RetroPie will not start after being shut down the first time.

[rightytighty2]

Hello, my RetroPie (RPi 3b) won't start after being shut down.
Details
Pi Model: 3B
Power Supply used: CanaKit 2.5A Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Power Supply with CanaKit PiSwitch, 5V
RetroPie Version Used: V4.4
Built From: premade image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: mouse, keyboard, controller, monitor (note: HDMI to VGA Adapter used to connect RPi to VGA monitor)
Controller used: Buffalo iBuffalo Classic USB Gamepad for PC
MicroSD cards used: tried SanDisk UltraPlus 16gb MicroSD HC and tried SP 32gb MicroSD HC
Error messages received: None - simply will not load again after being shut down
Guide used: RetroPie documentation
Emulator: Emulation Station
Description of problem:
I've seen this posted before but none of those solutions have worked for me. I've done lots of Google research, asked colleagues and reviewed offical RetroPie documentation, but cannot figure out a solution.
I installed RetroPie V4.4 on two different new MicroSD cards. Initially, ES and the 7 Atari 2600 games I loaded come up fine. However, after I shutdown from within Emulation Station, wait for the green light to stop blinking and then unplug, I cannot get the RPi to boot up again. Essentially, I can only get it to work once and then I end up installing everything again.
Has anyone else seen this or found a solution?

[mitu]

@rightytighty2 said in RetroPie will not start after being shut down the first time.:

Has anyone else seen this or found a solution?

That's not something that usually comes up, it's not a common problem. Silly question, but how are you powering it back up ? How is the monitor connected to the Pi ? After the 2nd start, what's the green led's status ?

[rightytighty2]

Hello! Thank you for your time!

1. After I unplug the plug from the outlet, I wait until the green light turns off and then I plug it back into the outlet.
2. The VGA monitor is plugged into the Pi using an HDMI to VGA Adapter.
3. Interestingly enough, when I plug it back into the outlet, the green light turns on, flashes, all of the normal things that it's supposed to do! But nothing comes up on the monitor. And I have tried different monitors.

[mitu]

@rightytighty2 Can you try plugging it into a TV, without any adapters ? Does it work like this ?

[rightytighty2]

Hi all! I just wanted to say that I got an answer to my issue! My particular problem was due to my using a VGA to HDMI converter to use with my old VGA monitor. What fixed my problem was to edit the config.txt file and uncomment the line "hdmi_force_unplug=1". Works perfectly now. Again, thank you all for your time.