Xsession ("unable to start X session")

cebix

Hello.

RPI3B+
2.5A 5V power supply
Retropie 4.4 with all updates installed as of today
Built from retropie-4.4-rpi2_rpi3.img
USB Devices connected: none
Kingston 64GB SD card
Error: "Xsession: unable to start X session --- no '/home/pi/.xsession"
file, no "/home/pi/.Xsession" file, no session managers, no window
managers, and no terminal emulators found; aborting."

I seem to be getting this message supposedly out of nowhere. It pops up right after the retropie booting splash screen logo. At first it did nothing, it just booted to emulationstation after beeing up for a few seconds. Now it will boot to console so I will have to manually type in "emulationstation" which is a pain since I have to hook up my keyboard which normally isn't connected. What can be causing this and what can be the remedy?

Other than that, everything seems to be running fine. It's a fresh SD installation by the way with updates from the retropie menu. I didn't have this problem with my previous one.

One thing I remember I had to install "sudo apt-get install lightdm" because the raspi-config boot menu told me so. Otherwise it wouldn't enable the boot to GUI without login option.

mitu

@cebix The error appears because you installed lightdm and you probably enabled in raspi-config the Desktop Autologin option for the Boot Option. Use the Console Autologin option in raspi-config and remove thelightdm package, RetroPie doesn't need it.

cebix

Thanks for the quick reply.

I enabled the Console Autologin but now it just boots to console instead of emulation station. How can I change that?

Also how can I remove the lightdm package? It doesn't appear anywhere in the retropie menu. Thanks.

EDIT: I removed lightdm via sudo apt-get remove lightdm but now retropie still boots straight to console. What can I do to get it booting to emulationstation on its own again?

mitu

@cebix

I enabled the Console Autologin but now it just boots to console instead of emulation station. How can I change that?

The console autologin should start Emulationstation automatically. If not, use the RetroPie-Setup script (run sudo ~/RetroPie-Setup/retropie_setup.sh) and the go to Configuration / tools >> autostart and choose the option to start ES at boot.

Also how can I remove the lightdm package? It doesn't appear anywhere in the retropie menu. Thanks.

Why would it appear there ? You didn't install it from the RetroPie-Setup menu, did you ? Just like you installed it, you can remove it

sudo apt-get remove lightdm

cebix

Thanks very much. Now it works as it should. I got confused in all the retropie-setup, raspi-config menus and forgot where you actually setup the autostart. It works like a charm now, thanks.

EthanWindows

@cebix i have same problem

BuZz

@EthanWindows this topic is a year old. Please start a new topic providing information about your setup as detailed at the top of the page.

stoogesfan87

@mitu I tried to go to raspi-config to change back to the console auto login and I tried to go to the terminal to delete lightdm. And I tried to log in to the desktop mode But instead I keep on getting this error.

Xsession: unable to start X session --- no '/home/pi/.xsession"
file, no "/home/pi/.Xsession" file, no session managers, no window
managers, and no terminal emulators found; aborting.

What should I do?

mitu

@stoogesfan87 Follow @BuZz's advice.