Windows IoT Core Installation

Welcome to the official installation guide for Windows IoT Core. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to set up your device and begin developing your IoT solutions.

Prerequisites

• A compatible IoT device (e.g., Raspberry Pi, DragonBoard)
• A microSD card (8GB or larger, Class 10 recommended)
• A computer running Windows 10 or later
• Internet connection
• SD card reader

Step 1: Download the Windows IoT Core Image

First, you need to obtain the correct Windows IoT Core image for your specific hardware. Visit the official Microsoft MSDN Downloads page for Windows IoT to find the latest available images.

Step 2: Prepare the microSD Card

You'll need a tool to flash the downloaded image onto your microSD card. The recommended tool is the Windows Imaging tool, which is part of the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK).

Alternatively, you can use third-party tools like Rufus or balenaEtcher for a simpler flashing process.

Using Windows Imaging Tool:

1. 1

   Install ADK

   Install the Windows ADK and the Windows PE add-on. During ADK installation, select "Imaging and Configuration Designer (ICD)" and "Deployment Tools".

2. 2

   Launch Imaging Tool

   Open "Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer (WICD)" from your Start menu.

3. 3

   Create a Provisioning Package

   Select "IoT Enterprise" or "IoT Core" based on your needs. Choose "Blank Provisioning" or a pre-configured template.

4. 4

   Configure Settings

   Enter your Wi-Fi credentials, set a device name, and configure other necessary settings. You can also set up device management.

5. 5

   Save and Build

   Save your provisioning project and then click "Provisioning" in the top left to build the package.

6. 6

   Flash the Image

   Open the "Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment" as an administrator. Use the dism command to apply the downloaded image and your custom provisioning package to the microSD card.

   dism /Apply-Image /ImageFile:C:\path\to\your\iot_image.ffu /ApplyDrive:D: /SkipPlatformCheck

   Replace C:\path\to\your\iot_image.ffu with the actual path to your FFU image and D: with the drive letter of your microSD card.

Using Rufus or balenaEtcher:

1. 1

   Install Flashing Tool

   Download and install either Rufus or balenaEtcher.

2. 2

   Select Image and Drive

   Launch the tool, select your downloaded Windows IoT Core image file (often a .zip containing an .img or .ffu file), and choose your microSD card.

3. 3

   Start Flashing

   Click the "Start" or "Flash" button. The tool will format the card and write the image.

Step 3: Boot Your IoT Device

1. 1

   Insert microSD Card

   Safely eject the microSD card from your computer and insert it into your IoT device.

2. 2

   Connect Peripherals

   Connect your device to a display (HDMI), keyboard, and mouse. Ensure it's powered on.

3. 3

   First Boot

   The device will boot from the microSD card. The first boot may take several minutes as Windows IoT Core sets itself up. You'll see a progress screen.

4. 4

   Onboarding Experience

   Once setup is complete, you will be greeted with the Windows IoT Core onboarding screen. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect to Wi-Fi, set a password, and configure basic settings.

Step 4: Connect and Develop

After the initial setup, your Windows IoT Core device is ready for development.

• Remote Connection: You can connect to your device remotely using PowerShell or Visual Studio for deploying applications and managing the device. Ensure your device is on the same network as your development PC.
• Visual Studio: Install Visual Studio with the "Universal Windows Platform development" workload. You can then create, deploy, and debug UWP applications directly to your IoT device.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

• Ensure you downloaded the correct image for your hardware.
• Try using a different microSD card or a different flashing tool.
• Verify your microSD card is properly inserted.
• Check the official Windows IoT Core documentation and community forums for known issues and solutions.