Autostart function not working

Razak

@mitu My joystick/gamepad does not have Start + Select mapped to it. I tried the Start+Select keys on the keyboard and I still can't quit out of the game.

mitu

In this case I suggest you install the alternate Atari 2600 emulator (stella) and try to use it with both a keyboard and the Atari controller.

Razak

@mitu Thanks! Are there any instructions out there for this?

Did you mean install Stella within the Retropie/emulationstation system or independent of it?

mitu

@Razak You can install additional emulators from the RetroPie setup menu - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Updating-RetroPie/#using-the-retropie-setup-script - stella should be in the optional packages. Once installed, you can ue the Runcommand launch menu to change the emulator when the game starts.

Razak

@mitu Gotcha. When I tried to install from source, I got the following error:

Error running 'tar -xv -J -c /home/pi/Retropie-Setup/tmp/build/stella--strip-components 1' returned 2'

When I go into Package help, I get this message:

copy your Atari 2600 ROM to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atari2600

How do I do that? Through the RetroPie setup or someplace else?

mitu

@Razak said in Autostart function not working:

Error running 'tar -xv -J -c /home/pi/Retropie-Setup/tmp/build/stella--strip-components 1' returned 2'

Hm, I'll check if there's an error with the package.

When I go into Package help, I get this message:
copy your Atari 2600 ROM to /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atari2600
How do I do that? Through the RetroPie setup or someplace else?

Transferring ROMs is explained the the getting started Docs. The folder /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atari2600 is shares in the network (Samba shares, as explained in the doc) as \\retropie\roms\atari2600.

EDIT: it doesn't seem to be an error with the package source - is your PI system connected to the internet/network ?

Razak

@mitu D'oh, the pi is not connected to internet. I don't want it to be connected to wi-fi... but I guess it's okay temporarily for installing Stella?

Clyde

@Razak It depends on whether your Pi is behind a router with a firewall, then it should be safe without further measures. If the Pi is directly connected to the Internet (e.g. with a modem without a firewall), you should change the password for the user Pi to a safe one (three links) with the command passwd in Retropie's command shell that you land in if you press F4 in Emulation Station. You exit the shell and return to ES with the command exit.

Razak

Hi @mitu @Clyde

So I verified in the file manager that my ROM is in the /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atari2600 folder, and I'm now connected to a wifi network.

When I go into Retropie -setup, and attempt to install Stella from source, I'm still getting the following error:
Error running 'tar -xv -J -c /home/pi/Retropie-Setup/tmp/build/stella--strip-components 1' returned 2'

Then, it tells me to check the logs at
/home/pi/retropie-setup/logs/rps_2019_04_20_002846.log.gz

When I go there through the file manager, I get this:

*Installing dependencies for 'stella' : Atari2600 emulator STELLA
/home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/tmp/build/stella /home/pi

Getting sources for 'stella' : Atari26000 emulator STELLA

xz: (stdin): file format not recognized
tar: Child returned status 1
tar: Error is not recoverable: exiting now
/home/pi
Error running 'tar -xv -J -C /home/pi/RetroPie-Setup/tmp/build/stella --strip-components 1' -returned 2*

Any thoughts on what may be happening?

mitu

@Razak said in Autostart function not working:

Any thoughts on what may be happening?

The error indicates that the emulator's archive is corrupted and you're still not connected to the internet to download. You can check by exiting Emulationstation, and typing at the command line

ping retropie.org.uk

If you get a reply, then it means you're connected, otherwise you may be just connected to Wifi, but without internet access.

Razak

@mitu The emulator archive meaning the ROM?

I pinged the retropie site and got no response. :(

Is there a way of installing Stella as an optional package that does not necessitate that I get on the internet?

I'm attempting to jump on a public wifi network and it's giving me the error describe above, while my other option is to get on a network that requires I authenticate myself using a username and password.

mitu

The emulator archive meaning the ROM?

No, I mean file containing the emulator, packed and compressed (archive), which should be downloaded from either the RetroPie site, if you're using a binary installation.

Is there a way of installing Stella as an optional package that does not necessitate that I get on the internet?

No, you need to connect to the internet.

Clyde

@Razak said in Autostart function not working:

I'm attempting to jump on a public wifi network and it's giving me the error describe above, while my other option is to get on a network that requires I authenticate myself using a username and password.

The easiest way would be to connect your Pi with an Ethernet cable to an internet router with a built-in firewall. Then you should be able to install any packages you want. Is that an option?

If not, please explain in detail how your "attepting to jump on a public wifi network", why that doesn't work (errors in detail, please), and what other network you're trying to connect to that asks for authentication.

Finally, please put any quoted output in a code block like @mitu did with the ping command. See https://commonmark.org/help/ on how to do that in this forum.

It's much more readible this way. ;)

Razak

@Clyde

I was wondering how to do block quotes on here. Thank you for clearing this up for me and providing a link! :)

Okay, so I connected the pi to the Internet using an Ethernet cable and was able to download Stella as an optional package. It now says 'installed' next Stella. Great.

Should I now go to autostart or runcommand on the Retropie-Setup script menu?

And if I manually edit the runcommand script, should it now read like so:

/opt/retropie/supplementary/runcommand/runcommand.sh 0 _SYS_ lr-stella /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/atari2600/Yar_rev.bin
emuluationstation #auto

mitu

@Razak If it's installed, then boot to Emulationstation, run the game and then use the Runcommand launch menu to choose stella as the default emulator for atari2600 system. You won't have to modify the autostart file, just leave it as is, runcommand will choose the correct emulator.

In stella, you can press Tab on the keyboard to access the configuration menu and map your inputs the way you want.

Razak

Hey @mitu
When you say boot to Emulationstation, do you mean through the GUI/booting up the pi as normal or through the commandline?

I was able to see the runcommand launch screen, like in the picture below a few days ago, but for some reason I can't anymore. I changed the runcommand on the Retropie-Setup back to

emulationstation #auto

Clyde

@Razak said in Autostart function not working:

Hey @mitu
When you say boot to Emulationstation, do you mean through the GUI/booting up the pi as normal or through the commandline?

Though I'm not @mitu, it shouldn't matter as long as you don't add custom commands to your autostart.sh.

I was able to see the runcommand launch screen, like in the picture below a few days ago, but for some reason I can't anymore.

Any chance that you've disabled it? See here how to check on that: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Runcommand/#configuring-runcommand

Razak

@mitu Nevermind. Just realized that the runcommand launch menu was disabled on Emulationstation.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOU'RE AN ANGEL!!

Razak

@Clyde You too, Clyde! Thanks a million for your patience!!!

Razak

Wait, wait. I'm a bit confused.

After using the runcommand launch menu to choose stella as the default emulator for atari2600, do I have to go back to the retropie-setup menu to manually edit the autostart script of emulationstation?

I'm still not booting up to my game. I want for the pi to boot directly into the game and eliminate the emulationstation and/or retropie splash screens or console menus.