Retroarch Menu is not shown anymore

[daubsi]

Hi there, after tweaking/repairing my retroarch.cfg (see https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/33151/from-where-is-retroarch-cfg-seeded/4?_=1660835597724) I can no longer show the retroarch menu by pressing the assigned key "tab". I am using an ipac2 in keyboard mode and wired all buttons accordingly (i.e. the 2A button sends a "tab" key press). The strange thing is: it worked for some time after tweaking the config, but now the menu is not shown anymore and I need to killall retroarch from a SSH session in order to return to emulationstation.

I double checked the "tab" key is not assigned twice in the config and also input_menu_toggle is not mentioned twice and input_enable_hotkey = nul. I've also already checked the wiring to the ipac2 in order to be sure it's not a weak contact. Everything seems fine.

I have no core specific override.
Can someone spot the issue with my config?

I uploaded the config to pastebin in order not to pollute this post with too much config detail: https://pastebin.com/GBQL185E

total 220
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    116 Aug 23  2016 AM-Start.sh
drwxrwxrwx 14 pi pi   4096 Aug 12 13:35 attractmode
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    268 Aug 12 13:41 autoconf.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    115 Aug 12 15:38 autostart.sh
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    180 Aug 12 08:52 backends.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    197 Aug 14 09:32 content_history.lpl
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    197 Aug 14 09:32 content_image_history.lpl
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    197 Aug 14 09:32 content_music_history.lpl
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    197 Aug 14 09:32 content_video_history.lpl
drwxr-xr-x  7 pi pi   4096 Aug 14 11:55 emulationstation
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi     41 Jun  9  2019 emulators.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi     25 Aug 22  2016 ES-Start.sh
drwxr-xr-x 20 pi pi   4096 Aug 14 16:31 retroarch
-rw-------  1 pi pi 109264 Aug 18 14:54 retroarch.cfg
-rw-------  1 pi pi  33813 Aug 14 11:12 retroarch.cfg.rp-dist
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi   7675 Aug 12 08:56 retroarch-core-options.cfg
lrwxrwxrwx  1 pi pi     46 Aug 12 13:41 retroarch-joypads -> /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/autoconfig
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi     70 Aug 23  2016 runcommand.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi   2871 Aug 19  2016 runcommand-launch-dialog.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi    111 Aug 22  2016 scraper.cfg
-rw-r--r--  1 pi pi     21 Aug 13 20:19 splashscreen.cfg
pi@retropie:/opt/retropie/configs/all $ cd /opt/retropie/configs/fba/
pi@retropie:/opt/retropie/configs/fba $ ls -l
total 76
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   195 Aug 19  2016  capex.cfg
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi 12571 Aug 18 15:10  content_history.lpl
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   411 Aug 12 12:52  content_image_history.lpl
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   197 Aug 12 12:52  content_music_history.lpl
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   197 Aug 12 12:52  content_video_history.lpl
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   445 Aug 13 12:06  emulators.cfg
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   947 Aug 14 12:22  fba2x.cfg
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi  1069 Aug 12 13:41  fba2x.cfg.rp-dist
drwxr-x--- 2 pi pi  4096 Jan 15  2017 'FB Alpha'
drwxr-x--- 2 pi pi  4096 Aug 12 12:52 'FinalBurn Neo'
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi   562 Aug 14 12:23  retroarch.cfg
-rw------- 1 pi pi   220 Aug 12 13:42  retroarch.cfg.rp-dist
-rw-r--r-- 1 pi pi 15017 Jul 16  2018  retroarch-core-options.cfg
pi@retropie:/opt/retropie/configs/fba $ cat retroarch.cfg
content_favorites_path = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/content_favorites.lpl"
content_history_path = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/content_history.lpl"
content_image_history_path = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/content_image_history.lpl"
content_music_history_path = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/content_music_history.lpl"
content_video_history_path = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba/content_video_history.lpl"
input_remapping_directory = "/opt/retropie/configs/fba"
libretro_directory = "/opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-fbneo"
#include "/opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg"

[windg]

It looks that you use the inside save mechanism of RetroArch to save your settings. This modify the retroarch.cfg with a bad way and create issues.

It is preferable to use the Configuration Editor or modify the retroarch.cfg directly from the terminal

In this path :

/opt/retropie/configs/all

you will find this file : retroarch.cfg.rp-dist . Rename it to retroarch.cfg and you will recover the damaged file.
`

[sleve_mcdichael]

@daubsi said in Retroarch Menu is not shown anymore:

Hi there, after tweaking/repairing my retroarch.cfg (see https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/33151/from-where-is-retroarch-cfg-seeded/4?_=1660835597724)

I don't think it worked.

https://pastebin.com/GBQL185E

This is not the default cfg.rp-dist file.

[daubsi]

@sleve_mcdichael Well, yes, that’s true. This is my already customized file I used for the past years but had copied it over to every core. That’s what I described in the other thread. The current retroarch.cfg file is basically already set the way I want it - I just don’t see why the menu is (no longer) shown when I press the TAB key. At first I thought I had a input_enable_hotkey set, but that’s not the case. Is there anything else which could have that effect that I am missing?

[daubsi]

@windg What let’s you assume I used an internal mechanisms to save the file? I assume all
“autosave” features are now disabled. Is there any setting saying otherwise? I use vi/the console to edit the file only right now.

[mitu]

I've loaded the .cfg file you posted and the Tab key still works for opening the menu. What core are you starting/using ? I have tried with fbneo and the menu opens up correctly. Are you sure you haven't mapped the 2A IPAC input to another key ?

[windg]

@daubsi said in Retroarch Menu is not shown anymore:

@windg What let’s you assume I used an internal mechanisms to save the file? I assume all
“autosave” features are now disabled. Is there any setting saying otherwise? I use vi/the console to edit the file only right now.

I say that because the retroarch.cfg file you posted don't have the normal form. This is often happen when the user change the retroarch settings and use the Save Current Configuration option in retroarch to save the changes.

[daubsi]

@mitu I am using fbneo… hm that’s very strange but explains my confusion cause I don’t see a problem either with the config.

I tried using the advmame tool advk and a multimeter to double check the contacts on the buttons/ipac2… advk prints “tab” when I press the button and the multimeter reports a resistance of 0.2 Ohms when it’s pressed… weird…

That’s why I asked if something having an effect like input_enable_hotkey was in my last version of the config somehow inhibiting the menu despite the buttons work correctly… I probably start over with the dist config and check with that one again…

[daubsi]

@windg Ok, understood! So you’re saying that retroarch itself sometimes corrupts the config when using its own function to save? I’ll probably work my way up from the default config again

[windg]

@daubsi said in Retroarch Menu is not shown anymore:

@windg Ok, understood! So you’re saying that retroarch itself sometimes corrupts the config when using its own function to save?

It is not corrupted, but changed from the default settings that selected for the proper RetroPie operation and it happens everytime you save the settings from RA menu.