pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation

[michaeltamsil]

Pi model: 3 B
power supply : adaptor 5V, 2A
retropie version : 4.8 (installed from ‘rpi-imager’ > ‘emulation & game OS’ > ‘RetroPie’ > ‘Retropie 4.8 (RPI 2/3/Zero 2W))
USB devices connected : keyboard
error message received : it’s not shown on monitor and no error message on $HOME/.emulationstation/es_log.txt
monitor : SPC monitor computer, HDMI, 1440h x 900v 60hz

before issue emerge.
i already run emulationstation and it’s runs well,
then, on the next days, show loading service list & loading screen, then show blank screen.

already changed to hdmi_mode=1, error still remain.
uncomment dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d, error message of ‘failed to add service - already in use?’ and i comment back.

go to Retropie-Setup/retropie_setup.sh > configuration / tools > autostart > choose ‘boot to txt console (auto login as pi)
go to ‘raspi-config’ > ‘advanced options’ > ‘GL Driver’ > pick ‘Legacy’ enabled (or GL driver disabled)

each time pi is start, i must type & run command of emulationstation (this is ok for me, to investigate error)

already installed retropie on 8 gb, 16gb, 32 gb microsd and many times.
change cable hdmi. execute (type) emulationstation and error still remain black screen

/root/config.txt

[mitu]

You should start with the stock config.txt.
Add only the info for your resolution and tell the Raspberry Pi to ignore the monitor's EDID, without other modifications:

hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=47
hdmi_ignore_edid = 0xa5000080

If that doesn't work, run tvservice -m DMT, then tvservice -m CEA and post the output of the commands.

[Lolonois]

[snip]

Wrong hypothesis of mine. Ignore post.

[michaeltamsil]

@mitu

• already commented 3 items
• do reboot
• and type emulationstation, still give blank screen

tvservice -m DMT
Group DNI has 11 modes:
mode 4: 640x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock: 25MHz progressive
mode 9: B00x600 2 60Hz 4:3, clock: 40MHz progressive
mode 11: 800x600 C 75Hz 4:3, clock:49MHz progressive
mode 16: 1024x768 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock: 65MHz progressive
mode 18: 1024x768 © 75Hz 4:3, clock: 78MHz progressive
mode 28: 12B0x800 @ 60Hz 16:10, clock:83MHz progressive
mode 32: 12B0x960 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock:108MHz progressive
mode 35: 1280x1024 @ 60Hz 5:4, clock: 108MHz progressive
mode 39: 1360x768 0 60Hz 16:9, clock: 85MHz progressive
(prefer) mode 47: 1440x900 @ 60Hz 16:10, clock:106MHz progressive
mode 85: 12B0x720 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock:74MHz progressive

tvservice -m CEA
Group CA has 5 modes:
mode 1: 640x480 @ 60Hz 4:3, clock: 25MHz progressive
mode 2: 720x480 2 60Hz 4:3, clock: 27MHz progressive
mode 3: 720x480 @ 60Hz 16:9, clock: 27MHz progressive
mode 14: 720x480 0 60Hz 4:3, clock:54MHz x2 progressive
mode 15: 720x480 e60Hz 16:9, clock:54MHz x2 progressive

thanks for help

[michaeltamsil]

@Lolonois

• already do it
• do reboot
• shows list services run, show splash screen retropie, then blank screen

thanks for help

[mitu]

@michaeltamsil OK, so the EDID is read from the monitor by the Raspberry PI, maybe the HDMI cable is not working right or the power adaptor is not enough to feed the Pi (the recommended power supply for a Pi3 is 5V/2.5A).
If you add just hdmi_safe=1 to your config.txt, do you get a video output from EmulationStation ?

[michaeltamsil]

@mitu

• already changed hdmi_save=1 and reboot
• show list of service started then show retropie screen
• shows retropie welcome on console mode
• type emulationstation then blank screen

additonal info

• already tried install retropie-4.5-rpi2_rpi3 & no luck
• already tried other hdmi cable & no luck
• sometimes if low power happen, will show thunder icon on right top
• if i install raspbian desktop, will show the desktop environment

is there a way to run emulationstation with mode debug so i can see what's going on emulationstation?

thanks

[mitu]

@michaeltamsil said in pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation:

already changed hdmi_save=1 and reboot

It's hdmi_safe, not hdmi_save.

is there a way to run emulationstation with mode debug so i can see what's going on emulationstation?

Yes, run with emulationstation --debug and then you can find the log file in $HOME/.emulationstation/es_log.txt.

[michaeltamsil]

@mitu

• already change hdmi_safe=1
• already run emulationstation --debug, still blank screen & don't know how to reboot, so i plug out the power.
• checkout $HOME/.emulationstation/es_log.txt is empty
• do again emulationstation --debug & capture the message before going to blank screen

response from emulationstation --debug

Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamenames.xmI"
Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamebioses.xmi"
Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamedevices.xmI"

Creating window
Created window successfully.
GL vendor: Broadcom
GL renderer: VideoCore IV HW
GL version: OpenGL ES-CM 1.1
Checking available OpenGL extensions...
ARB_texture_non_power_of_two: MISSING

[mitu]

Seems like EmulationStation starts fine, but I can't figure out why there's no output. The hdmi_safe option should get you a (safe) 640x480 resolution which should be supported by most displays, but if that still doesn't work, then the only thing remaining is the power source.

If you write a Raspberry Pi OS image instead of RetroPie, do you get a proper video output ?

[Thorr69]

@mitu Any chance this could be a bad theme? The original post seems to indicate that it worked for a while and then started acting up later.

[mitu]

@Thorr69 Could be.
@michaeltamsil did you change the default theme to another theme ? Can you post the entire es_log.txt on pastebin.com ?

[michaeltamsil]

@mitu said in pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation:

then the only thing remaining is the power source

i will try to find other power source in couple days

If you write a Raspberry Pi OS image instead of RetroPie, do you get a proper video output ?

yes, shows desktop like windows

[michaeltamsil]

@mitu i'm not changing the theme.
$HOME/.emulationstation/es_log.txt, the file exist, but content inside it is empty

[michaeltamsil]

i tried lakka
will show icon in the middle, then blank screen.

now i'm trying recalbox, just want to see it' run well or not

[michaeltamsil]

already used adaptor 5 volt 3 Ampere still blank screen

• already tried retropie-buster-4.6-rpi2_rpi3 to 4.8, still blank screen
• already tried, lakka, batocera and recalbox,
  • show list run services
  • show splash screen
  • blank screen

not yet & will tried reset EEPROM

1. is there a way to reset EEPROM raspberry pi 3B to factory reset (empty)?

[windg]

Do you have the same symptoms with a different monitor ? Also, if your monitor has a second hdmi port, try that as well.

[mitu]

@michaeltamsil said in pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation:

is there a way to reset EEPROM raspberry pi 3B to factory reset (empty)?

There's no EEPROM for the Rpi3, only the RPI4 model has it.

[michaeltamsil]

@windg said in pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation:

Do you have the same symptoms with a different monitor ? Also, if your monitor has a second hdmi port, try that as well.

already tried on samsung, and tried second hdmi port.
will show up list of starting services.
show splash screen.
show again list of starting services.
then blank screen.

@mitu said in pi 3B, issue blank screen after execute emulationstation:

There's no EEPROM for the Rpi3, only the RPI4 model has it.

well, i feel it's firmware.

already tried batocera (2 different version), lakka, recalbox, retropie (3 different version & my backup 2 *.img from (2019)).
the symptoms are same.

pls don't try sudo rpi-update i don't want you guys get like me.
probably. i did sudo rpi-update then got this problem.

uname -a
Linux raspberrypi 6.1.23-v7+ #1643 SMP Tue Apr 11 20:21:20 BST 2023 armv7l GNU/Linux

sudo vcgencmd version
Mar 21 2023 17:25:34
Copyright (c) 2012 Broadcom
version 3cc1c2dfc5460da9e1a0a4f48b48ab508c48bfe5 (clean) (release) (start)

already tried some version of firmware with
sudo rpi-update (COMMIT_TAG)
the COMMIT_TAG came from https://github.com/Hexxeh/rpi-firmware/commits/master
and find kernel: Bump to x.xx.xx
for example kernel: Bump to 5.10.73 and it's
https://github.com/Hexxeh/rpi-firmware/commit/da70b00a9c8c5c1616113b6badd3d96fae504cff
sudo rpi-update da70b00a9c8c5c1616113b6badd3d96fae504cff

already tried some COMMIT TAG from https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware/commit. it's failed

i already run sudo rpi-update with out add commit tag. and result uname -a and sudo vcgencmd version like above

the interesting part is when i run on ssh with command emulationstation --debug get message
Apr 16 08:03:39 lvl2: Creating window...

• failed to open vchiq instance

and still get blank screen.

when try sudo rpi-update (COMMIT_TAG) from https://github.com/Hexxeh/rpi-firmware/commit/78c1429cc1d5a200d824d2629c3ceba4ba4617fe
or version 5.10.17 (2021-02-22)
it get's
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: Creating window...
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: Created window successfully.
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: GL vendor: Broadcom
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: GL renderer: VideoCore IV HW
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: GL version: OpenGL ES-CM 1.1
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: Checking available OpenGL extensions...
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: ARB_texture_non_power_of_two: MISSING
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl2: Loading system config file /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg...
Apr 15 20:52:23 lvl1: Warning from theme "/etc/emulationstation/themes/carbon/amstradcpc/theme.xml"
(from included file "/etc/emulationstation/themes/carbon/amstradcpc/../carbon.xml")
could not find file ""

and still blank screen.

i'm curious with you guys, can help me with run uname -a, sudo vcgencmd version and run via ssh emulationstation --debug where it can run emulationstation. so i can compare and will try figure out

thanks

[mitu]

[..[
already tried on samsung, and tried second hdmi port.
will show up list of starting services.
show splash screen.
show again list of starting services.
then blank screen.

Seems like when the resolution change or a busier GPU/system results in the black screen.

[...]
well, i feel it's firmware.

already tried batocera (2 different version), lakka, recalbox, retropie (3 different version & my backup 2 *.img from (2019)).
the symptoms are same.

Then the issue is not software - but a hardware one. It's strange because the hdmi_safe should boot with a very low resolution, which should help with wonky HDMI cables that fail on 1080p. Having the image shown on boot means the HDMI port is ok. Since you get the voltage drop icon, I'd say it's the power that's faulty.

pls don't try sudo rpi-update i don't want you guys get like me.

That's not recommended for regular updates and you shouldn't use it, especially since Buster based system may not getting the same testing by the RPT teams, with the latest kernel/firmware.

[...]
i'm curious with you guys, can help me with run uname -a, sudo vcgencmd version and run via ssh emulationstation --debug where it can run emulationstation. so i can compare and will try figure out

The EmulationStation log is the same, the firmware/kernel version are probably different on a system where rpi-update hasn't been run. The version will not help you much, but if you want to revert the rpi-update changes, you should reinstall the kernel/firmware by running

sudo apt-get install --reinstall raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel