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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

    Black screen loading roms

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    roms
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    • L
      ljshooter @dankcushions
      last edited by

      @dankcushions sorry I did try to remember and cover most of the answers in my post but failed so copy and pasted this time.
      Pi Model or other hardware: (B,)
      Power Supply used: (3.5 Amp micro usb)
      RetroPie Version Used (4.3 base image from RetroPie.org):
      Built From: (as above)
      USB Devices connected: standard keyboard
      Controller used: PS4
      Error messages received: none
      Log found in /dev/shm/runcommand.log (if relevant): no errors
      Guide used: (RetroPie.org first time setup)
      File: (All roms in folder RetroPie/roms/megadrive)
      Emulator(I have tried picodrive, Genesis-plus-gx and dgen)

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        ljshooter @ljshooter
        last edited by ljshooter

        Additionally have now tried some SNES roms and a new image (motion blue v5 from arcadepunks) with the same result. My instincts tell me this is a display / resolution issue but I can’t see why. The pie is connected to a 1080p monitor capable of the resolutions and refresh rate being asked of it but it still feels that way.

        quicksilverQ jonnykeshJ 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote -2
        • quicksilverQ
          quicksilver @ljshooter
          last edited by

          @ljshooter no one here will be able to help you with that image. Use the one on the retropie website. If you suspect a display issue. Do you have a different tv you can test on?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • jonnykeshJ
            jonnykesh @ljshooter
            last edited by

            @ljshooter Nope, nobody here is gonna help you figure out that crap!
            You are just complicating your problem using those awful images.
            Run this in the terminal and post the results tvservice -m CEA
            This will tell you what your TV supports and what the preferred resolution is.

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              ljshooter @jonnykesh
              last edited by

              @jonnykesh my monitor is my PC monitor and is capable of 1080p and obviously a lot in between. The thing is the first image I used was from RetroPie.org and was a vanilla RetroPie with nothing added and I got the same result. I will of course run the script tomorrow when I can get back on but I am not entirely sure it is a display option. With a hotkey I can load up Retroarch menus fine after launching a rom (no idea if it helps to know that or not). Retroarch reports it is running at between 58 and 60fps etc so it kind of feels like something is running but if the issue was display only i could have expected sound? If I have got this far is it possible to be a dodgy board?

              jonnykeshJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • jonnykeshJ
                jonnykesh @ljshooter
                last edited by jonnykesh

                @ljshooter Then run tvservice -m DMT for monitors. Have you actually bothered to google any of this?

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                  ljshooter @jonnykesh
                  last edited by

                  @jonnykesh I have googled a fair amount but as I stated using terms like ‘black screen’ and ‘roms not loading’ is throwing up so many unrelated posts. This is day 3 if trying to sort before I have asked for help and I do genuinely appreciate all advice. Will let you know what the results are.

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                  • L
                    ljshooter
                    last edited by

                    @jonnykesh So I managed to squeeze in a few minutes before leaving the house to test the resolutions as suggested. (typing this so forgive any typos and slightly shorthand) I have tried a lot of resolutions in a random kind of way so I cant say with certainty I have tried all options below but I am 99% certain I tried all the 19201080 options... Anyway thanks to @jonnykesh I can probably be a bit more logical about my testing tonight.
                    Mode 4: 648
                    480 @ 60hz, clock 25mhz
                    Mode 6: 648480 @ 75hz, clock 31mhz
                    Mode 8: 800
                    600 @ 56hz, clock 36mhz
                    Mode 9: 800600 @ 60hz, clock 40mhz
                    Mode 10: 800
                    600 @ 72hz, clock 50mhz
                    mode 11: 800600 @ 49hz, clock 49mhz
                    Mode 16: 1024
                    768 @ 60hz, clock 65mhz
                    Mode 17: 1024768 @ 70hz, clock 75mhz
                    Mode 18: 1024
                    768 @ 75hz, clock 78mhz
                    Mode 21: 1152864 @ 75hz, clock 108mhz
                    Mode 28: 1200
                    800 @ 60hz, clock 83mhz
                    Mode 32: 1200960 @ 60hz, clock 108mhz
                    Mode 35: 1200
                    1024 @ 60hz, clock 108mhz
                    Mode 36: 12001024 @ 75hz, clock 135mhz
                    Mode 47: 1440
                    900@ 60hz, clock 106mhz
                    Mode 58: 16801050 @ 60mhz, clock 146mhz
                    Mode 82: 1920
                    1080 @ 60hz, clock 148mhz
                    mode 85: 1280*720 @ 60hz, clock 74mhz

                    I know I keep throwing in additional info and I am sorry but might be worth mentioning that when I started this days ago I was working on my main TV and I was getting a black screen after the ES loader screen which at the time I put down to a bad image but it now has me wondering if there really is an underlying issue with the Pie and what it is outputting

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                    • L
                      ljshooter @jonnykesh
                      last edited by

                      @jonnykesh I have now reverted back to the stock image from RetroPie.org and tired a few of resolutions in my list with the same result. I am at a bit of a loss as to what the issue could be? Perhaps my guess at resolution issues is incorrect.... if anyone can suggest any other possible things to explore to resolve I would be very grateful. TIA

                      quicksilverQ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • quicksilverQ
                        quicksilver @ljshooter
                        last edited by

                        @ljshooter You are connecting through HDMI correct? Can you try out a different cable? Can you please provide which games and emulator you are trying to use? What file format are your roms? You have tried connecting to a different display?

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                          ljshooter @quicksilver
                          last edited by

                          @quicksilver @quicksilver thanks for replying so quickly. I have tried a couple of hdmi’s as I have moved from main tv to pc monitor. I think I listed the emulators earlier but it was picodrive, dgen and genesis-plus-gfx. In terms of games it is columns 1 & 3, Alex the kid, castle of illusion, castle Anna and Aladdin. I have now also tried all variants of the SNES9x emulator with the exact same outcome (obviously different roms). I would upload a video to here if it was an option but it wouldn’t show much more than me selecting a rom and then a black screen. As I say the hotkeys button can bring up some what I assume are Retroarch info’s like load state and state slot? I can also bring up the Retroarch options after selecting a rom by using the hotkeys and they display fine

                          quicksilverQ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • quicksilverQ
                            quicksilver @ljshooter
                            last edited by

                            @ljshooter Which image is this from? I dont think dgen is included by default anymore and has to be installed through optional packages. Did all your roms come from one source?

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                            • L
                              ljshooter @quicksilver
                              last edited by

                              @quicksilver dgen was an optional package when the others failed yes (that said I don’t even get as far as a black screen before it shells me back to the list of roms). The image is RetroPie-4.3-rpi2_rpi3.img
                              All roms did come from one source yes but they do work on other platforms (eg Retroarch on Android as well as on my softmod PSP)

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                              • L
                                ljshooter @quicksilver
                                last edited by

                                @quicksilver I think I might just send the pie back and get another... I am at the point of thinking this is a hardware issue

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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