SSH WIFI ISSUE

mitu

@90sgamer Replace <PI_IP> with the actual address of the Pi. So the command should be:

ping 192.168.1.212

sleve_mcdichael

@90sgamer said in SSH WIFI ISSUE:

@90sgamer Error msg on WINSCP: "Host RETROPIE does not exist."

Mine's not WinSCP but on my clients I have to add .local, as in, "host retropie.local".

90sgamer

@mitu I tried that and it said:

"Reply from 192.168.1.211: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.1.211: Destination host unreachable.
Reply from 192.168.1.211: Destination host unreachable."

mitu

@90sgamer Then check again the router settings.
Some of the WiFi AP have a feature called client isolation which disable the direct communication between WiFi clients, make sure it's not enabled by default on your WiFi router.

90sgamer

@mitu My router doesnt allow for turning AP isolation on or off within gateway interface. Also, I don't think it would be a good idea to mess with that, for security purposes. I have never had to do this before in the past 4 years of owning a retropie. Is there another option/way?

mitu

@90sgamer said in SSH WIFI ISSUE:

I have never had to do this before in the past 4 years of owning a retropie.

I don't understand then - did this worked before and it's not working anymore now, with the same setup ?

Is there another option/way?

Connect a cable to the Pi ?

90sgamer

@mitu Correct, it's always worked and now it isn't. Not trying to be a difficult case. Perhaps the wifi chip in the retropie is fried? I've looked at this from several different angles and I don't think its router related. If I could get my pi to transfer files i would be so happy. There are not many tutorials on transfering roms without wifi. I appreciate your help. Ive been stuck on this for a few months, any other ideas would be greatly appreciated, maybe something outside the box or easily overlooked?

mitu

@90sgamer said in SSH WIFI ISSUE:

Perhaps the wifi chip in the retropie is fried? I've looked at this from several different angles and I don't think its router related.

If the Pi has an IP address, then the Wifi chip is not fried. Are you able to update RetroPie from the RetroPie Setup script ? If yes, then the Wifi works on your Pi.

If I could get my pi to transfer files i would be so happy. There are not many tutorials on transfering roms without wifi

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Transferring-Roms/ has all the options. You can use an USB drive to transfer ROMs if the network connection is not working.

90sgamer

@mitu So this is where it gets deeper into the issue, which i thought was a separate issue. I cannot update my Retropie Setup Script. I always get the message that the current Raspian stretch is no longer supported. This really stinks because I have no idea how to do that, there are no video tutorials on how to do that, and it ultimately leads me to believe that I would have to delete and wipe my entire retropie sd card and start all over, only problem is even if i did that, i would not know how to reinstall or even find the latest or correct Retropie software. Everyone just assumes that "its so easy" yet there are no instructions on how to do this. And I would think this to be an extremely common issue for anyone who has owned a retropie longer than a couple of years. Any specific links/tutorials would be great, so i dont waste more of your time.

90sgamer

@90sgamer I found this tutorial, not sure if this is recommended. Its the only thing I could find pertaining to my problem. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/raspbian-buster-upgrade,39735.html

mitu

I cannot update my Retropie Setup Script. I always get the message that the current Raspian stretch is no longer supported.

Yes, this warning has been in place for more than 1 year, though it doesn't strictly forbids you to update - it just tells you that your OS is no longer supported. What version of RetroPie do you have installed currently ?

Only problem is even if i did that, i would not know how to reinstall or even find the latest or correct Retropie software

But how did you install in the first place ? Didn't you go through this - installation - step when you first installed your system ?
The docs explain how to get the latest RetroPie release and install it.

Everyone just assumes that "its so easy" yet there are no instructions on how to do this

Upgrading is not enough documented and we should remedy that, but the installation is clearly outlined in the documentation.

Any specific links/tutorials would be great, so i dont waste more of your time.

For an upgrade, you can back-up your ROMs/BIOS/configs and flash a new image, then restore the backed-up content on the new image. See the update doc page.

90sgamer

@mitu It's very frustrating to me because to update you must connect to wifi, and to connect to wifi you must update. I can do neither. so I'm stuck.

90sgamer

@90sgamer I know how to update. I installed it the first time back in 2018. I'm just afraid TO update, as I will lose all my data, files, roms, etc.

sleve_mcdichael

@90sgamer back up your image. Flash the new OS. Use 7zip to extract the BIOS, ROMS, and CONFIG folders from your backed-up image. Copy them to the new OS.

90sgamer

@sleve_mcdichael Yes, I understand, I know what I need to do which is make a back up. I understand how to back up an sd card. What I don't understand is how do I then implement the backup on the new OS without completely wiping out everything. If I don't understand how the entire process works, I'm not going to even start or risk destroying my card.

sleve_mcdichael

@90sgamer

What I don't understand is how do I then implement the backup on the new OS without completely wiping out everything.

Use 7zip to extract the BIOS, ROMS, and CONFIGS folders from your backed-up image, and copy them over to the new OS.

(Edit: sorry, configS with an S.)

If I don't understand how the entire process works, I'm not going to even start or risk destroying my card.

You can always write the backup back to the card and pick up right where you left off...

90sgamer

@sleve_mcdichael To my knowledge, the only way to access the BIOS, ROMS, and CONFIG folders is to access them via SSH using wifi (which was the initial issue and reason for this thread). Are you saying that this can be done (access and backup the BIOS, ROMS, and CONFIG folders ) by inserting the sd card directly into the computer? Because I've tried that and all I see are a bunch of folders I don't get the neat and clean BIOS ROMS CONFIGS SPLASHSCREENS, that i see everywhere on other tutorials.

sleve_mcdichael

@90sgamer said in SSH WIFI ISSUE:

I know what I need to do which is make a back up. I understand how to back up an sd card.

Okay so you've backed up the SD card and the .img file of the SD card is saved somewhere on your PC. Download and install 7zip to your PC. Use 7zip to open and view the contents of the .img file.

Extract the /home/pi/RetroPie/roms folder and save it somewhere (you can just drag it out of the 7zip window and alt-tab into whatever file folder on the PC you want to drop it into.)

Extract /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS.

Extract /opt/retropie/configs.

Wipe your card (this is safe, since it's backed up.) Write the new OS to the card in the same manner you did the first time. Set up your locale settings and keyboard layout.

Set up your WiFi. As soon as it's on your WiFi, you can get on the network share and drop the extracted folders right there where it says "roms," "configs," and "bios."

90sgamer

@90sgamer what i see is this...

90sgamer

@sleve_mcdichael Oh thats a great idea, didnt think of that. I'll try it!