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Installing on Raspberry Pi 4

This guide walks you step by step through the installation of the Pharmadigital player on Raspberry Pi 4.

1. Prerequisites​

  • A Raspberry Pi 4 (any RAM model)
  • A Micro SD card (recommended: 16GB or higher, Class 10)
  • A power supply compatible with Raspberry Pi 4
  • Monitor with HDMI input
  • HDMI cable
  • USB keyboard and mouse for the initial configuration
  • Internet connection (Ethernet or Wi-Fi)

2. Download the image​

  1. Download the official Pharmadigital image for Raspberry Pi 4 from the dashboard.

3. Writing the image to the Micro SD card​

You can use any software you prefer (e.g., Balena Etcher), but we recommend using Raspberry Pi Imager:

  1. Install Raspberry Pi Imager on your computer.
  2. Launch the program.
  3. Click Choose OS.
  4. Select Use custom (at the bottom of the list) and choose the downloaded image.
  5. Insert the Micro SD card into your computer and click Choose SD Card.
  6. Select the correct Micro SD card.
  7. Click Write to start writing the image.

Note: The process may take several minutes.

4. Installation on NEC displays with Raspberry Pi computer module​

info

If you are not using an NEC display with Raspberry Pi computer module, you can skip this section and go directly to First boot.

4.1 Connecting the NEC computer module​

To write the Pharmadigital image to the computer module, it must be connected as an external storage device using the RPI Boot software.

  1. Download and install RPI Boot on your computer (Windows).
  2. Follow the official guide to launch the software and connect the computer module via USB.

4.2 Enabling write mode on the computer module​

  1. Turn off the computer module using the NEC Display menu.
  2. Switch the physical toggle on the computer module to OFF: this enables writing from the PC.
  3. Turn on the computer module again from the Display menu.

4.3 Writing the Pharmadigital image​

  1. Once the computer module appears as external storage on your PC, download the Pharmadigital Raspberry Pi image from the dashboard.
  2. Use Raspberry Pi Imager or similar software to write the image to the computer module’s memory.

4.4 Disabling write mode​

  1. Turn off the computer module again from the NEC Display menu.
  2. Switch the physical toggle on the computer module back to ON: this disables write mode.
  3. Turn on the computer module again from the Display menu.

4.5 Selecting the source and starting Pharmadigital​

  1. Change the NEC display source to “computer module” to view Pharmadigital running.
  2. It is recommended to set the computer module as the default source in the display settings menu, so that Pharmadigital starts automatically at every power-on.
note

All toggle operations must be performed with the display powered off to avoid damaging the module.

5. First boot​

  1. Once writing is complete, insert the Micro SD card into the Raspberry Pi 4 (if using a standard Raspberry Pi), or make sure the computer module is properly configured on the NEC display.
  2. Connect the Raspberry Pi to the monitor, power supply, and (optional) keyboard/mouse.
  3. Power on the device.

The system will start and, after a few seconds, the Pharmadigital player will launch automatically.

6. Player activation​

  1. After startup, an activation phrase will appear on the screen.
  2. Log in to the dashboard.
  3. Go to Players → Add → Raspberry Pi and enter the activation phrase to complete the device registration.

7. Updates​

Important:
It is recommended to update the Pharmadigital player installed via image directly from the dashboard, to ensure security and new features.

Troubleshooting​

  • The player is not online

    • Check the network connection.
    • Verify power and cabling.
    • Make sure the Micro SD is not damaged and the image was written correctly.

  • No image on the display

    • Check the HDMI cable and input selection on the monitor.
    • On NEC displays, make sure the computer module is selected as the source.

Additional resources​

Questions?

For additional support, open a ticket.

Last updated: October 2025