Torrent that ends in “.torrent.” These two file are the same, but the “.torrent” file typically downloads
faster. How long it takes to download this file depends, of course, on the speed of your Internet
connection.
By the Way: Need More Help?
If you are feeling overwhelmed by this process, go to
elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup, which offers a lot of advice to get you through
the process of downloading the operating system and putting it on your SD card. And
don’t forget that you can buy a preloaded SD card. See
elinux.org/RPi_Easy_SD_Card_Setup under the “Safe/Easy Way” section for a list of
companies who sell these cards.Moving the Operating System to an SD Card
Once you have downloaded the operating system to your local computer, the next step is to move the
operating system from your computer to the SD card. You will not be able to just copy the file to the
SD card. Instead, you need to use an image writer program or utility to move it.
If you have experience with this, then go ahead and use the image writer program of your choice to
move the operating system file to your SD card. If you have limited experience using an image writer
or feel uncomfortable with the process, don’t worry. Appendix A of this book describes the steps
involved in transferring the Raspbian operating system file to your SD card properly.
Plugging In the Peripherals
Now that you have your Raspberry Pi, all the necessary peripherals, and the SD card loaded with the
Raspbian operating system, you can reap the rewards of your preparations. Go through the following
steps, to make sure everything is working correctly:
- Put the SD card into the card reader port on the Raspberry Pi, as shown in Figure 1.7.