Generic USB Joystick not working in Retroarch

[jas51384]

Pi Model or other hardware: PC, POP! OS 21.10 on a ASUS M5A97, AMD 8350, 16GB DDR3 1600, Asus Nvidia 960, PNY SSD
RetroPie Version Used (eg 3.6, 3.8.1, 4.1 - do not write latest): 4.7.21
Built From: git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup.git
USB Devices connected: Keyboard, Mouse, Bluetooth adapter 4.0
Controller used: 8Bitdo SN30Pro, Generic USB Joystick (USB N64 Controller)
Error messages received: Generic USB Joystick not configured

The USB joystick configured and works fine in Emulationstation but when I launch any rom when Retroarch loads I get the message that the Generic USB Joystick is not configured. I've tried to configure it manually but it still says the same message and doesn't work. I've been using a fresh install and have been at it for a few days now and can't find a solution. There has to be a way to manually enter the info required to configure this joystick. Any information is appreciated.

John

[mitu]

If you configured the joystick in ES and it works, it should have saved a RetroArch configuration profile in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads - a .cfg name with the same name.

The reason it's not working with RetroArch may be the joystick's name - RetroArch is detecting a name that could be different than what ES has named the .cfg file. Can you run the following command (with the joystick plugged in) and post the output ?

cat /proc/bus/input/devices

Post also the contents of the .cfg file for the gamepad that ES has saved in /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads.

[Impman66]

@jas51384 I had a similar issue, as @mitu says if you can (Best way is to load WinSCP on your PC/laptop and connect to pie that way, but you have to quit ES first (F4 on keyboard). Navigate to the /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads folder and check the joystick is correct. If not look in the udev folder and it should be in there, simply copy it from there and paste it in the folder above, deleting if necessary the wrong one. That is what I had to do.
Also, if you go to the Setup Menu in ES Options, and select Retroarch, then when it opens, go to Settings/Controls/Port 1 Binds it will show you what device Retroarch is looking for - I did this to find out it was the wrong one!

Hope it helps a little

[jas51384]

Oddly enough, I downgraded the OS to 20.04 LTS and reinstalled Retropie. After this everything seems to be working fine right now. I think the newer OS's are using something that messes up the usb on the PC's or it's trying newer stuff. Either way it's currently working and if it happens again I know to check the name of the cfg files and contents to make sure they match between retroarch and emulationstation.

[mitu]

@jas51384 It's probably this issue ?

If it's so, then you don't need to downgrade, you just need to rename the .cfg file and it will be fine.

[jas51384]

@mitu I will remember that and now have a thread to fall back on if I forget in the future. Thank You