I have the following RPi models: 2, 3 4 and 400 and the early wireless RPi W.
I have the latest OS 6.2.1 purchased with the v 4 and 400.
I am none the wiser by looking at the info at the RPi site.
Questions please.
(1) If I make copies of the OS received with my v4 and 400 will it work with the version 2, 3 and early wireless W.
OR will I have to download a separate OS?
(2) If I don’t want to use the default graphics desktop when I switch on an RPi, rather to have the RPi default to a terminal output, how do I do that?
That’s a great question, there are a few different variants of Pi OS out there so I’ll try and demystify what some of the differences between each are. The latest version of the 32-bit Raspberry Pi OS (nicknamed Bullseye, all the major versions are named after Toy Story characters) is compatible with all models of Raspberry Pi. It is available as a full desktop environment with some recommended software pre-installed, or as a desktop environment without extras, or as a stripped down terminal only “lite” version.
The 64-bit version of Bullseye is also available as a desktop or lite package, but it is only compatible with the following Pi models: 3B,3B+,3A+,4,400,CM3,CM3+,CM4,Zero 2 W
The legacy branch of Pi OS is nicknamed Buster and is compatible with all models of Pi. It also comes in desktop or lite flavours.
If you were to take an SD card from one Pi and put it into another compatible Pi of a different model, the SD card will refactor itself before booting and should still work.
I’ve never attempted this so I’m not sure if it is possible. One alternative would be to just use SSH so you can access the terminal of a Pi that’s running a desktop environment from another device.
Otherwise once the desktop environment has loaded you can still access the terminal window via the GUI quite quickly.
Dear Trent,
Thank you for the reply it is appreciated.
Questions for clarification please:
(1) How many bits is the OS that I purchased with my model 4 and 400? Is that 32-bits or 64-bits?
(2) If the OS from (1) is 32-bits is the automatic refactoring done for the model 2, 3 and original W? I am reading you correctly in your response?
(3) If the OS in question (1) 64-bits will not work for the model 2, 3 and W? There is no automatic refactoring. Is that correct?
(4) According to the download link at RPi, the Model 3A+ or 3B or 3B+ can use the 64-bit OS.
My Model 3 is v1.2, 2015.
Is that a Model 3A+ or 3B or 3B+ model for compability with the 64-bit model?
All our preloaded cards come with a 32-bit OS so that they are compatible with every Raspberry Pi model.
That’s right, an SD card with the 32-bit version will happily refactor itself to suit whatever Pi model it is installed in. It takes an extra minute or so the first time the Pi model is changed, but should boot as normal after that initial self-adjustment. (The Pi Zero original is at it’s absolute limit with a desktop OS though so typically I’d recommend sticking with lite OS for the Zero.)
If it doesn’t have anything after the 3 it will just be a Pi 3B as that was the first 3rd generation Pi released. To double-check you can verify it doesn’t have a 4-pin PoE header (a 3B+ only feature), and is a Model B shape, rather than a Pi 3A+ which is more square.
This forum post from the Raspberry Pi official forums covers this process in a lot more detail, give it a read and let me know if you have any further questions. https://forums.raspberrypi.com/viewtopic.php?t=197763
Questions:
(1) You cannot use a 64-bit OS into a Model 2, 3 and W and expect to automatically refactor to a 32-bit OS
(2) For an RPi 4 and 400 Is there any difference between using a 32-bit and 64-bit OS.
(3) What is “run” on the above photo?
