Welcome to the installation guide for Windows IoT! This section will walk you through the process of setting up your device with Windows IoT, preparing it for development and deployment.
Prerequisites
A compatible Windows IoT device (e.g., Raspberry Pi, Intel NUC)
A USB flash drive (8GB or larger recommended)
A PC running Windows 10 or later
Internet connection
Power supply for your Windows IoT device
Step 1: Download the Windows IoT Image
First, you need to download the correct Windows IoT image for your specific device. You can typically find these on the Windows IoT Dev Center.
Visit the Windows IoT Dev Center.
Navigate to the "Downloads" or "Resources" section.
Select the image that matches your hardware (e.g., Raspberry Pi 3, Raspberry Pi 4).
Download the image file (usually a .zip or .ffu format).
Choose the correct version for your Raspberry Pi model.
Click "Choose Storage" and select your USB flash drive.
Click "Write" and confirm. The imager will download the OS and write it to the drive.
Using Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (WICD):
This method is more advanced and often used for enterprise deployments. You'll typically:
Install WICD from the Windows ADK.
Create a new provisioning package.
Select your Windows IoT image and configure settings.
Generate the provisioning package.
Apply the package to your deployment media (USB drive).
Refer to the official Microsoft documentation for detailed WICD instructions.
Important: Ensure your USB drive is formatted correctly before proceeding. FAT32 is often a good choice for bootable media.
Step 3: Install Windows IoT on Your Device
Once your USB flash drive is prepared, you can proceed with the installation on your target device.
For Raspberry Pi Devices:
Safely eject the USB flash drive from your PC.
Insert the prepared USB flash drive into your Raspberry Pi.
Connect your Raspberry Pi to a display (HDMI) and power adapter.
The device should automatically boot from the USB drive and begin the installation process.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup, including language, keyboard layout, and network configuration.
For Other Windows IoT Devices (e.g., Intel NUCs):
Insert the prepared USB flash drive into the device.
Power on the device and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F10, F12, or DEL during boot).
Configure the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.
Save the BIOS/UEFI settings and exit.
The device will boot from the USB drive, and the Windows IoT installation wizard will begin.
Follow the on-screen instructions to partition the drive and install Windows IoT.
Tip: For headless setups or remote management, consider pre-configuring network settings and potentially enabling SSH during the provisioning process if supported by your chosen imaging tool.
Step 4: First Boot and Initial Configuration
After the installation is complete, the device will restart. This is the first boot into Windows IoT.
On the first boot, you may need to configure regional settings, create a user account (or use a pre-configured one for a Kiosk experience), and connect to a network if not already done.
Allow Windows to download and install any necessary updates. This can take some time.
Verify network connectivity.
Next Steps
Once Windows IoT is successfully installed and configured, you're ready to start developing your IoT solutions! Explore the following topics: