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 13.5k 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.
    • 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
                                        • AlexMurphyA
                                          AlexMurphy Banned @bradleyhollander
                                          last edited by

                                          @bradleyhollander I'm sorry. I can't help you. I only use HDMI screens.

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

                                            @bradleyhollander The result with hdmi to vga will be be much better thatn composite to vga. If you use the composite video output it could output a really low resolution and the quality is kinda bad...
                                            So try the hdmi "fix" and if this doesn't work at all, I would recoment using a hdmi screen more than using the composite 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
                                            • 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.