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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Error Initializing SDL!

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    sdl failed initialize vmware debian
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    • S
      SuperSirLink
      last edited by

      Hi All, hoping someone can point me in the right direction...

      Installed Debian 8 in a VM running in Fusion on my MacBook Pro. After doing a basic install using the RetroPie script, I can not launch EmulationStation...
      Getting this when trying to launch it:

      lvl10:     Error initializing SDL!
                No available video device
lvl10:     Renderer failed to initialize!
lvl10:     Window failed to initialize!

      Based on my reading EmulationStation would conflict if another GUI that uses SDL is installed, I did not install x or any desktop environment... The only other issue I could think of is that this is due to running in a VMware virtual machine...

      What can I do to troubleshoot this?

      herb_fargusH damanbairdD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • herb_fargusH
        herb_fargus administrators @SuperSirLink
        last edited by

        @SuperSirLink you need x on x86 builds.

        If you read the documentation it will answer 99% of your questions: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

        Also if you want a solution to your problems read this first: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          SuperSirLink
          last edited by SuperSirLink

          I am thinking this has to be a case of Debian not seeing the virtual graphics card... But not sure...

          I have xorg installed already and trying again simply states I have the latest version...

          Edit... Do I need a full desktop environment like KDE or Gnome? Was hoping to set it up to behave like a Pi...

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            SuperSirLink
            last edited by SuperSirLink

            I did another install and chose to install the Debian desktop, I can run startx now and launch into a desktop... I disabled booting into the desktop and rebooted... But I still can't launch emulation station...

            I can launch emulation station from within the desktop environment though... So is this the only way? Guessing when you said you needed X it was more than just having it installed? You have to launch from X?

            I wanted to mimic the behavior of having it installed on a Pi...

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              baconicsynergy
              last edited by

              I have a RP3, and I get this exact same error message when attempting to start from an already running x session. Booting to CLI and starting it works fine, however.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • damanbairdD
                damanbaird @SuperSirLink
                last edited by

                @supersirlink lets compare notes... youre doing something similar to what i am... https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12037/building-on-ubuntu-server-16-04

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