EmulationStation not loading / Error finding/creating filedata

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 15:04

I changed my RPi 4’s resolution, played few games, rebooted. Now ES won’t boot and all I can see is a screen with the ‘error finding/creating filedata for “.”, skipping’. What do I do?

RPi 4 4GB
Power Supply: official
Roms on: external 2TB drive
External accessories: USB drive, 2 gamepads, keyboard, mouse
RetroPie script version: updated 2 weeks ago

Screen: https://ibb.co/QDq6nDD

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 15:39

@gordonfreemanjr The skipped folders are: Daphne and Ports. I don’t get it: it worked fine, I didn’t touch them since.

Anyway, I can’t run EmulationStation now.

mitu · 29 Jan 2021, 16:16

@gordonfreemanjr Post the complete es_log.txt to pastebin.com.

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 16:32

@mitu Here it is: https://pastebin.com/0uh1xsS4

mitu · 29 Jan 2021, 16:39

It doesn't seem like a problem that would be created just by changing the resolution, more like a Daphne system issue. Rename the daphne rom folder and try again.

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 16:41

@mitu Should I rename the actual folder only? Nothing in the config files or the Skyscraper file structure?

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 16:45

@gordonfreemanjr Also, there was smth about the PORTS folder. I have only one game there: Cave Story. Again, worked fine, didn't touch it since.

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 16:55

@mitu Ok, I've changed the "daphe" rom folder name to "daphne1", rebooted. For a while the Pi is stuck on a black screen, then the ES fails to load again, however the Daphne related error message has disappeared; how there's only the one related to the Ports rom folder.

mitu · 29 Jan 2021, 17:40

For the Daphne system, I've seen this kind of error before, since you're supposed to habe a .daphne folder, not a .daphne file. But for Ports, I don't see why the error appears.

Could it be some permission issue ? Did you use the root account to change permissions (apart form configuring the video) ?

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 17:49

@mitu Update: I tried changing the Ports folder name to Ports1 and rebooting. Not the black screen doesn't go away and the ES doesn't even start to boot.

I'm thinking: F4, RetroPie-Setup and reinstallation of Daphne and Ports emulators.

As for your question: no, I haven't done anything involving the root command before the problem occurred.

The Daphne system was fine: it was working OK and the ES used to boot up reading it perfectly. I have done nothing to mess that up. Literally the only thing I did prior to this was changing the resolution to make Amiga games run better.

mitu · 29 Jan 2021, 17:57

@gordonfreemanjr In this case, un-do the changes to config.txt for resolution.

gordonfreemanjr · 29 Jan 2021, 19:09

@mitu This is my current config.txt:

https://pastebin.com/vumk3nX3

What do I do?

(I changed the resolution settings from the EmuationStation GUI).

mitu · 29 Jan 2021, 20:01

@gordonfreemanjr I think you need to comment out the hdmi_group and hdmi_mode options - just add a # at the beginning of the line where they are present.

gordonfreemanjr · 30 Jan 2021, 08:24

@mitu Thanks, but I don't seem to be able to that. I can't use the File Manager to paste the corrected config.txt over the old one to /boot, as the folder is apparently protected. I can access the old file with File Manager though, but editing is with Nano is a bit over my head. Also, the hash key apparently inputs the pound symbol instead of the hash symbol. The copy/paste technique also doesn't seem to work.

EDIT: I tried browsing the SD card from my PC, but accoring to my Ubuntu the BOOT folder is empty.

gordonfreemanjr · 30 Jan 2021, 12:46

@mitu Ok, I’ve managed to edit the config.txt file. No effect, same situation: the ES isn’t booting up with the finding/creating filedata error.

gordonfreemanjr · 30 Jan 2021, 12:58

@mitu Ok, I didn’t manage to edit the config.txt, as my changes are not saving. I am using the sudo command and Nano even asked me if I want to overwrite the config.txt. I reboot, the problem prevails. I check the config.txt: it’s unedited, despite the previous edits. I’m in the dark here.

EDIT: Made it! I’ve commented the HDMI settings out and... no effect. Same error, the ES won’t boot. Also, the resolution makes absolutely no sense now: Retropie is now in this tiny rectangle in the top left corner of my TV.

gordonfreemanjr · 30 Jan 2021, 19:43

@mitu I tried sudo raspi-config to change the resolution. There are way less resolution options available than before the RetroPie went to hell. I tried few options, same results. The ES won’t boot.

As far as I’m concerned, I have two options left:
a. uninstall Daphne and Ports emulators and rebuild them.
b. wipe the SD card and start over

The B option is tempting.

gordonfreemanjr · 31 Jan 2021, 13:51

OK, here are some final words:

I tried reinstalling Daphne and Ports emulators, which did nothing
I wiped the SD card and started over.

After that, I attempted an experiment: with the RPi shiny and new, I changed the resolution with Raspi-Config and rebooted. The EmulationStation never came back. Apparently, in my case, changing the RetroPie resolution is a death sentence. For any reason, you'll never see your ES again.

Case closed.