Installing Octoprint on Laptop/Tablet for 3D FDM printers

Many FDM  3D printer users prefer to use advanced management systems to start and control the printing process, both locally and remotely.  One of these systems is Octoprint, probably the most preferred by users, as it is cheap to make and works in a simple and immediate way; based on an Raspberry, just install the official software to be able to immediately access the world of Octoprint , with all plugins and management and control features available.  For more information visit the official website of Octoprint (https://octoprint.org).

This article aims to present a method to make an OctoPrint system (with or without touch) for free, using an old laptop or a touch tablet; note that tablets based on Android/iOS are NOT compatible, and the guide only works with laptops and tablets that originally worked on the Windows operating system (that is, with an x86/x64 processor).

The guide is recommended for users who have a minimum of computer knowledge, otherwise some steps may be difficult and could create incompatibilities.

Procedure:

1 - In a computer different from the one you intend to transform into Octoprint:

• Install Raspberry Pi Imager
  https://www.raspberrypi.org/software/

• Download the .ISO of Raspberry Pi Desktop (it is the operating system in graphical version of the Raspberry)
  https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/rpd_x86/images/rpd_x86-2021-01-12/2021-01-11-raspios-buster-i386.iso

• Insert the USB drive into the computer, open Raspberry Pi image and click on "use custom image" using the one just downloaded; in this way you can prepare the usb drive with a bootable .ISO

2 - In the laptop/tablet you want to transform into Octoprint:

• Insert the bootable USB drive prepared above and proceed with the installation of the Raspberry Pi Desktop operating system

• After installing Raspberry Pi Desktop, follow this official Octoprint guide to transform your laptop/tablet into Octoprint
  https://community.octoprint.org/t/setting-up-octoprint-on-a-raspberry-pi-running-raspbian-or-raspberry-pi-os/2337

Once the procedure is completed, the laptop/tablet will have all the features of an Octoprint on Raspberry, so it will be compatible with all classic Octoprint plugins.  
In addition, using a tablet it will be possible to interact with Octoprint via touchscreen and also implement the camera to be able to remotely monitor the printing process.  
For any other functionality always refer to the official Octoprint guides.