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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

    Fried Pi?

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    • t_mitchT
      t_mitch
      last edited by

      My Raspberry Pi loaded with RetroPie won't boot. I plug in the power and the red led comes on, but the green one does not. There's no output to my monitor. Trying to connect over SSH I get the message "host does not exist."

      I tried re-imaging my SD card with Etcher and I get the same result.

      The Pi was working and running RetroPie for a few weeks.

      Is my Pi fried? Can that happen?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mituM
        mitu Global Moderator
        last edited by

        Looks like a bad SD card. Red light means power is on, but not green light means that the the system cannot be booted from the card - see https://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting#Red_power_LED_is_on.2C_green_LED_does_not_flash.2C_nothing_on_display for some analysis and some troubleshooting steps.

        t_mitchT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • EfriimE
          Efriim
          last edited by Efriim

          What is the model of pi?
          what is the power supply used?
          and
          what image are you using, the one hosted on retropie.org for 0/1 or 2/3 are recommended here.

          t_mitchT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • t_mitchT
            t_mitch @Efriim
            last edited by

            Pi 3b + Power supply came with my phone. It's been working, but I tried another just in case.

            Not sure about the image. I just followed the Retro Pie setup guide.

            EfriimE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • t_mitchT
              t_mitch @mitu
              last edited by

              @mitu said in Fried Pi?:

              Looks like a bad SD card. Red light means power is on, but not green light means that the the system cannot be booted from the card - see https://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting#Red_power_LED_is_on.2C_green_LED_does_not_flash.2C_nothing_on_display for some analysis and some troubleshooting steps.

              I can access the Sd card from Windows and was able to re image it. But I'll see if I have a spare to test with.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • EfriimE
                Efriim @t_mitch
                last edited by Efriim

                @t_mitch
                It could be the powersupply. A phone charger wont often supply 5v 2.5a which is what you need.
                I can't explain why a phone charger worked some times, but sometimes it will.

                Somewhere on the charger head you should be able to read the output voltage/amperage, sometimes it is really difficult to read like on motorola chargers.

                t_mitchT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • t_mitchT
                  t_mitch @Efriim
                  last edited by

                  @Efriim said in Fried Pi?:

                  @t_mitch
                  It could be the powersupply. A phone charger wont often supply 5v 2.5a which is what you need.
                  I can't explain why a phone charger worked some times, but sometimes it will.

                  Somewhere on the charger head you should be able to read the output voltage/amperage, sometimes it is really difficult to read like on motorola chargers.

                  It's 5V 2.0A

                  BuZzB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • BuZzB
                    BuZz administrators @t_mitch
                    last edited by

                    @t_mitch that's not sufficient for a RPI3. I recommend the official PSU.

                    To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

                    t_mitchT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • t_mitchT
                      t_mitch @BuZz
                      last edited by

                      @BuZz said in Fried Pi?:

                      @t_mitch that's not sufficient for a RPI3. I recommend the official PSU.

                      Ok. I don't understand why it'd work for weeks and then suddenly stop. But I'll get an official PSU.

                      t_mitchT lostlessL 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • t_mitchT
                        t_mitch @t_mitch
                        last edited by

                        BTW tried a different SD card with no luck. I've ordered another Pi3 just in case and a power supply.

                        EfriimE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • wmarcioW
                          wmarcio
                          last edited by wmarcio

                          U can boot a usb linux Lubuntu on a normal pc, and xplorer the sdcard from there?

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • EfriimE
                            Efriim @t_mitch
                            last edited by Efriim

                            @t_mitch
                            The pis are pretty resilient. Phone chargers are never recommended, my motorola says
                            5V 3A or
                            9V 1.6A or
                            12V 1.2A
                            and it does not work. Okay it works, but it gives a constant low voltage warning.

                            I would recommend either of these two power supplies
                            Argon One Power Supply. I think the user reviews are fake which turns me off but not many others compare to its definition.
                            Raspberry Pi Official Power Supply. I havent heard anything bad about these, I don't know why I couldn't find this when I was searching for a PSU.

                            The ratings and grades for powersupplies are dependant on loose variables, where it says 5V 2.5A it is not always accurate to the usage.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • lostlessL
                              lostless @t_mitch
                              last edited by lostless

                              @t_mitch said in Fried Pi?:

                              @BuZz said in Fried Pi?:

                              @t_mitch that's not sufficient for a RPI3. I recommend the official PSU.

                              Ok. I don't understand why it'd work for weeks and then suddenly stop. But I'll get an official PSU.

                              Possible the low voltage caused corruption on the SD card. Not enough that you can’t read from it, but a file that just did not write properly.

                              t_mitchT 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • G
                                grant2258 Banned
                                last edited by

                                i would recommend a better charger but at saying that try another usb cable as well see if it boots. Cheap cables even with a decent charger cause issues as well.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • t_mitchT
                                  t_mitch @lostless
                                  last edited by

                                  @lostless said in Fried Pi?:

                                  @t_mitch said in Fried Pi?:

                                  @BuZz said in Fried Pi?:

                                  @t_mitch that's not sufficient for a RPI3. I recommend the official PSU.

                                  Ok. I don't understand why it'd work for weeks and then suddenly stop. But I'll get an official PSU.

                                  Possible the low voltage caused corruption on the SD card. Not enough that you can’t read from it, but a file that just did not write properly.

                                  Already tried a different SD card. Didn't help.

                                  New Pi a power supply on the way.

                                  ByteThisB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • ByteThisB
                                    ByteThis @t_mitch
                                    last edited by

                                    @t_mitch Hopefully you just bought a new power supply..no pi. The pi is very resilient.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • t_mitchT
                                      t_mitch
                                      last edited by t_mitch

                                      New power supply didn't fix it. Popped the SD card out and put it into a new Pi B-3 and I got the blinky green light. Don't know what happened to my original Pi but it was clearly fried.

                                      Normally I like fried pie. Especially apple. But in this case, not so much.

                                      EfriimE 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • EfriimE
                                        Efriim @t_mitch
                                        last edited by

                                        @t_mitch
                                        That is unfortunate, maybe there is something on warranty, I think the Pi's have been successful they may be agreeable if you tell them. 5V 2A isn't far out of the level guidelines if this is what caused it, while it says nowhere to use a phonecharger, there are HP chargers and others replacements that are often used.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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