Migrating a working RetroPie setup to the new Stretch image

BuZz

@shadowron on retropie /home/pi/.kodi is a symlink to /opt/retropie/configs/ports/kodi (so we keep all our configs together) - the home directory can be moved across completely from an old install to a new also. Or updating retropie packages will put the symlinks back.

Shadowron

@buzz Didn't know that, but it explains why i had issues. Will remove reply. Thanks for correcting me... again.

BuZz

@shadowron rather than removing you can ~~strike through it~~ - (two tildes) makes the conversation flow more logical.

UDb23

If someone (like me) has created custom systems, related paths should be backed up also.

Is there any Pi tool or script to be used for this kind of file backup and restore ?

pjft

@udb23 what do you mean - and how did you create - them?

The ES custom collections are stored in /home/pi/.emulationstation/collections so that's one I mentioned there.

Anything else you had in mind?

UDb23

@pjft Not related to custom collections. You can create your own system in emulationstation as shown in the link.
E.g. I created the VIC-20 system (basically added a modified C64 system with own runcommand and logo); requires also changes to the theme.

Just rechecked and if you keep the system and customized theme in the usual folders they will be under /configs/ so backing all subfolders already will include these customisations.

UDb23

Also backing up installed overlays should be considered; usually in:
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/overlays/arcade-bezels/

pjft

@udb23 good catch. I thought these would be under configs?

ganondork

They are, these folders just worked fine for me, except I get a blackscreen after cutting the power without shutting down before, but that is another tale to tell.

UDb23

@pjft Thats's were they are usually suggested to be saved.
Still everybody installing them manually is free to decide where to place overlays by editing overlay specific CFGs accordingly.

pjft

@udb23 Thanks. Added a note on that and a few other bits and bobs that I had since noticed in my upgrade.

UDb23

@pjft Do you have a script to perform this file backup and restore ? It could be useful to me too :-)

pjft

@udb23 I certainly don't. I mostly plug the second SD card to the USB port with a reader, run

df

to check what USB device it's on (sda, sdb), and then assuming it's sdbfor the sake of this exercise, and I'm currently running the Jessie pi, I'd run:

sudo mkdir /backupmnt
sudo mount /dev/sdb2 /backupmnt
rsync --dry-run --delete --partial --ignore-errors  -avzh <source path> /backupmnt/<destpath parent folder>

and, if all went well, then I'd run the rsync command without dry-run.

I only learned after a few tests that if I ran, for instance,

sudo rsync --delete --partial --ignore-errors  -avzh /opt/retropie/configs /backupmnt/opt/retropie/configs

That it'd create a configs folder under the destination path, so for that case I need to run

sudo rsync --delete --partial --ignore-errors  -avzh /opt/retropie/configs /backupmnt/opt/retropie/

Still, when you run with --dry-run it'll list you the files it'll copy over and the ones it'll delete, so you'll have a sense of whether it sounds right. This will only copy new or modified files, and delete existing ones in the destination that don't exist in the source.

Remember to unmount it in the end :)

Happy to chat further about it if it helps.

EDIT: for clarity, I run the rsync command for each of the folders.

UDb23

@pjft Thanks a lot. Really good to know!

g0nz0uk

Hi - I need to undertake this task. I am using 4.3 and the image took about 6 months to perfect, I love it. However I don't want to get left behind so need to plan to upgrade.

I think the best mode is to buy a new SD card and copy over, however how are you copying the directories from 1 SD to another? I did think to wireless connect to the PI and copy the directories off using Explorer.

mitu

@g0nz0uk Copying the folders over using your PC is the easiest way - after enabling the Wifi on the Pi.

Dwarfboysim

Hi,
With backing up your rims, bios etc and then restoring them to the new install did u have to manually re-setup your name control configuration or was that contained in the backup?

Thanks,
Dwarfboysim

pjft

@Dwarfboysim the controllers and control mappings will be in the emulation station folders, and part in the RetroPie configs one - both mentioned in the first post. Did you backup and restore those folders?

Dwarfboysim

Hi,
I actually followed a guide to upgrade to stretch and deploy 4.4 over my existing setup. All looks to be running well.