Complete Guide: OS Installation & First Tests
This guide walks you through setting up a Raspberry Pi 5 from scratch, installing the operating system, and performing basic tests to ensure everything is working correctly. No prior experience is required.
What You Need (Before You Start)
Make sure you have the following items ready:
Hardware
Raspberry Pi 5
USB-C power supply (5V / 5A recommended)
MicroSD card (16GB or larger, Class 10)
MicroSD card reader
HDMI cable (micro-HDMI to HDMI)
Monitor or TV
USB keyboard and mouse
Optional: Ethernet cable (for wired internet)
Software
A PC or laptop (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
Internet connection
Download Raspberry Pi OS
Raspberry Pi OS is the official and most beginner-friendly operating system.
On your computer, open a browser
Go to the official Raspberry Pi website
Download Raspberry Pi Imager for your operating system
Install and open the Raspberry Pi Imager
Install Raspberry Pi OS on the SD Card
Step-by-Step OS Installation
Insert the microSD card into your computer
Open Raspberry Pi Imager
Click Choose OS
Select Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit)
Click Choose Storage
Select your microSD card
(Optional but recommended) Click Advanced Settings
Set hostname
Enable SSH
Configure Wi-Fi
Set username & password
Click Write
Wait for the process to complete
Safely remove the microSD card
Hardware Setup
Now connect the Raspberry Pi 5:
Insert the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi
Connect the keyboard and mouse
Connect the HDMI cable to the monitor
(Optional) Connect Ethernet cable
Plug in the USB-C power supply
The Raspberry Pi will power on automatically
First Boot & Initial Configuration
On first boot, Raspberry Pi OS will guide you through setup:
Select language, region, and keyboard layout
Create or confirm user account
Connect to Wi-Fi (if not already set)
Update system packages (recommended)
Restart if prompted
Once complete, you’ll see the Raspberry Pi desktop.
Verify System Information
Open a Terminal and run the following commands to check your setup:
Check OS Version
cat /etc/os-releaseCheck Raspberry Pi Model
cat /proc/device-tree/modelCheck CPU Temperature
vcgencmd measure_tempUpdate the System
Keeping the system updated ensures stability and security.
sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo rebootBasic Hardware Testing
Display Test
Confirm the screen resolution is correct
Open a browser to verify smooth graphics
Keyboard & Mouse
Type in Terminal
Test right/left clicks and scrolling
Network Test
ping -c 4 google.comIf you receive replies, internet is working.
Audio Test
speaker-test -t wavGPIO Test (Optional but Recommended)
Test GPIO pins using Python:
sudo apt install python3-gpiozero -y
from gpiozero import LED
from time import sleep
led = LED(17)
while True:
led.on()
sleep(1)
led.off()
sleep(1)Connect an LED to GPIO 17 to confirm GPIO functionality.
Enable Useful Interfaces
Open Raspberry Pi Configuration:
sudo raspi-configEnable as needed:
SSH
I2C
SPI
Camera
Serial
Reboot after making changes.
Final Check & Ready to Go
At this point, your Raspberry Pi 5 should:
✔ Boot correctly
✔ Display the desktop
✔ Connect to the internet
✔ Accept keyboard & mouse input
✔ Run terminal commands smoothly
You’re now ready to start building projects, learning Linux, or developing applications.





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