coco-pi.net

BMCoCo-Pi 0.1.0rc3 · Linux console and model downloads; Windows planned.

Prepare an SD card using Windows

Windows setup is planned; no Windows executable is released. The current release uses the Linux guided console. The model ZIPs will be reusable with a future Windows installer. Native Windows disk-safety, UAC and real-card testing must pass before a Windows executable is offered.

Before inserting the card

  1. Identify your Pi model and equipment.
  2. Back up anything needed from the destination card. Fresh installation removes every existing partition/file on that card, including Raspberry Pi OS.
  3. Prepare the 12 named system ROMs in a separate PC folder.
  4. Disconnect other removable drives where practical to reduce confusion.

When a Windows release is available

  1. Download the Windows x86-64 setup ZIP and the installation ZIP for your exact Pi model, using links on Downloads. Do not choose a Pi500 bundle for a Pi400. Use the matching release's compatibility table.
  2. Use File Explorer's Extract All for the setup ZIP. Run the executable from the extracted folder, not from inside the ZIP. The model bundle can remain zipped for selection by the proposed wizard.
  3. Launch BMCoCo-Pi-Setup.exe. Verify its source before accepting an administrator/UAC prompt. Never disable security software or bypass a Windows warning merely because these draft instructions name an executable. Publisher/signing and exact warning guidance are release gates, not verified.
  4. Insert the SD card and choose Fresh installation. Select your exact Pi model and its matching model bundle. Choose the ROM folder; all missing or incorrect files must be resolved before erasure is enabled.
  5. Choose the SD device by reader/device name, capacity and disk identity, not only a drive letter. A card with several old partitions is one physical destination. Never choose the Windows system disk or a backup drive.
  6. Select optional profiles/media. Review total space and all erase warnings. Confirm the exact card in a separate destructive confirmation.
  7. The utility should create one full-usable-capacity FAT32 partition, label BMCOCO, quick-format it, copy selected files and verify every installed file. Large-card FAT32 support must work without asking users to install an unreviewed formatter. No full-card zero-fill or first-boot resize.
  8. Keep the card inserted and the PC powered until verification and safe release complete. If Windows offers to format a volume independently, cancel that prompt; do not start a second formatting operation.
  9. Remove the card only after Ready / safe to remove, then follow first boot.

Button labels are proposed for the unbuilt wizard. Before publication this page must be reconciled with actual screenshots, a tested Windows version and the real installer/release names. Do not claim these steps were Windows-tested.

Existing BMCoCo-Pi card

Choose the planned Add presets/media mode only when you intend to preserve the installation. It must not format, silently replace differing files or change startup/display settings. Kernel updates are a separate Web UI operation. A Linux engineering merge script does not establish Windows utility support.

Guide edition: November 2, 2026.