Failed saving config to /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg

[Kookamunga]

I know this topic is old, but I have been struggling with this same issue today, and I think I have found a way to make it work.
1.) Load the game on the console of your choice
2.) Bring up the RetroArch menu, starting out in the Quick Menu
3.) Select "Close Content", this will stop the game from running, bringing you to just the RetroArch menu, saying "No items." Press the back/cancel button on your controller.
4.) Go to Settings -> Input -> Hotkey Binds
5.) Make the changes you want, then back out until you hit the main screen that says "Load Core" at the top. On this screen select "Configuration File"
6.) Select "Save Current Configuration". It should say saved new configuration somewhere on the bottom.
7.) Back out until you see "Quit Retroarch" on the bottom, select this.
8.) Load up the game again, try out your hotkeys.

You will have to do this for all consoles separately, as they each have their own core RetroArch config file.

[bostonjon34]

@Kookamunga said in Failed saving config to /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg:

1.) Load the game on the console of your choice
2.) Bring up the RetroArch menu, starting out in the Quick Menu
3.) Select "Close Content", this will stop the game from running, bringing you to just the RetroArch menu, saying "No items." Press the back/cancel button on your controller.
4.) Go to Settings -> Input -> Hotkey Binds
5.) Make the changes you want, then back out until you hit the main screen that says "Load Core" at the top. On this screen select "Configuration File"
6.) Select "Save Current Configuration". It should say saved new configuration somewhere on the bottom.
7.) Back out until you see "Quit Retroarch" on the bottom, select this.
8.) Load up the game again, try out your hotkeys.
You will have to do this for all consoles separately, as they each have their own core RetroArch config file.

WOW! This actually worked. I have spent weeks trying to figure out why I couldn't save configs! You are a genius! Only thing now tho that doesnt make sense, why can't we do this in game in Retroarch? I'm using Retropie on a Pi4 4gb, and nothing ever saves in RA when I try to do save current config or save core override. I have seen tons of YouTube where people save current config fine in game so this leaves me baffled.

[mitu]

@bostonjon34 said in Failed saving config to /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg:

I'm using Retropie on a Pi4 4gb, and nothing ever saves in RA when I try to do save current config or save core override. I have seen tons of YouTube where people save current config fine in game so this leaves me baffled.

This looks like a file permission issue. If you'd like to diagnose this, please open a new topic and provide the info requested in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.

[Kookamunga]

@bostonjon34
It seems to behave this way on Android and Windows as well. I think it kind of operates separately once a rom is loaded, locking itself away from the main instance of Retroarch in a way, hence the ability to save per game overrides. This of course is just speculation on my part.

[krullbeast]

@Kookamunga thank you! This works!!! i really appreciate it!

[Bk2Xxclusive]

@kookamunga Wow bro. Thanks so much. Can't believe that did the trick. 👍🍻

[mahuti]

Old post, but to solve this, I removed the core options as mentioned, and I also went into /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/config/MAME 2003-plus/ directory and deleted everything in it (luckily for me it was just 'MAME 2003-plus.opts" arcade.cfg and frogger.cfg files as I hadn't configured much of anything. I assume deleting arcade.cfg is all I really needed to do, but whatever. I nuked the contents of that folder and the retroarch-core-options.cfg (or whatever it was called) and then it was fine.

[CheeezeBurgers]

@kookamunga said in Failed saving config to /opt/retropie/configs/psx/retroarch.cfg:

I know this topic is old, but I have been struggling with this same issue today, and I think I have found a way to make it work.
1.) Load the game on the console of your choice
2.) Bring up the RetroArch menu, starting out in the Quick Menu
3.) Select "Close Content", this will stop the game from running, bringing you to just the RetroArch menu, saying "No items." Press the back/cancel button on your controller.
4.) Go to Settings -> Input -> Hotkey Binds
5.) Make the changes you want, then back out until you hit the main screen that says "Load Core" at the top. On this screen select "Configuration File"
6.) Select "Save Current Configuration". It should say saved new configuration somewhere on the bottom.
7.) Back out until you see "Quit Retroarch" on the bottom, select this.
8.) Load up the game again, try out your hotkeys.

You will have to do this for all consoles separately, as they each have their own core RetroArch config file.

OMG! You are my Hero!!! This was driving me insane! Your solution finally works!!

I really would like to know how this happens in the first place and WHY?!

I really hope someone can make a more easy ELI5 explanation as this one: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/22816/guide-retroarch-system-emulator-core-and-rom-config-files

Would be much appreciated!

[Kookamunga]

@cheeezeburgers I'm glad this is still helping people. I still think that once you load a game, it somehow changes the core config file to read only, or somehow locks part of it out in the process of emulation, hence when closing the game while still running the emulator, this works. But this is just a theory. Retroarch seems to do this on the PC as well.

[LouF]

@kookamunga This worked for me too. Thx!
A lingeringing issue: one hotkey bind is acting doubley. E.g. I switched Reset and Take Screenshot, but now my new screenshot takes a picture AND resets the game; I figure it's from an additional configuration, somewhere.

[hhcasey]

I'm working to change the video settings in retroarch to best fit to the bezelproject artwork. I have about 400 games in MAME 2010 and had them all working fine then something happened and now, like others, I get the "Failed saving config to "/opt/retropie/configs/mame-libretro/retroarch.cfg" error message.

I've tried deleting the retroarch.cfg file
I've checked permissions and they're pi:pi

I've tried the suggestions listed here and it seems like most of the suggestions here, and over at the retroarch discord are just "try this and cross your fingers."

Surely someone knows what's going on and how to fix it.

pi model: 3b+, 128gb micro sd
power supply: 5.1v 3a
RetroPie version: 4.8
Built from: scratch
USB devices connected: Ultimarc I-PAC Ultimate I/O
Controller used: Ultimarc I-PAC set to keyboard emulation
Error messages received: Failed saving config to "/opt/retropie/configs/mame-libretro/retroarch.cfg
File: retroarch
Emulator: mame 2010