RPI4 USB / file updating issue

Dan1300

Everytime I plug in my back up USB to lets say re-transfer ROMs back to the Pi it updates all of my folders in the ROMs section for some reason. As much as I love learning Linux on the fly and mastering the mv and mkdir commands, this is beyond annoying and can I turn it off.

I did a few different Google searches and came up with NADA useful.

For example: I was moving all NES files out of their perspective folders and into the main NES folder so once I click the game it's not tiered but right to the game the 1st click. Another is my Arcade folder also was 100% working games and now I got to re-scrub it again for the millionth time because it added a bunch of non working games back in (glad I got an Excel sheet).

Everything is updated ect so I know its not an issue with updates.

As always, thanks in advance.

Pi Model: Pi 4 Model B Rev1.4
Revision: d03114
or other hardware: BCM2711
Power Supply used: Canna PI 4 starter MAX kit
RetroPie Version Used: Linux 10, Retropie 5.4.51-v7l+ #1333 SMP Mon Aug 10, 2020
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: wireless Logitech mouse, Vilros PS controller, Macally full keyboard
Controller used: Vilros PS cntrlr

mitu

I'm not sure I fully get the issue - you're re-arranging your ROM folders locally and then using the USB transfer messes it up in some way ? Can you give an example ?

Note that the easiest method - if your Pi is networked - is to use file shares to transfer ROMs, see https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/#samba-shares.

Dan1300

@mitu - sadly I may have been super scatter brained trying to get a silly controller to work wirelessly but that's a different thread.

I am fixing the files locally so the file structure is easier to access the games within ROM folder.

For example: Super Mario Bros had it's own folder within the NES folder so when you clicked Super Mario you had to make a 2nd click to get the game to load. I took that extra step out.

The issue is when I plug in my backup USB drive it updates all the folders all over again on the existing file structure. So to tie this in to prior, all those folders I got rid of are back so now I have double the games with half of the folders.

Any better explanation?

mitu

@dan1300 I see. Once transferred, you don't need to keep the folders on your USB drive, copy only what you want to transfer.

Dan1300

@mitu It keeps it live though, in the desktop area. For example... I plug in my USB, move what I need and then the drive locks out because it's updating the rest of the folders which I don't want.

mitu

@dan1300 I don't understand - are you moving files manually from the USB disk (on your Pi) or are you using the automatic USB ROM transfer method ?

Dan1300

@mitu Yes manually. The USB I treat like a standard ext HD for backing up files. Nothing is automated at all and everything is drag and drop.

mitu

The automatic USB transfer method works if it finds a folder named retropie on the USB disk, otherwise it does nothing. If you want to transfer you ROMs manually, then name your folder(s) differently.

Dan1300

@mitu LOL... Don't I feel like an idiot... Figured it was something silly and it is.