Gamepad Detected but not accepting any buttons held (keyboard works)

[bipolarexpress]

have been through a lot of forums and most of them have solutions that do not relate to my current bind. I am running ubuntu server 16.04 on a mid 2009ish macbook pro. I dont know if that is relevant but after installing retropie and getting everything else set up I can run retropie/emulationstation fine, but the first window for button config doest work with my gamepad, its an 8bitdo snes style gamepad. If I hold space bar it registers my keyboard input and proceeds, and it registers that my gamepad is there "gamepad detected. But no input, installed evtest and it detects my controller and button input. My gamepad works flawlessly with my raspberry pi too, so if its not the controller or the computer, did I fuck up my install somehow? Is it a compatibility issue with TWM somehow? I'm so lost, I tried really hard to figure this out on my own but I need help. I also tried a different controller that also works with my raspberry pi rig and same deal. It can detect the gamepads but not their output/input.

[mitu]

@bipolarexpress https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first - you didn't specify which release you're using and how are you connecting your gamepad (Bluetooth / USB ?).
TWM has nothing to do with your gamepad detection, if jstest or evtest detects your controller, it should be fine.

[Paul90]

Same issue I have the raspberry pi 3, installed retropi 4.4 and tried to connect the red spider gamepad but it would not detect it through bluetooth or wired keyboard works fine tho also I cannot seem to get the terimal open in 4.4 any suggestions?

[mitu]

@paul90 You have to pair the gamepad first if using Bluetooth, it's not the same as an USB controller - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Bluetooth-Controller/.

[Paul90]

@mitu makes sense but I cant get the terminal to open either any suggestions?

[mitu]

@paul90 Did you read the docs I mentioned ? You don't need access to a terminal.

The simplest way of setting up a Bluetooth controller is through the Bluetooth Configuration menu of the RetroPie Setup script. There are also manual methods that may vary depending on what Bluetooth controller you are using, some of which are described further below on this page.

You can access the bluetooth configuration menu from the RetroPie Menu of EmulationStation. It can also be accessed from RetroPie-Setup Script >> Setup >> Configure Bluetooth Devices

[bipolarexpress]

I am using usb sorry, and my version is the latest, I assume, as I just downloaded it yesterday from github. is there a way to check the exact version? and yeah... it should, but it doesn't?

[mitu]

@bipolarexpress When you open the RetroPie setup script from Emulationstation, the version is shown at the top of the screen

[bipolarexpress]

@mitu Version: 4.4

[bipolarexpress]

@mitu and if I bring up the main menu it says EMULATIONSTATION V2.7.5RP

[mitu]

@bipolarexpress Ok, so your gamepad does not get paired via BT, then it's a BT problem with the communication between the macbook and the 8bit controller, until you resolve this, there's nothing that Emulationstation can detect and configure.

[bipolarexpress]

@mitu why would the bluetooth effect a usb connection? and that should mean it would still work with a different usb controller without bluetooth, but it doesn't.
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[mitu]

@bipolarexpress Sorry, I was under the impression that you're trying using BT. Does jstest detect your buttons/d-pad (see https://retropie.org.uk/docs/RetroArch-Configuration/#determining-button-values) ?

[bipolarexpress]

@mitu all good yeah it does either usb or BT I use it as usb though. and just tested it yes it does it registers everything

[bipolarexpress]

So if evtest and jstest register why would retropie not? :s makes no sense to me

[bipolarexpress]

Okay so I did some more tests and I've narrowed it down slightly. The problem seems to only occur when running it on the SD card as I decided to test it on the hardrive, and also with a graphical install. I'm thinking it's a Mac problem I don't know why it would make a difference which drive I use especially as evtest still reads it but next I'm going to try it with a different laptop from the SD port if that works I'll know for sure it's the Mac and I guess I'll just have to use a harddrive.

[mitu]

@bipolarexpress I would try with a more recent Ubuntu distro. Even if the install page lists 16.04 as a requirement, it would work with 17.10 - maybe some bugs related to the platform have been fixed on the linux side.

[bipolarexpress]

@mitu okay, cool I'll give that a shot. Cheers.