RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login
    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Can't edit boot/config.txt

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    noboot
    39 Posts 4 Posters 13.4k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • DarkWolfD
      DarkWolf @bradleyhollander
      last edited by

      @bradleyhollander if you have no screen connected what should it show?

      System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
      Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
      Theme: Updated NBBA

      Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • AlexMurphyA
        AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
        last edited by

        @bradleyhollander That is odd. I Would re-download the image and burn it again to a newly formatted SD card just to be sure. Sometimes stuff just goes wrong. Never assume anything!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • B
          bradleyhollander
          last edited by

          Could it be my sd card because I have tryed formatting it and flashing the .img twice. but I'm still left with no image coming on when I plug in a screen and power into my pi

          AlexMurphyA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • AlexMurphyA
            AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
            last edited by

            @bradleyhollander Is the green LED lighting up?

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              bradleyhollander
              last edited by

              I will try again maby it works on try number 3

              AlexMurphyA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • DarkWolfD
                DarkWolf
                last edited by

                otherwise try another sd card

                System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                Theme: Updated NBBA

                Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • AlexMurphyA
                  AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
                  last edited by

                  @bradleyhollander Before you do that, plug it in. Is the green LED flashing at all?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • B
                    bradleyhollander
                    last edited by

                    @AlexMurphy yes it flashes in quick succeshion

                    AlexMurphyA DarkWolfD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • AlexMurphyA
                      AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
                      last edited by

                      @bradleyhollander That means it is working. What sort of display is it connected to? Try a different TV or a different HDMI cable.

                      B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • DarkWolfD
                        DarkWolf @bradleyhollander
                        last edited by

                        @bradleyhollander the power supply could also be a problem
                        use one with a minimum of 1A output

                        System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                        Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                        Theme: Updated NBBA

                        Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • B
                          bradleyhollander @AlexMurphy
                          last edited by

                          @AlexMurphy I use a old Vga screen with a hdmi adapter

                          AlexMurphyA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • AlexMurphyA
                            AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
                            last edited by

                            @bradleyhollander Your adaptor is not compatible, sorry.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • DarkWolfD
                              DarkWolf
                              last edited by

                              Ok that is the problem
                              The vga adapter disables the hdmi auto detection of your monitor
                              this can be resolved somehow, let me look into my old pi, I made it there somehow

                              System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                              Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                              Theme: Updated NBBA

                              Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • DarkWolfD
                                DarkWolf
                                last edited by DarkWolf

                                Ok so what you have to do:

                                1. connect via ssh over network (you need a console for this, however you get to it)
                                2. type

                                sudo nano /boot/config.txt

                                1. Remove the # in front of

                                hdmi_force_hotplug=1

                                1. press ctrl+x, enter and than y,enter to save the file
                                2. restart your pie with

                                sudo reboot

                                if you get no output:
                                Remove the # in front of

                                hdmi_safe=1

                                as well and reboot

                                Now the hdmi port is forced to be activated and outputting at any time.
                                This diables composite output, but I guess you don't want to use it.

                                Hope that helps

                                System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                                Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                                Theme: Updated NBBA

                                Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                                B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • B
                                  bradleyhollander
                                  last edited by

                                  Composit the yellow plug?

                                  DarkWolfD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • DarkWolfD
                                    DarkWolf @bradleyhollander
                                    last edited by

                                    @bradleyhollander yeah, I guess that was it

                                    System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                                    Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                                    Theme: Updated NBBA

                                    Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • DarkWolfD
                                      DarkWolf
                                      last edited by DarkWolf

                                      One important thing left:
                                      As the hdmi safe mode is disabled, it could happen that the pi overheats, so keep an eye on it ;-)

                                      I found a great thread for this, so if you need more information you can probably look it up here.

                                      System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                                      Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                                      Theme: Updated NBBA

                                      Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • B
                                        bradleyhollander @DarkWolf
                                        last edited by

                                        @DarkWolf can I do this by editing the config.txt on the sd card

                                        DarkWolfD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • DarkWolfD
                                          DarkWolf @bradleyhollander
                                          last edited by DarkWolf

                                          @bradleyhollander the config.txt file is located on the boot partition of the sd card
                                          you can find the config.txt file at the root

                                          Edit:
                                          Another addition:
                                          First remove the # of

                                          hdmi_force_hotplug=1

                                          and try it out, if you get no output remove the # of

                                          hdmi_safe=1

                                          System: Raspberry 3 Model B, RetroPie 4.2.1
                                          Storage: 16gb Micro SD, 64gb USB Drive
                                          Theme: Updated NBBA

                                          Documentation solves many problems: https://retropie.org.uk/docs/

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • B
                                            bradleyhollander
                                            last edited by

                                            Should I rather get a Vga to composit converter ?

                                            AlexMurphyA DarkWolfD 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post

                                            Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                                            Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.