Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2

rasp_renegade

Hello. I have gotten my RetroFlag in the GPI Case 2 running using the Raspberry Pie Imager after running rpiboot. (CM4 with EMMC storage). Normally I would just install an image and go from there but now I am stuck without network. How can I connect to my WIFI network with just this base image Raspberry Pi OS Lite?

G30FF

@rasp_renegade Add the config.txt patch from Retroflag's website in order to boot using the built in LCD screen. That should get you into RetroPie, and from there you can set up as you would do with any other RetroPie built.

rasp_renegade

@G30FF

How could I upload with no network though? I cheated though and installed the full image with the desktop. I am in to process of installing retropie and will uninstall the desktop once I am done. This should work yes?

G30FF

@rasp_renegade You should use the method you used to install the full image to the CM4. If you were using an SD card, you would flash the card, mount the card (which gives you access to the /boot partition), and then install the Retroflag patch in that directory (which replaces the default config.txt). I'm not sure what method you use to flash the EMMC, but you would need to install it that way.

Alternatively, if you use an official IO board to flash the CM4, then use the IO board's HDMI to connect to a TV, set up RetroPie, configure WiFi, install the necessary scripts, and then transfer the CM4 to the GPi Case 2.

rasp_renegade

@G30FF

That image in the Pi Imager v1.7.2 must not be supported. When running the Basic Install in RetroPie-Setup.sh, ES among some others fails. =( Im like a disappointed kid at Christmas. I am so eager to get this thing running.

I need to do some research. Here are two of the errors in the output of the Basic Install:

G30FF

@rasp_renegade This is getting a bit out of my wheelhouse, as I've only set up a Pi CM4 Lite with the case before. Sorry!

mitu

@rasp_renegade said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

That image in the Pi Imager v1.7.2 must not be supported

Which image did you install ? The latest RPI OS ('bullseye') is not supported by the RetroPie setup script.

Why not install the RetroPie image and then add the RetroFlag configurations, as @G30FF suggested ? Looking at the files they distribute, it looks like it just adds a few things to the /boot/config.txt. Make a backup of the original config.txt file and use config.txt they provide for RetroPie.

rasp_renegade

@mitu

Yes it is supported, just not the images I tried. This one seemed to work.

But I am stuck in ES waiting to configure a controller. Gamepad, USB controller, nor keyboard are recognized. Now I have network I can ssh and copy the config file

mitu

@rasp_renegade said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

Yes it is supported, just not the images I tried.

No, 'bullseye' is not supported by RetroPie, hence the errors you posted above.

This one seemed to work.

Could be, but that's not RetroPie or RasPI OS.

rasp_renegade

@mitu said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

Could be, but that's not RetroPie or RasPI OS.

Sorry that was not what I intended to send! This is the one. Is it correct?

It is booting into RetroPie just fine but stuck at EmulationStation asking to press F4 or configure a controller. I tried botting with controller and keyboard plugged in and also unplugged and reconnected. And I was wrong, I cannot get network since I was not prompted to connect to the WIFI.

rasp_renegade

@mitu said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

No, 'bullseye' is not supported by RetroPie, hence the errors you posted above.

Very strange. I also tried to install these two and like the previous image, I get no response to inputs. Controller, keyboard or onboard gamepad.

Thought something had gone wrong with the dock itself. I installed Bullseye again as a test and the keyboard works. Is it that the Buster image is missing the drivers that is in Bullseye?

mitu

@rasp_renegade said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

Is it that the Buster image is missing the drivers that is in Bullseye?

Could be, though RetroFlag advertises is has support for RetroPie 4.7.1, so they must have tested it with the 'buster' release that RetroPie uses.

And I was wrong, I cannot get network since I was not prompted to connect to the WIFI.

Try using the unattended WiFi configuration method - https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Wifi/#connecting-to-wifi-without-a-keyboard_1. You can also choose the WiFi/SSH options in RPI Imager, using the advanced options menu.

rasp_renegade

This post is deleted!

G30FF

@rasp_renegade You'll probably have to set it up without the dock at first. That's how I did mine.

To flash the image, you should use this method: https://www.reddit.com/r/retroflag_gpi/comments/s2nd1e/comment/hy6qyz8/

To sum it up:

Install rpiboot
Plug the GPi case in to your computer with the included micro USB cable, using the port under the cartridge cover. That will allow your computer to see the CM4's EMMC storage as a USB drive.
Use Etcher or whatever other utility you prefer to flash the EMMC storage with the official RetroPie 4/400 image from retropie.org.uk.
Reconnect the GPi case after flashing the image. You should see the /boot partition mounted as a drive on your computer.
Install the Retroflag case patch as per their instructions.
Unplug your case.
Boot up the GPi case and perform first time setup for the RetroPie installation. ie, map the controller, set your wifi country, etc.
Connect to wifi through the RetroPie settings page.
Connect a keyboard to the USB-C port on the GPi case. You might be able to do this with the dock, otherwise you will need a USB type A to type C adapter most likely, or a bluetooth keyboard.
Quit ES
Install the GPi Case Script (https://github.com/RetroFlag/GPiCase2-Script)
Reboot the GPi
You're done

Booting the Pi up while docked or undocked will cause it to run the case script to determine which config.txt to use and set it up to use HDMI or the built in screen. It will also set up safe shutdown.

rasp_renegade

@G30FF

That is the method I used. Everything works except for input device drivers.

Raspberry Pi imager v1.7.2 images just fine. The problem is that only BullsEye is recognizing input devices. I even found the old version of Buster (retropie-buster-4.7.1-rpi4_400) that is supposed to be supported but it does the same thing. Boots all the way into Emulationstation but stuck at the controller config menu. Keyboard, controller, nor onboard gamepad get a response.

In this state I have no control since the WIFI is not connected so cannot even SSH in.

G30FF

@rasp_renegade You should try flashing it with the official image from RetroPie instead of Raspberry Pi Imager. I've had luck using that image myself.

mitu

@G30FF The RPI imager downloads the exact same RetroPie image from https://retropie.org.uk/download.

G30FF

@mitu My mistake.

@rasp_renegade I suggest you try configuring wifi using a wpa_supplicant.conf file. You can add that to the /boot partition. That would get you online. Plugging a USB keyboard into the port on the bottom of the GPi would let you quit ES (F4), and then access RetroPie-Setup, or raspi-config.

It is possible that your case is defective, and the controller doesn't actually work. The case's controller is an xinput device, and that should be readily supported OOTB by RetroPie. If you can plug in a keyboard and get to the terminal, try running jstest to see if the controller actually works.

rasp_renegade

@G30FF said in Help with new install on CM4 GPI Case 2:

@mitu My mistake.

@rasp_renegade I suggest you try configuring wifi using a wpa_supplicant.conf file. You can add that to the /boot partition. That would get you online. Plugging a USB keyboard into the port on the bottom of the GPi would let you quit ES (F4), and then access RetroPie-Setup, or raspi-config.

It is possible that your case is defective, and the controller doesn't actually work. The case's controller is an xinput device, and that should be readily supported OOTB by RetroPie. If you can plug in a keyboard and get to the terminal, try running jstest to see if the controller actually works.

I have no SSH capability to manipulate files, without having network

Keep in mind that the case is perfectly fine, since the keyboard works with BullsEye. In any other OS I cannot press F4 on the keyboard because no input device responds.

Recap:
-Installed Bullseye through Raspberry Pi Imager v1.72. Keyboard works, but nothing else without support of this OS.
-Installed Buster (with and without desktop) through Raspberry Pi Imager v1.72. Boots into RetroPie but no keyboard.
-Installed RetroPie 4.8 (RPI 4/400) through Raspberry Pi Imager v1.72. Boots into RetroPie but no keyboard.
-Installed Buster v4.7.1 with WIN32DiskImager (utility I always used before the CM4). Boots into RetroPie but no keyboard.

Is there another method I should also try?

My CM4 is #CM4108032

G30FF

@rasp_renegade How are you connecting your keyboard to the case? Using the dock, or using a USB Type A to Type C connector?