This video shows how to use the Raspberry Pi Imager on your laptop or desktop computer to flash a microSD card for your Raspberry Pi Zero W.

Steps to flash the microSD card (this video shows step 2 and 3):

1. Place the memory card in the adapter, then the adapter in your computer;
2. Don't forget to configure the SSH and WiFi settings in the Imager tool before flashing;
3. Flash the memory card with the Imager/etcher tool of your choice;
4. Remove the memory card from the adapter and insert it into the (not powered) Raspberry Pi;
5. Power on the Raspberry Pi.

This video uses the following hardware components:

• 1x working laptop or desktop computer with a USB slot;
• 1x microSD to USB adapter (often free with a microSD buy);
• 1x microSD card (8G and up, ~€7).

(Or if you have a SD Card slot in your computer, along with a microSD to SD Card adapter, that works too.)

The next step requires:

• the same microSD card;
• 1x Raspberry Pi Zero W board (~€16);
• 1x micro USB cable with power pins (data pins not required, ~€7); Total: about €30

Also in the next step, should you want to interact directly with the Raspberry Pi Zero:

• 1x keyboard with a micro USB cable end (or an adapter ~€6);
• 1x mini HDMI to standard HDMI cable (~€4, or adapters to this effect);
• 1x TV or computer screen with a standard HDMI input. Total: about €10, assuming you already have they keyboard and the screen.

(Last verified with Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32-bit) released 2023-02-21 and (64-bit) released 2023-02-21)

Chapters: 00:00 Choose the distribution and storage 00:11 Set the options (Wi-Fi, SSH, keyboard...) 00:22 Preparing to write (it takes a while) 00:55 Actually flashing the microSD card (it takes a while) 03:01 Verifying the card (it takes a while) 04:43 Finished

Scripts are available at https://github.com/GuillaumeRossolini/rpi-home