_changelog| Wikipedia you can find a table of all 'B' models with 64-bit processor indication field]].\\
For the RPi Pico, RPi Zero and others you have to read the applicable text for more details.\\
Also read the notes for the version of piCore you are planning to install for additional guidance on the possible images you can install. 


On the [[https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/board,72.0.html|forum there is a section]] where you can find the piCore release information.\\
Here you can find for example that support of RPi5 was introduced in [[https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,26644.0.html|piCore 14.1]] for 64-bit only.\\
The current latest [[https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,27338.0.html|piCore 15.0]] has better support for the RPi5.\\
The next release is not far from now, so watch the forum.



==== Raspberry Pi Imager ====

  * Obtain the image you want to use from the download page.\\ First verify the latest stable version available (best is not to use a test version).\\ Next look if you go for a 32-bit (RPi1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) or 64-bit (RPi3, 4, 5).
    * For the 32-bit version the (current latest) link is: http://tinycorelinux.net/15.x/armhf/releases/RPi/
    * For the 64-bit version the (current latest) link is: http://tinycorelinux.net/15.x/aarch64/releases/RPi/

  * Use an sd-formatter to clear the sd-card if needed.

  * Use the official 'Raspberry Pi Imager' to write the .img or .img.gz file to sd-card.
    * obtain the latest 'Raspberry Pi Imager' [[https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/imager/imager_latest.exe| from here.]]
    * The 'Raspberry Pi Imager' is smart enough to be able to handle compressed (zipped) images without first extracting.
    * The 'Raspberry Pi Imager' has a customisation setting option, but these details are not used by piCore.
      * So, no need to configure a hostname, username or WiFi settings at this point. They will not be used.\\ You have to set this up within piCore itself.

  * Bootup the RPi with HDMI and keyboard attached

  * After key generation: backup
    * ('backup' is a script file that is executing 'filetool.sh -b')

==== DD command ====

The [[https://medium.com/@crichiec/pi-zero-w-tinycore-linux-03966f17d2ec|following link]] details the steps using the dd command.