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    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
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    • 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
                                          • B
                                            bradleyhollander
                                            last edited by

                                            Ok will do thx

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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