Manual install on top of Buster Full

mitu

Use raspi-config and configure the system to auto-login to the console. If EmulationStation doesn't start automatically after a reboot, then use the setup script to enable the autostart of EmulationStation - see https://retropie.org.uk/docs/FAQ/#how-do-i-boot-to-the-desktop-or-kodi.

LogicalUnit

@mitu so what I'm actually trying to set up is a Raspberry Pi with a desktop which I can use for web browsing and other apps, that can also run EmulationStation alongside SteamLink. When I boot, I would like to see the desktop. If I want to use EmulationStation, I would like to be able to enter a command or bash script that will switch over to RetroPie mode. When I'm finished, I'd like to be able to go back to the desktop.

Is this possible or am I just crazy?

mitu

@LogicalUnit said in Manual install on top of Buster Full:

Is this possible or am I just crazy?

It's possible - just need to find out how.

onebitcpu

I found this on the forum, but have not tried it:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12713/run-emulationstation-from-x-script

For my own setup I run boot into emulationstation, and launch a separate vnc desktop from /etc/rc.local with this command:
su pi -c vncserver :1 >/dev/null 2>&1 &

I can then use vnc to server:5901 to get a desktop when needed for file downloads or updates.

Both my pi's run headless, and everything is done via ssh or vnc

YFZdude

This is interesting. I have used a PC to run a fresh install of Ubuntu and just launched emulationstation from a terminal and it worked fine. Granted it was not a Pi so that could make a difference but my PC didn't seem to hesitate running ES just fine when launched from the desktop environment.

I've also done it from a VM install of Ubuntu. It never occurred to me that I would have to kill the desktop before launching.

Edit: The downside I discovered when running from the VM was the audio was delayed about a half second from the video images.

mitu

@YFZdude said in Manual install on top of Buster Full:

This is interesting. I have used a PC to run a fresh install of Ubuntu and just launched emulationstation from a terminal and it worked fine.

On a PC, EmulationStation is meant to be run from a desktop environment - but not on a PI.

LogicalUnit

Does anyone have a suggestion for where I might find out how to do this? I've Googled the error but didn't learn much.

IceChes1

You can always use startx to start the desktop from the text console.
My pi works fine with this configuration. I am not sure why your is messing up. My personal favorite fix to everything: copy your /home/pi/Retropie folder to your PC and then reinstall. Then reinstall Retropie, delete the new /home/pi/Retropie folder and replace it with the old one.

IceChes1

Did I say reinstall twice? Oops.

LogicalUnit

Okay, I've made some progress. By running sudo raspi-config, I was able to go into Boot Options and switch to Console Autologin. Now when I boot the pi, I get a command prompt. From there, if I want the desktop, I run startx. When I'm done with the desktop, I can exit to command line. If I want EmulationStation, I just run emulationstation. Again, when I'm done, I can exit back to command line. Great!

My next issue is that I have a USB stick with a folder called retropie-mount. In here I have various ROMs and save state files. When I use the normal RetroPie image, all these ROMs are detected and added to EmulationStation. But right now, it's not finding any of them. Any idea how to make EmulationStation search a USB stick for ROMs?

mitu

@LogicalUnit You need to install and enable the usbromservice package from the RetroPie-Setup, it's in the optional packages section.

LogicalUnit

@mitu awesome, that did the trick! I now have RetroPie, SteamLink, and Linux desktop all running on Raspberry Pi :)