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Can you use a micro SD card from raspberry pi B+ on the raspberry pi 2 model B?

Ghanima
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Bob
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    I'd suggest an edit: obviously one can use micro SD cards both on the B+ and model 2 (as they both use micro SD cards). The question here should emphasize more on the OS on that card (which is of course intended and already answered as such ;) ) – Ghanima Mar 04 '15 at 20:32

2 Answers2

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You will need a new kernel, which should be installed on Raspbian regardless of model (meaning, you can do it on the B+) if you:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

If the Pi 2 then fails to boot but produces kernel error messages, edit config.txt in the first partition. Find the kernel= and change what's there to:

kernel=kernel7.img

If it doesn't exist, create it (but if it didn't exist I think it should have worked properly in the first place).

The kernel is currently the only difference for Raspbian; armv7 is backward compatible with armv6, so the userland works. This other pi distros should work the same way -- you just need an armv7 kernel. If there isn't one, you should be able to use the kernel7.img from Raspbian. Make sure you also install the modules, which means copying /lib/modules/3.X.X-v7 over (X.X is probably 18.5, the -v7 is what's important).

If you do want to use that route -- copying in a kernel and modules because you cannot or do not want to upgrade the OS -- see here about how to mount an SD card image to get the files out. Remember, the kernel will be in the first partition, the modules in the second.

Community
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goldilocks
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In the element14 webpage (http://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-73878/l/raspberry-pi-2-model-b-frequently-asked-questions-faqs), you can find:

Will the microSD card and Operating System from my previous model of Raspberry Pi work with the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B? If you are using Raspbian, you will have to update it first. On your existing Raspberry Pi you can run the following commands from the terminal:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Alternatively, you can download the latest SD Card image from raspberrypi.org/downloads

Jonathan Eduardo Tito Ontaneda
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    Note that if you've actually updated in the past 6+ months, you don't have to do this. Also, if you are already using a jessie image (check /etc/issue -- jessie is v. 8) don't do a dist-upgrade. In fact, you should not have to do a dist-upgrade from wheezy either, if you do not want to. That should have a Pi 2 kernel (and modules), which is the only difference. – goldilocks Dec 17 '15 at 14:51