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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

    Can my usb device have data on it already?

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    • cyperghostC
      cyperghost @mediamogul
      last edited by

      @mediamogul
      No no... you were not taunting me :)
      No problem

      mediamogulM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mediamogulM
        mediamogul Global Moderator @cyperghost
        last edited by

        @cyperghost

        Ah, good. I can still call myself a "Bikini Inspector" though, right? ;)

        RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

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        • dankcushionsD
          dankcushions Global Moderator @cyperghost
          last edited by

          @cyperghost said in Can my usb device have data on it already?:

          @mediamogul

          ahhh yes.... I totally agree.
          To avoid the fact that only with linking on a fat32 device the file permissions are gone and you're unable to launch bash files, then just edit the es_systems.cfgand add a bash next to the <command>y section. Then you're allowed to execute bash scripts even on linked fat32 device.

          would this have a side-effect for people not using fat32/mapped drives? seems like a useful default if not!

          As I said, linking to the roms folder is just a neat solution and you don't have to be being a linux professional :)

          it's how I used to do it :) I think they're much the same in terms of results and number of steps. interested to hear from any "Linux professionals" as to what is actually 'best'

          cyperghostC mediamogulM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
          • cyperghostC
            cyperghost @dankcushions
            last edited by cyperghost

            @dankcushions afaik as I know - No.
            Because it does not matter how you execute a shell-script. I know 3 ways in doing this

            • chmod -x and direkt call via ./script.sh
            • bash script.sh
            • sh script.sh

            Both sh und bash are shells. I do not know which one is better, but so far everthing is working as long as the sh or bash package is installed.

            As you see FAT32 does not know file permissions, so you can not CHMOD a FAT32 script. Exceptions of this rule apply, if you do the mounting per fstab :) So I also think we can use this behaviour as standard. I am also sure this would work on NTFS, any UNIX-FS can be CHMODed. FAT32 gives the great chance to transfer huge files (ISO Images) directly to needed device by just plugging a USB-Stick to your PC.

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            • mediamogulM
              mediamogul Global Moderator @dankcushions
              last edited by mediamogul

              @dankcushions said in Can my usb device have data on it already?:

              I think they're much the same in terms of results

              The only exception to this would be the elements in RetroPie that don't entirely reference the es_systems.cfg file for rom location. When any technical issues arise, it will always be a good idea to mention that this particular method of rom migration was used in order to expedite the troubleshooting process. As far as I know, these issues will only come up when using the Amiga emulators, BasiliskII, Daphne, DOSBox, ScummVM and possibly a few of the ports, but it's still worth noting.

              RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

              dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • dankcushionsD
                dankcushions Global Moderator @mediamogul
                last edited by

                @mediamogul can you be more specific ? which method has a problem with direct rom locations - mounting USB as /home/pi/RetroPie, symbolic linking USB as /home/pi/Retropie, or both?

                cyperghostC mediamogulM 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • cyperghostC
                  cyperghost @dankcushions
                  last edited by cyperghost

                  @dankcushions Well I think he talks about the issues in searching errors via this forum.
                  There are several ways to change the location to the roms.

                  1. use fstab
                  2. change the es_system.cfg
                  3. use symbolic link

                  but you have always tell the forum members what you have done and what kind of file format on your usb-stick you are using. If there are some issues with the linking, then it will be the Amiga, Daphne, DosBox, ScummVM and Ports. I can only admit, that the Ports work flawless if you add to the es_system.cfg a BASH or SH command.

                  Usually 99% of the users use the Console Emulators so there are no issues and linking is an easy way in handling ROMS.

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                  • mediamogulM
                    mediamogul Global Moderator @dankcushions
                    last edited by mediamogul

                    @dankcushions

                    which method has a problem with direct rom locations

                    Neither actually. I thought you were making reference to simply altering the es_systems.cfgfile, which I admit kind of surprised me. Both mounting and sym-linking an external roms folder to ~/RetroPie/roms should of course work in any situation imaginable. I misread an earlier post and was continuing on with the same misunderstanding here. Sorry for the confusion.

                    RetroPie v4.5 • RPi3 Model B • 5.1V 2.5A PSU • 16GB SanDisk microSD • 512GB External Drive

                    dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • dankcushionsD
                      dankcushions Global Moderator @mediamogul
                      last edited by

                      @mediamogul said in Can my usb device have data on it already?:

                      @dankcushions

                      which method has a problem with direct rom locations

                      Neither actually. I thought you were making reference to simply altering the es_systems.cfgfile, which I admit kind of surprised me. Both mounting and sym-linking an external roms folder to ~/RetroPie/roms should of course work in any situation imaginable. I misread an earlier post and was continuing on with the same misunderstanding here. Sorry for the confusion.

                      thought so :) that's fine.

                      to confirm, the only know downsides to the recommended method:

                      • bash issue mentioned above (i'm still not sure that applies to direct mounting, or whether there's any side effect if it was a default for ALL retropie installs)
                      • can't use internal symlinks on FAT32 drive (eg, the way latest advmame symlinks /RetroPie/roms/arcade/advmame/cfg/ to /RetroPie/roms/mame-advmame/cfg/(etc)

                      editing es_systems.cfg is not recommended for a bunch of reasons, but using a symlink is probably ok

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                      • cyperghostC
                        cyperghost
                        last edited by

                        Can we pin this post? Or add the symlinking inkl. bash to the wiki?
                        The info in this thread seems to be very valueable.

                        dankcushionsD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • dankcushionsD
                          dankcushions Global Moderator @cyperghost
                          last edited by

                          @cyperghost said in Can my usb device have data on it already?:

                          Can we pin this post? Or add the symlinking inkl. bash to the wiki?
                          The info in this thread seems to be very valueable.

                          personally i'd prefer we only have one method of mounting USB drives in the wiki so less to support. no point having two if they both achieve the same thing.

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