Free Kiwix download
Wikipedia
Why: It gives us a searchable starting point across millions of subjects when the next problem is impossible to predict.
[https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: Wikipedia, English. Choose mini, nopic, or maxi.
Advertorial | Emergency Preparedness Field Guide
Free Beginner Build Plan
Build Your Own Private, Off-Grid Survival Library
This guide reveals the software, hardware, downloads, and setup needed to make hundreds of gigabytes available over local Wi-Fi when the real internet is gone.
By Martin Fernway5 practical DIY stepsNo purchase required
Before buying parts: this is a real, useful project. It also requires a computer, a very large download, compatible hardware, flashing, testing, and ongoing maintenance. Read the shopping list before deciding which route is cheaper for you.
Getting Started | Read this firstStart here first for a quick introduction to your Prepper Disk and some usage tips.
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Ready.govResources for preparation of and response to natural disasters (weather events, fire, and more).
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English WikipediaWikipedia is the world's largest encyclopedia. This version includes over 7 million articles including images.
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World Maps & Satellite PhotosUS and Europe Maps and high-level satellite photos via OpenStreetMap. Use search to find cities/towns with more than 1000 people, or scroll to locate any address.
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MDWiki Medical Encyclopedia with Videos50,000+ healthcare articles from Wikipedia and the Wiki Project Med Foundation.
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wikiHow100,000+ illustrated how-to guides, for practical topics like health, animal care, car care, and more.
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iFixit: The Free Repair ManualiFixit is a global community of people helping each other repair things.
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Project Gutenberg Library in EnglishOver 60,000 classic books and texts.
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Khan Academy LiteKA Lite is the offline version of Khan Academy that includes thousands of learning videos and quizzes.
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Survival and Post-Disaster BookshelfDozens of resources on gardening, cooking, medicine, water purification, knot tying, hunting shelter, and more.
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Prepper Disk Premium ContentExclusive Prepper Disk guides on "Communication in an Emergency" and "How to Survive in the Woods", plus licensed content from recognized survival experts.
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Urgent Answers by Prepper DiskDirect access to curated videos, articles, and ebooks on Fire, Purifying Water, Shelter, First Aid, and Rescue.
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MedlinePlusAdditional health articles from the National Library of Medicine.
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Sustainable Living Stack ExchangeQ&A for folks dedicated to a lifestyle that can be maintained indefinitely without depleting available resources.
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The Great Outdoors Stack ExchangeQ&A for people who love being outdoors enjoying nature and wilderness, and learning about the required skills and equipment.
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Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair Stack ExchangeQ&A for mechanics and DIY enthusiast owners of cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
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Woodworking Stack ExchangeQ&A for professional and amateur woodworkers.
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TED talks on FarmingTED talks on farming topics.
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TED talks on Natural DisastersA variety of TED talk videos on natural disasters and climate.
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Nuclear War Survival SkillsBy Cresson H. Kearny. Lifesaving nuclear facts and self-help instructions.
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Military Medicine BooksA classic collection of scans of military doctrinal and medical instructional manuals.
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WikibooksOpen books for an open world: e-book textbooks from Wikipedia, that anyone can edit.
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Repeater BookFind Repeaters Fast: by Band, Frequency, Location, Features, or Modes.
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Prepper Disk Survival ToolsSurvival tools including a Morse Code Decoder with Signaling, and Emergency Phrase Translator.
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National Park MapsMaps and trail guides for all 63 US National Parks.
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USB file accessConnect a USB to either blue port on the front of your Prepper Disk to make your own files available via the Prepper Disk Wi-Fi.
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SolitaireThe classic card game.
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CreditsThanks to everyone who contributed and curated content used by Internet-in-a-Box, the backbone of Prepper Disk.
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The self-reliance skill
How a Tiny Computer Becomes a Private Emergency Library
Here is the skill: put searchable survival knowledge on a small computer that works without the public internet.
Internet-in-a-Box turns a Raspberry Pi into a local library server. Inside it, Kiwix opens compressed website archives called ZIM files. Nearby phones, tablets, and laptops can browse the collection over private local Wi-Fi.
It does not restore live internet. It gives us a private library that keeps answering after the real internet stops.
This is what we are building toward: open Wi-Fi on the family phone, tap the private library, and see the useful resources arranged in one familiar, scrollable screen.
The clean setup has two jobs:
▣
Raspberry Pi: Wikipedia, medical references, DIY guides, books, and supported video archives.
⌖
Phones: Offline maps stored on each device, where GPS and route guidance are most useful.
Setup checklist
Before We Start: The Beginner Shopping List
For a 512GB-class DIY build, we need the hardware, setup access, and free software below.
Core HardwareThe parts that become the offline library
ItemCostWhere to get it
Wi-Fi Raspberry PiPi 4B or Pi 5 is the simplest current choice$55-$80Official Pi reseller or electronics retailer
Reliable 512GB microSD cardEnough room for the system and archive files$45-$80Memory-card retailer or major electronics store
Correct Pi power supplyMatch it to the exact Raspberry Pi model$12-$18Official Pi reseller or electronics retailer
Protective case with coolingUse a case designed for the selected Pi model$12-$30Pi accessory shop or electronics retailer
microSD card readerRequired if the computer has no compatible slot$8-$20Computer or electronics retailer
Labels, cable, or adapterSmall setup extras vary by the equipment owned$5-$20Office-supply or electronics retailer
What We Already Need Access ToNot included in the estimated hardware cost
ItemCostWhere to get it
Windows, Mac, or Linux computerUsed for downloading files and flashing the cardAlready ownedYour own computer or one you can safely use
Internet connectionNeeded for the initial 500GB+ downloadNot includedHome broadband or another reliable high-speed connection
Phone or tabletUsed to test and browse the finished local libraryAlready ownedAny modern device with Wi-Fi and a web browser
Free Software & InformationThe files are free; preparing them is the project
ItemCostWhere to get it
Raspberry Pi OS and Internet-in-a-BoxCreates the local server, Wi-Fi access, and content-management systemFreeOfficial Raspberry Pi and IIAB documentation
Kiwix ZIM website archivesWikipedia, medical, repair, how-to, and other compressed collectionsFreeIIAB Admin Console and official Kiwix library catalog
Manuals, maps, and public resourcesCollected and organized according to family needsMostly freeGovernment, nonprofit, and public-domain libraries
The core parts land at roughly $135-$250. That excludes the computer, phone or tablet, internet service, and an optional second backup. For a serious library, storage controls the budget.
DIY build
Step 1: Decide What We Need Before Buying Storage
Open the Kiwix Library and price the storage only after we see the archive sizes. ZIM filenames often signal size:
Free Kiwix library catalog
[https://library.kiwix.org/]
[https://library.kiwix.org/]
Direct ZIM archive directory
[https://download.kiwix.org/zim/]
[https://download.kiwix.org/zim/]
- mini: A smaller edition with shortened article content
- nopic: Articles without pictures
- maxi: A larger edition with pictures and fuller content
Start with the smallest library we will actually finish, test, and maintain.
A practical first build:
- Wikipedia in your primary language, using a size that fits your card
- A medical or WikiMed collection
- WikiHow and iFixit, if available in the current catalog for your language
- Ready.gov, FEMA, or other emergency guides available as ZIM content
- A small educational or video collection for testing
Catalogs change. Search by topic, language, and file size instead of copying filenames from an old tutorial.
Choose the archive before the card
miniShorter content and the smallest download
SmallestnopicFuller text without most pictures
MiddlemaxiFuller content and images where available
LargestFile sizes change with every archive update. Check the current catalog before buying storage.
DIY build
Step 2: Flash Raspberry Pi OS Onto the Card
Install Raspberry Pi Imager on the Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. Insert the 512GB microSD card and select Raspberry Pi OS Lite, 64-bit as the operating system.
Official Raspberry Pi Imager instructions ↗https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/computers/getting-started.html#imager-installOpens the official guide in a new tab.
- Choose the correct Raspberry Pi model.
- Select Raspberry Pi OS Lite, 64-bit.
- Open OS customization and create the hostname, username, password, Wi-Fi details, and SSH access needed for setup.
- Select the correct microSD card as the storage destination.
- Confirm Write, then let Imager finish both writing and verification.
Stop and confirm the destination before Write. Imager erases the selected storage device.
Do not remove the card until verification finishes. A partial write can look like a Raspberry Pi or IIAB problem later.
Flash the operating system first
Computer
+ Pi Imager
+ Pi Imager
→
Raspberry Pi OS Lite
64-bit
64-bit
→
512GB microSD
Write + verify
Write + verify
Confirm the destination first. Flashing erases the selected storage device.
DIY build
Step 3: Install Internet-in-a-Box
Insert the finished card into the Raspberry Pi. For this installation, connect the Pi to the router with an Ethernet cable if possible, attach the correct power supply, and let Raspberry Pi OS boot.
Official Internet-in-a-Box installation guide ↗https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-InstallationOpens the maintained IIAB instructions in a new tab.
- Sign in with the username and password created in Raspberry Pi Imager.
- Confirm the Pi can reach the internet before starting the IIAB installer.
- Follow IIAB's current one-line installer instructions and choose the install size that fits the project.
- Leave the Pi powered and connected while the installer adds the server software and Admin Console.
- Reboot when the official guide instructs us to do so.
Plan for more than an hour on a Raspberry Pi. A slower card, weak connection, or larger IIAB install can take longer.
If the installer reports a network interruption, use the troubleshooting and rerun guidance in the official IIAB page rather than starting the whole card over immediately.
Turn the operating system into a library server
INTERNET-IN-A-BOX INSTALLATION
Raspberry Pi OSReady
IIAB server softwareInstall
IIAB Admin ConsoleFinish
Keep power and internet connected until the official installer completes.
DIY build
Step 4: Configure the Services We Actually Need
After IIAB finishes, open its Admin Console from a browser on the same network. The official guide lists the local addresses and current sign-in details.
Official IIAB server-configuration guide ↗https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Installation#configure-the-serverOpens the configuration section in a new tab.
- Change the default Admin Console password first.
- Choose the services, languages, and server options the family will actually use.
- Select Save Configuration.
- Select Install Configured Options.
- Watch the job status until it reports success, then reboot if required.
More services consume more storage, installation time, and maintenance. Build the smallest reliable system that covers the family's real needs.
DIY build
Step 5: Add Your Offline Content
Open the IIAB Admin Console and choose Install Content. Refresh the Kiwix catalog before selecting ZIM files, then add OpenStreetMap data, manuals, PDFs, local media, and other supported content.
Official IIAB Add Content instructions ↗https://github.com/iiab/iiab/wiki/IIAB-Installation#add-contentOpens the content-installation section in a new tab.
Pay attention to the available-space and required-space figures before starting several large downloads. A useful library is not one giant mystery file. It is a deliberate collection the family can actually search and understand.
For every resource below, decide why the family needs it, where the legal source lives, and how it will be tested with the internet disconnected.
Use this as the download checklist. Green resources have a direct free source. Amber resources need a separate app, a manual download, or some curation. Purple resources are already created, licensed, or organized inside the ready-made Prepper Disk and require a DIY substitute.
1
General Knowledge, Repairs, Books, and Education
Free Kiwix download
WikiHow
Why: Its illustrated instructions turn a half-remembered idea into steps we can follow for repairs, shelter, food, sanitation, gardening, and daily problems.
[https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: WikiHow, English.
Free Kiwix download
iFixit Repair Guides
Why: It preserves professional repair walkthroughs for electronics, appliances, vehicles, tools, and other equipment we may not be able to replace.
[https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: iFixit.
Free download
Project Gutenberg
Why: It adds tens of thousands of public-domain books for education, reference, morale, and long-term learning.
[https://www.gutenberg.org/] or [https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: Gutenberg.
Free catalog archives
TED Talks
Why: Selected talks can preserve visual lessons about farming, science, resilience, engineering, and extreme weather.
[https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: TED. Current topics and archive sizes vary.
Free Kiwix download
Stack Exchange Q&A
Why: Thousands of answered questions can help with sustainable living, the outdoors, electronics, mechanics, computing, and highly specific technical problems.
[https://download.kiwix.org/zim/stack_exchange/] Choose only the communities useful to your plan.
Free, separate setup
Khan Academy Lite
Why: Offline courses and quizzes keep math, biology, history, and other education available if schools and normal learning platforms close.
[https://learningequality.org/kolibri/] Download Kolibri, then choose the free learning channels needed for the family's offline classroom.
2
Crisis Response, Medicine, and Survival Skills
Free manual download
Ready.gov and FEMA
Why: Official preparedness material covers weather, biohazards, home fires, evacuation, family planning, and other crisis scenarios.
[https://www.ready.gov/publications] Download the PDFs you want. Also search Ready.gov in the Kiwix catalog.
Free, mixed sources
Medical Wikis and Guides
Why: Medical references help us look up symptoms, medications, first aid, wound care, and clinical background when professional help is delayed.
[https://library.kiwix.org/] Search: medicine and WikiMed. Also Google: MedlinePlus downloadable medical guides and Red Cross first-aid manual PDF.
Free, manual curation
Survival Bookshelf
Why: Military survival manuals, hunting, trapping, foraging, shelter, and post-disaster cooking turn stored supplies into practical capability.
[https://armypubs.army.mil/] Search official field manuals. Also Google: public domain survival, foraging, trapping, and emergency cooking PDF.
Included with Prepper Disk
Ky Furneaux Field Guides
Why: These guides cover fortifying a home, finding water, signaling, and rescue through material produced by a named survival expert.
DIY alternative: Google free home-fortification, water-finding, emergency signaling, and rescue manuals from government or nonprofit sources.
Included with Prepper Disk
Prepper Disk Exclusives
Why: The public page names original ebooks about livestock for survival, woodland survival, and emergency communication.
DIY alternative: Google public-domain livestock survival, woodland survival, and emergency communications manuals, then organize the best legal copies.
Included with Prepper Disk
Instant Answers by Prepper Disk
Why: This curated fast-reference guide surfaces short, ad-free instructional videos that get straight to the action when every second counts.
DIY alternative: search YouTube for first aid, medical, repair, and survival demonstrations from universities, medical centers, and expert survivalists. Save only videos the owner permits us to download.
3
Maps, Radio, and Emergency Communication
Free DIY map route
World Street Maps
Why: Prepper Disk uses OpenStreetMap data so we can study our position, compare roads, locate services, and navigate for ourselves without outside internet.
[https://www.openstreetmap.org/] For a beginner-friendly phone version, install Organic Maps at [https://organicmaps.app/] and download the needed regions.
Free official downloads
National Park Maps
Why: Official park maps preserve trails, roads, boundaries, facilities, and terrain references for remote areas.
[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/gisandmapping/nps-maps.htm] NPS provides 1,000+ free JPEG, PDF, and production maps.
Free official offline app
RepeaterBook HAM Data
Why: Repeater data helps licensed radio users identify nearby repeaters when cell service is unavailable.
[https://www.repeaterbook.com/wiki/doku.php?id=repeaterbook_app] Install the official app and update its database while online. The stored repeater data then works offline.
DIY app required
Morse Code Decoder
Why: A decoder can turn audible or visible Morse signals into readable text when radio communication becomes harder to interpret.
Google: open-source offline Morse audio decoder. Install one locally and test it in airplane mode before adding it to the emergency kit.
Free offline fallback
Emergency Phrase Translator
Why: A focused phrase tool helps communicate urgent needs across several languages without depending on cloud translation.
[https://support.google.com/translate/answer/6142473] Download the needed offline language packs, then save a separate PDF of essential medical and emergency phrases.
The Shortcut After the Full DIY Plan
Want the Same Capability Without Building It?
The DIY route works. It also means sourcing hardware, matching images, calculating storage, downloading hundreds of gigabytes, flashing the card, organizing files, and testing every category.
If we enjoy that kind of project, this guide gives us the starting point.
But the capability matters more than the project. Our families need access to the answers, not another unfinished technical hobby.
Prepper Disk puts a 512GB offline survival library on a Raspberry Pi 4B that fits in a jacket pocket, glove box, or bug-out bag.
Give it power, join its private Wi-Fi from a phone, tablet, or laptop, and start searching. Up to 20 devices can connect at once.
When the grid is dark, we can still pull up medical references, repair guides, OpenStreetMap data, Instant Answers, and millions of searchable articles. The knowledge is already stashed.
See the 512GB Survival Library →512GB preloaded | Up to 20 devices | No subscription | 60-day money-back guarantee
What the Ready-Made Route Changes
Instead of Building It → Get It Delivered to Your Doorstep
Prepper Disk packages the publicly listed library, curated preparedness material, and its exclusive resources into one tested 512GB system.
Files are already downloaded and organized
Private Wi-Fi is already configured
Up to 20 devices can connect
Support, updates, warranty, and guarantee included
The Ready-Made Setup
Power It. Join Its Wi-Fi. Search in About 60 Seconds.
Step 1: Give It Compatible Power
Use the included USB-C supply, or a compatible vehicle outlet, portable battery, or solar generator.
Step 2: Join the Private Wi-Fi
From a phone, tablet, or laptop, join PrepperDisk. No cell service, satellite, or subscription is required.
Step 3: Open the Library
Enter the local address and start searching. Up to 20 devices can connect at once.
The Honest Side-by-Side
Doing It Yourself Versus Buying It Ready-Made
DIY is a real option and it deserves a fair comparison. It wins on starting price. The ready-made route wins when we count time, completeness, support, and protection if anything goes wrong.
| What We Compare | DIY | Prepper Disk |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | ✓$135-$250 | ×$279 |
| Ready in about 60 seconds | × | ✓ |
| No 500GB+ download | × | ✓ |
| Free public archives | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reference maps for self-navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exclusive Prepper Disk material and tools | × | ✓ |
| Updates and support | × | ✓ |
| Hardware warranty | × | ✓ |
| 60-day risk-free trial | × | ✓ |
The price difference can become surprisingly small. If a from-scratch DIY build reaches the upper estimate of $250, Prepper Disk starts only $29 higher at $279. If we already own suitable parts, DIY can be meaningfully cheaper. If we value the 5-30 hours, the finished library, support, warranty, and 60-day guarantee, the ready-made route can be the better value.
Choose How Much of the Build You Want Done
Skip the Downloads. Choose Your Ready-Made Starting Point.
After seeing every step, there are two practical shortcuts. Get the complete Prepper Disk with the hardware included, or load the finished library onto a Raspberry Pi you already own.
Hardware + Library Included
Prepper Disk Premium 512GB
The complete offline library system arrives assembled, configured, and ready to serve the household.
- Raspberry Pi hardware is included and configured
- 512GB survival library is already loaded and organized
- Power it, join its Wi-Fi, and browse in about 60 seconds
- Connect up to 20 phones, tablets, and computers
- 60-day money-back guarantee and 1-year hardware warranty
Complete device | Ships from Massachusetts, USA
Bring Your Own Raspberry Pi
Preloaded Premium 512GB SD Card
Already own compatible hardware? Skip the IIAB configuration, giant downloads, and archive organization.
- Premium 512GB SanDisk Ultra card arrives preloaded
- Includes the core Prepper Disk content and features
- Avoid the 500GB+ download and manual content setup
- Minimum Raspberry Pi 3B required; Raspberry Pi 4 recommended
- Content can be updated through the included web console
Important: Raspberry Pi hardware is not included. The card requires activation and can be linked to one Raspberry Pi at a time.
See the Preloaded SD CardSoftware and library card only | Compatible Raspberry Pi required