TABLE OF CONTENTS
IMPORTANT:
Do not use this article unless you have been instructed to by our Support Team. We do not support the Raspberry Pi Zero or Zero W and this article is for users who want to try and use this device.
This article is for Advanced Users only and assumes you have experience using the Linux command line and experience working with Raspberry Pi CPUs. We also assume you have purchased the Micro USB to USB-A Female adapter and know how to attach a Keyboard and Mouse to your CPU.
If you are using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, please use the steps in our article Raspberry Pi - Download and Install the DAKboard OS
Pi Zero, and Pi Zero W:
We haven't specifically tested the DAKboard OS on the original Pi Zero, and generally don't recommend it due to its limited CPU/RAM. The Pi Zero takes a long time for the wifi to start up. Due to this, the OS assumes it's offline and starts the hotspot/setup mode. The following steps will need to be completed to get around this and these steps will only work with DAKboard OS 2.25 while following the Legacy DAKboard OS install instructions:
Accessing the Command Line:
On initial load of your OS, and using your Micro USB to USB-A adapter (not included with most Pi Zeros), attach your USB keyboard and Mouse. From here, Press CTRL + ALT +T to open the terminal or ALT +F4 to access your Desktop, then click the Raspberry Icon, go to accessories, and open the terminal there. Then follow the steps below:
Updating AutoHotspot for the Zero and Zero W:
Increasing the time in the autohotspot.timer file will prevent the Hotspot from starting before the WiFi can make its connection. Copy the following command and enter it into the Terminal session you started above:
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/autohotspot.timer
This will open the Nano file in the editor. Find the line that contains OnBootSec=30 and change that to OnBootSec=60 or higher if more time is needed.
Save your changes by pressing CTRL+X, then Y, then ENTER, and restart the Pi. When it boots back up, it will wait the specified time before testing for connectivity.