RetroPie on Pi Zero - EmulationStation problem

Duppensztein

Hi,
firstly - sorry if my english isn't too great. I'm not a native speaker, but I'll try to describe my problem as best as I can.

A few years ago I bought a Pi Zero (not W, the base model). I used it for retro gaming - and everything was working fine. Controllers, keyboards, etc. - as power supply, I used a smartphone adapter.

Then I bought PS Classic - and moved my retro gaming needs to that platoform.

Fast fortward to 2021 - and my friend asks me, If he could borrow my old PiZero to play some NES games. "Sure, i'll configure it for You"- i said, not realizing, what a headache it will be.

So i've got a brand new SD card (16 GB), and got on retropie website. I downloaded PiZero image and followed instructions - everything seemed to work - the Pi Zero booted, I saw RetroPie logo, EmulationStation started.... and a screen with no controllers connected appeared.

So, I connected an Xbox One controller via USB adapter (MicroUsb-to Usb) , pressed the Xbox Controller logo (it lights up) - but still - the screen with no controllers connected stayed as it was.

I tried connecting and pushing buttons on few controllers:

a pair of DualShock 4 - not working either.
PSX controller via chinese adapter - not working (It worked few years ago!)
a pair of Xbox one Controllers with/without batteries - not working
USB Keyboard (not working, and it works fine connected to a laptop. If I remember correctly, it also worked with Pi Zero years ago).

Then i realised - maybe the microUSB-USB adapter is not working?
I connected it to a smartphone, slided a pendrive in - phone recognised it. - Adapter works

Maybe it's a USB Cable problem? - tried dozen of these.

So, I thought - maybe Smartphone Power Supply is insufficient. I ordered a dedicated one for Pi Zero:
IN: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz
OUT: 5V / 2,5 A

The problem remained.

So, I tried writing RetroPie image with Win32 Disk Imager

The problem remained.

I'm running out of options here. The Pi Zero worked flawlessy a few years back. I remember installation method was different but it worked.

I hope You guys can help me see where the problem is...

mitu

If the keyboard is not working, then your USB port may not be working or the connection is not reliable (unlikely since it works on another system). Pressing F4 in EmulationStaton should stop it and let you logged in at the command prompt - does this work ?

johangrimm

@duppensztein I had the EXACT same problem and it turned out to be a simple matter of swapping USB-ports on the Zero. Now I run power on the right one (next to the short end) and keyboard on the left one (more in the centre) and it worked.

I have seen no info about this elsewhere but perhaps this is "known to all" but newbies (including me)

sleve_mcdichael

@johangrimm said in RetroPie on Pi Zero - EmulationStation problem:

@duppensztein I had the EXACT same problem and it turned out to be a simple matter of swapping USB-ports on the Zero.

So wait, can it be powered through either one, then? I knew the one port was power-only and no data, so I just assumed the other one then was data-only. But you're saying it still powered up when they were switched, just couldn't read the inputs?

johangrimm

@sleve_mcdichael yep! I missed out that it actually is printed out on the board and it booted up when I powered on the wrong input i.e. power in on the USB-port. But there's no USB I/O on the power inlet port. Low-level-mistake, caused me some googling hahaha