Problems booting raspberry pi

Hi Rowena,

The files are copied, not the NOOBS folder.  The only folders copied are the OS and Defaults files.

I bet that the problem is there ... Please can you detail what are the exact operations you have followed copying the files? Did you used the terminal command dd or whatever else? I have prepared a certain number of micro SD for the PI (A, B+, B2) and there are a couple of details that are not perfectly explained on the net.

Enrico

I downloaded the NOOBS zipped files from the raspberrypi.org website.  I then opened the NOOBS_v1_4_1 folder on my mac and copied all the files and subdirectories onto the sd card.  This was a drag and drop operation in Finder. 

The list of files are:

bootcode.bin

BUILD-DATA

defaults (folder)

INSTRUCTIONS-README.txt

os (folder)

RECOVERY_FILES_DO_NOT_EDIT

recovery.cmdline

recovery.elf

recovery.img

recovery.rfs

recovery7.img

riscos-boot.bin

Once the files were copied, I ejected the sd card.

The procedure you have followed is correct, as far as I see and it is almost the same I have followed. The problem maybe in the formatting mechanism of the SD card. I had had a lot of issues because it sounds impossible that the system won't boot: the files need only to be copied!

Instead I was able to have a bootable NOOBS system with the file copy from finder only after I have formatted the SD card with the SD Formatter, a free app available for Mac too that you can download and read the instructions from here: https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/eula_mac/

After you have formatted the micro SD with the SD Formatter, proceed following the same steps you have already followed and try again. Let me know if this work; if not working yet, this may depend by the Raspi board.

Enrico

P.S. Please read carefully how to format the sd card with this app.

Thanks,

I had previously tried formatting the sd card with this app before I tried with the mac Disk Utility.  I had the same problems.  I will try again. 

Could it be the sd card itself?  The files seem to copy ok and I can see them on Finder.  It will be disappointing if it is the Raspberry itself.

As a matter of fact it is almost strange that a PI doesn't work. But maybe, obviously. Before this last option (I had a problem in past and I have not investigated in detph, bought another PI and then the first PI started again because I have discovered what was the silly trick )

If again formatting with the tool the PI won't work, there is a last thing that I will try. The unzip program that you are using. I saw in past that not all the unzip apps on the Mac works perfectly and sometimes the files are expanded, seems correct but are not really working. Despite that the instructions on the net says to unzip from the Mac. What decompressor are you using? If I remember well maybe I have used the standard Mac unzipper.

If you have a second SD card, also smaller, but just to make a check, it is the case, I think. What model of PI do you have ?

Enrico

Two questions. Did you copy them to the root of the SD card? Also what kind of sdcard did you use?

C

I can suggest an alternative process. Try http://www.berryterminal.com/doku.php/berryboot. This requires a connection to the internet with an Ethernet cable.

C

Good suggestion, Clem.

My doubt is if it is the PI or not the problem. So, if last at all the procedure is correct, the zip file has been unzipped correctly (on Mac some problem exist sometimes) and the system continue not to boot, last chance is the SD card replacement, then if also the net setup won't work it is unfortunately the hardware...

Enrico

Hi everyone.  I bought a new micro sd card and all works now.  The previous sd card was a pico brand bought at the local news agency. I've replaced it with a sandisk card and all is well.  Thanks everyone with your suggestions.