Tinker BoardSeries
User Manual

E15215First EditionFebruary 2019
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Contents
1.

Basic Requirements......................................................................................... 4

2.

Getting Started................................................................................................. 52.1 Setting up using eMMC (Tinker Board S only).................................... 52.2 Setting up using a microSD card.......................................................... 63.

Writing the OS image....................................................................................... 7
3.1 Using Etcher (Cross-platform).............................................................. 73.2 Using dd command (Linux)................................................................... 94.

OS Write Recovery (Tinker Board S only)................................................... 104.1 Rewriting the OS using UMS from eMMC.......................................... 104.2 Rewriting the OS using UMS from a microSD card........................... 10Conventions used in this guideTo ensure that you perform certain tasks properly, take note of the following symbols
used throughout this manual.
DANGER/WARNING: Information to prevent injury to yourself when trying to complete a task.

CAUTION: Information to prevent damage to the components when trying to complete a task.
IMPORTANT: Instructions that you MUST follow to complete a task.
NOTE: Tips and additional information to help you complete a task.

TypographyBold text

Indicates a menu or an item to select.

Italics

Used to emphasize a word or a phrase.

<Key>

Keys enclosed in the less-than and greater-than sign means that you mustpress the enclosed key.
Example: <Enter> means that you must press the Enter or Return key.

<Key1> + <Key2> + <Key3>

1.

If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the key names arelinked with a plus sign (+).

Basic Requirements•

Power supply with micro USB connector (2.5A minimum, 3A recommended)•MicroSD card (4GB or more)•Monitor (with HDMI port)•HDMI cable•

Keyboard and Mouse

42.

Getting Started

Before setting up Tinker Board, please download an operating system image such asthe Official ASUS Tinker OS, an Android OS, or other supported OS'.
•To download the Official ASUS Tinker OS, please visit https://www.asus.com/Single-BoardComputer/Tinker-Board/HelpDesk_Download/.

•For more information on other supported OS’, please visit the Software section of the Tinker
board Wiki.

If you are using a Tinker Board and not the Tinker Board S, please ignore the sections related toeMMC.

2.1Setting up using eMMC (Tinker Board S only)

The UMS (USB Mass Storage) allows you to simulate the eMMC of the Tinker Board S
as a recognizable device in Windows® and Linux. It is enabled automatically during theU-Boot when it detects that the Tinker Board S is connected to a PC. Please refer to thesteps below to set up your Tinker Board OS using the onboard eMMC:

1.

2.

3.

•

Ensure to use the latest version of your downloaded OS to ensure the OS is supported byeMMC storage.

•Ensure the eMMC's U-Boot is functional, and contains a built-in UMS function.

Connect your Tinker Board S to a PC using a Micro USB cable, then wait for thePC to recognize the device.
•DO NOT format the device while your Tinker Board S is connected to your PC.

•If your PC doesn't recognize the device, please refer to the OS Write Recovery section ofthis manual.

Write the downloaded OS image to the Tinker Board S using a third-party ISO
software, such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager. You may refer to the Writing theOS image section of this manual for more information on writing the OS image.
•Etcher is supported on Windows®, Mac, and Linux.

•Please refer to http://etcher.io/ for more information on Etcher.

•Please refer to http://sourceforge.net for more information on Win32DiskImager.

Once the image has been successfully written, connect your Tinker Board S to apower source using the bundled adapter to boot your Tinker Board S.

52.2

Setting up using a microSD card

You may use a mircoSD card to set up your Tinker Board OS. Please refer to the steps
below.
1.

2.

Write the downloaded OS image to a microSD card using a third-party ISOsoftware, such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager. You may refer to the Writing theOS image section of this manual for more information on writing the OS image.
•Etcher is supported on Windows®, Mac, and Linux.

•Please refer to http://etcher.io/ for more information on Etcher.

•

Please refer to http://sourceforge.net for more information on Win32DiskImager.

Insert the microSD card to your Tinker Board.
Please refer to your Tinker Board product manual for the location of the microSD slot.

3.

6Connect your Tinker Board to a power source using the bundled adapter to bootyour Tinker Board.

3.

Writing the OS image

You may write your downloaded OS image to a microSD card or built-in eMMC usingEtcher (supports Windows®, Mac OS, and Linux), or dd command (Linux only).
eMMC is only supported on Tinker Board S.

3.1

Using Etcher (Cross-platform)

Etcher is an image file utility used for burning image files, and supports Windows®, MacOS, and Linux. Etcher also supports burning images directly from the zip file, without
having to unzip the zip file first.
To write an image using Etcher:
1.

Insert a microSD card to a card reader connected to your PC,
orconnect your Tinker Board S to a PC via a micro USB cable. (Tinker Board S only)
Please refer to your Tinker Board product manual for the location of the microSD slot.

2.

Download Etcher from http://etcher.io/, then launch it.

3.

Click on Select image, then select the downloaded OS image. Please refer to thescreenshots below for TinkerOS_Debian and Android OS examples:
The following screenshots are for reference only.

TinkerOS_Debian7

Android
If a message pops up when booting an Android image, click on Continue.

4.

Click on Select drive, then select your connected device.

5.

Click on Flash! to start the burning process.

83.2

Using dd command (Linux)

To write an image using dd command:1.

Insert a microSD card to your Tinker Board (or Tinker Board S),
orconnect your Tinker Board S to a PC via a micro USB cable (Tinker Board S only).
Please refer to your Tinker Board product manual for the location of the microSD slot.

2.

Run the following command:
dd bs=4M if=/path/to/tinkeros.img of=/dev/sdx
Replace /dev/sdx with your drive, e.g. /dev/sdc.
Do not append a partition number to your drive name, for example /dev/sdc1.
Use the lsblk command to find the drive name of your device. Make sure that no partition of thedevice is mounted.

3.

Only remove the microSD card or disconnect the Tinker Board S from the PC oncethe command sync is completed to ensure the data was written completely.

9

4.

OS Write Recovery(Tinker Board S only)

4.1

Rewriting the OS using UMS from eMMC

You can recover using the UMS from eMMC if your eMMC's U-Boot is still working
properly and has a built-in UMS function. Please follow the steps below to re-write theOS using UMS mode:•Ensure the eMMC has a working U-Boot.

•Please remove all other connected extension devices from your Tinker Board S.

1.

Connect your Tinker Board S to a PC via a micro USB cable, it should boot andcreate partitions like any other USB drive.

2.

Write the downloaded OS image to the Tinker Board S using a third-party ISO
software, such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager. You may refer to the Writing theOS image section of this manual for more information on writing the OS image.

4.2

Rewriting the OS using UMS from a microSD card

When there is a problem booting from the eMMC's U-Boot, or if you are using a thirdparty custom OS image which does not have a built-in UMS function, you may follow thesteps below to trigger the UMS mode from a microSD card:
1.

Download a Tinker Board supported operating system image such as the Official
ASUS Tinker OS, or an Android OS.

2.

Insert a microSD card to a card reader connected to your PC.

3.

Write the OS image (with built-in UMS U-Boot) to the microSD card using a thirdparty ISO software, such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager. You may refer to theWriting the OS image section of this manual for more information on writing theOS image.

4.

Remove the microSD card from the card reader and insert it into your Tinker
Board S.
Please refer to your Tinker Board product manual for the location of the microSD slot.

10

5.

Disable eMMC booting priority and force boot from the microSD card by setting thejumper to Maskrom Mode as shown below

Parking(no function)
ModeMaskrom
Mode

6.

Connect your Tinker Board S to a PC using a micro USB cable, it should berecognized by the PC as a USB Mass Storage device.

7.

Write the downloaded OS image to the Tinker Board S using a third-party ISO
software, such as Etcher or Win32DiskImager.
Please refer to the Using Etcher (Cross-platform) section for more information on using Etcher.

8.

After the image has been successfully written, remove the micro USB cable fromthe PC.

9.

Set the jumper to Parking (no function) Mode.

10. Plug in the AC adapter to your Tinker Board S and boot it up. It should boot up
successfully and create partitions like any other USB drive.
Please remove all other connected extension devices from your Tinker Board S.

11