Raspberry Pi - $35 Linux computer

  • Thread starter Thread starter daz
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OpenELEC requires no linux knowledge what-so-ever.

  1. Download the latest build from here: http://openelec.thestateofme.com/official_images/
  2. Load it onto an SD card with Win32 Disk Imager (using your windows machine)
  3. Plug the SD card into the Pi and power up

Downside with openELEC though is it's locked down, so cannot install new programs etc, but if it's just for a media center, it's great.

I tried open ELEC, but just couldn't get the authentication to my WHS working, everytime I set up the account, typed in the password it would just dump me back at the setup screen to re-type the whole thing again.
I know it wasn't a typo as I changed the password to be really easy, but I was unable to logon to access my WHS shares
 
Personally, I make my shares in Windows (not using WHS shares), and I create a user 'xbmc', I give this user read-only access
 
Just about to try and set-up my Pi now, whats the most preferred Media OS? OpenElec?

I ordered the Pi, and an Accessory kit, which comes with all the bits, and a 4GB SD card with open elec on, would it be fine running it on this? as I was planning on using the SD card for that, then attaching an external drive for storage. However heard some people saying its better to run openelec or other media centre software from a usb or external drive?

Just booted the Pi and it booted straight in to xbmc, will have to check versions etc and see if there is any updates
 
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Cheers. I am going to start trawling through guides, and this thread, but does anyone have any quick links or suggestions on the best way to configure it once you have the OS running? what add on's to use, etc
 
I'm going to set up my Pi soon, probably going to install the Raspbian (Debian "Squeeze", I think) OS image onto it. Anyone got any ideas for what kind of things I can do on it as a beginner? I'm into the programming side of things and have quite a bit of experience with C++, so I'm open to any ideas revolving around that.

Cheers :D
 
hi all,

I just added some avi's to a formatted NTFS USB stick, chucked it on my pi running openelec, and it detected it as soon as I plugged it in, and I could view the files, however it seems OpenElec have done an autoupdate? as when it was rebooted it was a newer version I think

Anyhow, it will not detect the USB stick when I plug it in now?? I have tried rebooting several times, unplugging, plugging back in, it doesn't detect it.

Is there anyway I can manually mount this? or fix this issue? I was hoping to watch a few things tonight.

Plug the stick in to my laptop windows detects it fine, its not a USB port issue on the Pi as my keyboard works

Google searches are failing me at the moment
 
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I'm trying to install Raspbmc to USB. Used the Windows installer and followed a video on Youtube, because it I couldn't get it to work I thought I was doing something wrong. Turns out I wasn't, it just won't work. All goes nicely until I put the card into the Pi, all lights come on as if it detects the OS, then nothing, just a no signal showing on the TV. Tried it numerous times with the same result. SD card works fine as I've tried it with a OpenELEC USB install and that works no problem. I've tried just installing Raspbmc to the SD card and forgetting the USB installation, just to see if that works. Nothing.

Any ideas? Because so far, it makes no sense to me why it doesn't work.

Edit: Well it somehow worked in the end. Tried again last night, and got nothing on screen. I sat there for a few mins staring at the screen, then decided it wasn't doing anything so went off to do other things. Came back quite a while later, turned on the TV, and bingo, there was Raspbmc all set up; much to my amazement.

Looking at the videos, people get the usual setup routine displaying on the screen. For me, I got nothing until it was done, which is kind of strange. Oh well, all's well that ends well. :)
 
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Ordered a new Model B the other week as I have changed around what my existing PI is doing. Originally I had it running XMBC/NAS however I wanted to split these entirely up, so the original PI is now running Rasbian with my External 4GB HDD attached to it, I managed to get NZBGet/Sick-Beard/Couch-Potatoe/Headphones all working in glorious sync, should mean I can easily attach the new PI which I think I will put OpenElec on and connect it up to the NAS-PI.

One question I do have though is whether to power the new PI from the TV itself, my TV has a USB port on it and it will boot my existing PI, I just feel it would be easier to only have it running when the TV is on? Has anyone else done this?
 
The danger with powering it from the TV like that is that when the TV shuts off the Pi just has its power cut without warning... It's very much one of those "90% of the time it won't cause a problem, but if it ever does it'll mess up the install" type problems.

Personally given how low-cost the Pi is to run I just have mine on all the time
 
The hardest thing about this little machine is picking out a case for it.

So many options, what's the best clear case (preferably with raspberry icon) for it? (Model B btw)

edit: went with Toxic PiBow case.

Now it's down to which OS to use.
 
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My setup

Pibow Timber + micro sd backplate
Pibow Pi Glow
Replaced the plastic bolts with stainless steel
MODMYPI 2A USB PSU
Sandisk Class 10 32B Micro SD Card
pIO - Raspberry Pi microSD Card Adaptor


OS - Raspian

Using it as a webserver, front end is all std but using it for DATA files. Piglow is setup to show CPU use and lights the room up.
 
I'm complete new to raspberry PI but I originally wanted to get a chromecast but think this could be a viable alternative. My ideal requirements are:

1) Access iplayer, 4od etc
2) Play 1080p with no stuttering (mkv etc with vlc?)
3) Potentially torrent though not essential.

I've played around with linux distros in the past and was wondering if the above was possible with a Pi? Using XBMC or another distro?
 
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I'm complete new to raspberry PI but I originally wanted to get a chromecast but think this could be a viable alternative. My ideal requirements are:

1) Access iplayer, 4od etc
2) Play 1080p with no stuttering (mkv etc with vlc?)
3) Potentially torrent though not essential.

I've played around with linux distros in the past and was wondering if the above was possible with a Pi? Using XBMC or another distro?

Everything you state there is possible, except for 4od which I believe has been broken for a little while now (on XBMC) with no indication of when or if it will be fixed.

Also the torrenting while possible has a couple of pitfalls:

1. If you want decent amounts of disk-space to download onto - the pi is limited to USB external drives...
2. If you want to run XBMC and use it then I am pretty sure torrenting at the same time as watching stuff or navigating the menus and things is likely to be too much for the pi to handle
 
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