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.
    • 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
                              • edmaul69E
                                edmaul69
                                last edited by

                                Why are people saying to run in safe mode? I understand to troubleshoot but what you really need to do is set the vga to the correct settings for your monitor.

                                hdmi_group=2 
                                

                                and whatever hdmi_mode for whatever resolution your monitor is. For me my monitor is 1024x768 so mine is set to:

                                hdmi_mode=16
                                
                                DarkWolfD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • DarkWolfD
                                  DarkWolf @edmaul69
                                  last edited by

                                  @edmaul69 That could be a better solution! I just shared what I die some months ago when I had the same problem.

                                  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

                                    Could it be my power supply I use a Samsung 0.7 amp. will that power a rasp pi B

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

                                      @bradleyhollander You should use a power supply with a minimum of 1A (bare minimum). I would recomment using a 1,5A power supply.

                                      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

                                        That's probably my problem

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

                                          @DarkWolf thanks for the help! do you think this was my problem?

                                          edmaul69E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • edmaul69E
                                            edmaul69 @bradleyhollander
                                            last edited by

                                            @bradleyhollander that could be your issue. But if you are using an hdmi to vga addapter you still want to do what i mention.

                                            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.