Firmware is the code usually stored in flash ROM and contains the instructions for communicating with the other computer hardware.
Questions tagged [firmware]
94 questions
103
votes
3 answers
How do I update software and firmware?
I understand that the software on the Raspberry Pi is divided into three sections: the closed-source GPU firmware, the patched ARM Linux kernel and the user space software.
Is the GPU firmware on the chip or SD card?
Is there an easy way to update…
Alex L
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74
votes
7 answers
Do I still need rpi-update if I am using the latest version of Raspbian?
I have a 512MB Pi. I am trying to make sure I am getting the most out of it. I just downloaded the latest version of Raspbian and installed it on the Pi. Do I also need rpi-update? Is rpi-update meant for upgrading from one version of Raspbian…
Scoop
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44
votes
3 answers
Why does the Raspberry Pi need a MPEG-2 licence?
Since August 24 2012, it is possible to buy a licence to hardware-decode MPEG-2 videos.
Here are my questions:
Does it mean that, without this licence, the RPi cannot handle at all MPEG-2 video, or it will struggle to play it smoothly?
In what form…
Morgan Courbet
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32
votes
3 answers
How can I determine the current firmware version number?
Is there a way to find the current firmware version number? Either the running version or the version currently installed in /boot?
uname -a shows only the kernel version, not the GPU "binary blob."
Related: How do I update software and firmware?
finnw
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24
votes
1 answer
Raspberry Pi Zero usable with fully free software?
In the Free Software Foundation's May 2013 review of single board computers, the Raspberry Pi was found to have fatal flaws for use in a free (libre) software environment:
The Raspberry Pi requires nonfree software to start up. It can't reach
the…
user37294
18
votes
2 answers
How do I upgrade Raspbian?
I have my Raspberry Pi setup how I want, but I have an older version than what is currently available (2012-10-28-wheezy-raspbian.zip). How do I upgrade the kernel, firmware, etc.?
I have upgraded some using:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get…
kevin
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15
votes
3 answers
Do I still need to purchase the MPEG-2 and VC-1 license keys for the Raspberry Pi 2?
Do I still need to purchase the MPEG-2 and VC-1 license keys for the Raspberry Pi 2?
If so, will the same MPEG-2 and VC-1 licenses available in the Raspberry Pi store work with the Raspberry Pi 2?
Kev
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9
votes
1 answer
What is the minimum power required for an RPi 4 in `halt` or `shutdown`?
I want to use a RPi 4 in a remote, unattended, battery-powered application. In this application, the RPi 4 will spend most of its time inactive, awakened only by either a Real Time Clock (RTC), or a sensor. Either the RTC or the sensor will wake the…
Seamus
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9
votes
1 answer
How to revert from rpi-update to stable build
I have been using a RPi3 for the last year without any issues. I have had rpi-update as part of a regular update process (cron job).
Lately I have been experiencing crashes. I started to investigate, and while there is nothing helpful in the syslog…
user643011
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8
votes
2 answers
Custom firmware on Raspberry Pi?
Is there a way to use the Raspberry Pi like an Arduino? That is, without an operating system?
Just connect it to the USB of your computer and download code onto it, and the next time the Raspberry Pi boots, it runs that program (infinitely). Just as…
deepak
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8
votes
2 answers
Raspberry Pi 3 usable with fully free software?
In the Free Software Foundation's May 2013 review of single board computers, the Raspberry Pi was found to have fatal flaws for use in a free (libre) software environment:
The Raspberry Pi requires nonfree software to start up. It can't reach
the…
user37294
8
votes
5 answers
Can I safely remove non-free software on a Raspberry Pi 2 running Raspbian?
I am the lucky owner of a Raspberry Pi 2 on which I installed Raspbian:
$ cat /proc/version
Linux version 3.18.11-v7+ (dc4@dc4-XPS13-9333) (gcc version 4.8.3 20140303 (prerelease) (crosstool-NG linaro-1.13.1+bzr2650 - Linaro GCC 2014.03) ) #781 SMP…
astorije
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6
votes
1 answer
Are the BIOS and firmware located on the SD card?
Reading this answer I get the impression both the Raspberry Pi BIOS and firmware are located on the SD card.
Is that correct? What is exactly located on the SD card? There's nothing stored on the Pi itself? Is that the reason for it not being able…
That Brazilian Guy
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6
votes
0 answers
Arch Linux kernel panics and firmware not working
Before the update I had linux-raspberrypi-3.1.9-33-arm and raspberrypi-firmware-20120418-2 installed. After I upgraded to raspberrypi-firmware-20120729-1, the kernel refused to boot (no kernel panics or messages) but start.elf started.
Copying…
ArchHaskeller
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6
votes
3 answers
Does the firmware update corrupt the filesystem?
I regularly make ISO images of my SD cards (for many reasons), and I have noticed that whenever I issue the rpi-update command, I can no longer make these images, instead getting this error:
sudo dd if=/dev/sdb…
puk
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