Fix unbootable Pi (hopefully work)
A documented journey with Raspberry Pi

Today I encounter a problem with a Pi. It can not boot.

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An unbootable Pi with power connected.

It lights only the red LED with PWR label.

Power checking

I have changed the cable and the power supply that work for other Pi. It lights only PWR LED with or without SD card.

SD card checking on Pi

I put other card to the Pi and it can boot. For more convincing, I put the unbootable card to other Pi and it consistently does not boot. So, it might be the card.

SD card viewing on Windows

I insert the SD card to available card reader on a PC all-in-one, which is at the back or left side of the monitor in my case.

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Files on the card viewed with Explorer on Windows 11

Check the card using chkdsk gives nothing bad.

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Result of Windows chkdsk on the card.

There is nothing to do with it.

Pi version displaying

Fortunately, I have the same installation with other Pi.

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OS information from other working Pi.

ChatGPT provides following information.

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OS information from ChatGPT.

Above resume is obtained from previous CLI result on pi@pi-server-3.

Raspberry Pi Imager

In order to fix the card Raspberry Pi Images is required, which can be downloaded from https://www.raspberrypi.com/software/ .

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Website for Raspberry Pi Imager.

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Download process of the imager.

Save the installer on a particular location for future use.

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Raspberry Pi Imager installer.

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Microsoft Store reminder.

Choose Install anyway to proceed.

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Choose English if you prefer.

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Click Next.

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Choose I accept the agreement and click Next.

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Simply click Next.

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Click Next.

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Wait for the installation process.

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Click Finish and launch the application.

SD card writing

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Scroll down, choose No filtering Show every possible image, and click Next.

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Choose Raspberry Pi OS (other).

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Scroll down, choose Raspberry Pi OS (Legacy, 32 bit) Lite, which has no desktop environment, and click Next.

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Choose available card and click Next.

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Add hostname if necessary and click Next.

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Just click Next.

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Enter username and password, then click Next.

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Just click Next.

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Activate SSH and click Next.

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Review and click Write.

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Click I UNDERSTAND, ERASE AND WRITE.

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Wait for the installation process.

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Wait for the verification process.

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Click Finish.

SD card testing

Remove the card from slot and put it on the Pi.

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Pi with all LEDs lighted.

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SSH to the pi-servet-2 is successful.

Finally, it works.

Notes

Actually, there are some important things to notice.

• After using the Raspberry Pi Imager the card does not work directly. It behaves the same previous state.
• Swith the SBC with other and put in the SBC other card make the other still work, and put the fresh-written card to the other SBC also make it works.
• I am not sure what is going on, but ChatGPT tells the possibility of card quality, which introduces the intermittent behavior. It suggest to replace the card with new and more reliable one.

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Above screenshot might support the prediction.

• Then, it fails completely. I can not connect via SSH to the Pi with hostname or IP address, but it still can be pinged.
• Even it fails, the steps can be still be used if there is a problem with damaged card, whe it can still be rewriteable. As for my case the card must be replaced (I will tell it in another Medium story).

Topics: Raspberry Pi; Raspberry Pi Imager; Unbootable Raspberry Pi; Sd Card Problem.