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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

    Error installing Retropie on Ubuntu

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    x86-64ubuntu 20.04
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    • X
      xman111
      last edited by xman111

      Hey guys installed ubuntu server on an HP t620 plus thin client. I then followed the instructions on installing Retropie. Everything seems fine until i try to run emulationstatoin from the command line. I get an error initializing SDL, window failed to initialize, no available video device. I will upload a screenshot. Any help would be much appreciated.

      error message

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      • mituM
        mitu Global Moderator
        last edited by

        Run dmesg on the system and post the output on pastebin.com.
        You should try install the normal Ubuntu version to check if your video card is properly supported - it might need some additional drivers not present on the server flavor.

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        • X
          xman111
          last edited by

          hey thanks for the reply.. hope this is done right, never used pastebin before.. thanks for taking the time to look.

          https://pastebin.com/VP7kmYRF

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          • mituM
            mitu Global Moderator
            last edited by

            This looks ok, but on PC you need to start X11 or a desktop env first, before starting EmulationStation. If you're unsure how to do it, I strongly recommend installing the Ubuntu desktop version and re-run the installation as described in https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Debian/.

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            • X
              xman111
              last edited by

              oh ok.. this thin client pc only has 4gb of ram and 16gb ssd hard drive. i wonder if it would be better to just get another pi4? i just thought this would have more horsepower and i was hoping to plug in an external USB hard drive with roms. I have 2 pi's now but am using them as redundant piholes. thanks for your help too, i had no idea what to do.

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              • mituM
                mitu Global Moderator
                last edited by mitu

                @xman111 said in Error installing Retropie on Ubuntu:

                this thin client pc only has 4gb of ram and 16gb ssd hard drive.

                This should be enough - if you're worried about a desktop install taking too much space, install a more lightweight Ubuntu flavor, like Xubuntu Core or Lubuntu.

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                • X
                  xman111
                  last edited by

                  i just looked and ubuntu desktop recommends 25gb. I wouldn't mind buying another ssd and even a graphics card if I knew this would work. :)

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                  • mituM
                    mitu Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    As I said, try one of the lightweight Ubuntu flavors - for instance Xubuntu recommends 8Gb, it should fit on your existing SSD without issues.

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                    • X
                      xman111
                      last edited by

                      thanks man, i will try tomorrow. thanks again for helping me out.. will reply back after I try again!!

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                      • X
                        xman111
                        last edited by

                        just at work now, installed kubuntu core and installing retropie via ssh. once i get it installed, do i just boot to the desktop then drop to a terminal and run emulationstation? is there a way to not boot into the desktop and go right to emulationstation like a pi would?

                        mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • mituM
                          mitu Global Moderator @xman111
                          last edited by

                          @xman111 Re-read the installation page, these things are covered there.

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                          • X
                            xman111
                            last edited by

                            thanks mitu, must have missed it.. sorry man!

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                            • X
                              xman111
                              last edited by

                              well still at work but walked my wife through it at home, lol. She said it got to the gamepad screen running Kubuntu, must have been a driver issue.

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