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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

    EmulationStation locks up Ubuntu

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    ubunturetropie
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    • S
      stoltzy
      last edited by

      Hello. I followed these instructions to get RetroPie installed on Ubuntu:
      https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Debian/

      I have a fresh install of Ubuntu Desktop 20.04.3, running on a PC with an Intel J1900 CPU. All installs ran as expected. When I run emulationstation, it appears to launch, but I get no window and the entire OS is locked up. I can't do anything except ALT-F4 to get to the login screen and restart or just hard reset the box.

      I haven't added any roms yet, but I'm expecting EmulationStation to at least launch and not hang up the entire machine. Seems like this is a display issue... like maybe it is running on top of everything else, but it's just not rendered and thus I can't interact with anything, but that's just a guess.

      Is there some other configuration expected for a default Ubuntu install? Thoughts?

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

        Can you run emulationstation from a terminal emulator with the --debug flag and post the output ?
        What's your GPU - are you using a separate GPU or does the system uses the iGPU ?

        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • S
          stoltzy @mitu
          last edited by stoltzy

          @mitu Its integrated GPU. I ran with debug (I can't copy n paste the log because everything gets locked up). There's not much there. Just 3 lines about parsing the xml files and then "Creating window....", that's when everything locks up.

          oops, looks like the lock up also stops the visibility of the log output in the terminal. Here's the es_log file

          Dec 31 12:48:36 lvl2: 	EmulationStation - v2.10.1rp, built Dec 30 2021 - 22:13:32
Dec 31 12:48:36 lvl2: 	Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamenames.xml"...
Dec 31 12:48:36 lvl2: 	Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamebioses.xml"...
Dec 31 12:48:36 lvl2: 	Parsing XML file "/opt/retropie/supplementary/emulationstation/resources/mamedevices.xml"...
Dec 31 12:48:36 lvl2: 	Creating window...
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	Created window successfully.
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	GL vendor:   Intel Open Source Technology Center
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	GL renderer: Mesa DRI Intel(R) HD Graphics (BYT)
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	GL version:  3.0 Mesa 21.0.3
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	Checking available OpenGL extensions...
Dec 31 12:48:37 lvl2: 	 ARB_texture_non_power_of_two: ok
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl2: 	Loading system config file /etc/emulationstation/es_systems.cfg...
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "amstradcpc" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "arcade" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "atari2600" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "atari5200" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "atari7800" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "atari800" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "atarilynx" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	Error - folder with path "/home/mame/RetroPie/roms/channelf" is not a directory!
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "channelf" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	Error - folder with path "/home/mame/RetroPie/roms/coleco" is not a directory!
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "coleco" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:38 lvl1: 	System "fba" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "fds" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "gamegear" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "gb" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "gba" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "gbc" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "mame-libretro" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "mastersystem" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "megadrive" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	Error - folder with path "/home/mame/RetroPie/roms/msx" is not a directory!
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "msx" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "n64" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "neogeo" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:39 lvl1: 	System "nes" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "ngp" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "ngpc" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "pcengine" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "psx" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl2: 	Parsing XML file "/home/mame/.emulationstation/gamelists/retropie/gamelist.xml"...
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "sega32x" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "segacd" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "sg-1000" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "snes" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "vectrex" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:40 lvl1: 	System "zxspectrum" has no games! Ignoring it.
Dec 31 12:48:41 lvl3: 	SystemView::getViewElements()
Dec 31 12:48:58 lvl2: 	Configuring device -1 (Keyboard).
Dec 31 12:49:00 lvl2: 	  Mapping [Key Escape] -> Up
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          • mituM
            mitu Global Moderator
            last edited by

            The log shows ES starts ok and the GL library is found, but have no idea why it blocks your WM. Are you using Wayland for your desktop environment (under Gnome) ?

            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • S
              stoltzy @mitu
              last edited by

              @mitu I just did a default of Ubuntu Desktop, so whatever would come with that. I'm pretty familiar with Linux/Ubuntu Server, but don't know much about Linux GUI stuff.

              I did a new install of Ubuntu on a different machine to see if that makes a difference. This one is running a J3160 CPU. During the install there's an option for a full install with software like office apps, etc vs a minimal install. Since this will be an arcade machine, I choose "minimal". But, there's also a check box for optional software that lists some stuff and includes "such as graphics..." (I don't have it in front of me, so trying to remember). So, I checked that during this new install to see if it makes a difference, hoping that maybe there were drivers missing or something.

              Alas, this one behaves the same exact way...everything locks up.

              Maybe I'll try a full install of everything, but doesn't seem to me that will make a difference. I have an old laptop with an i5 in it, maybe I'll try that too and see what happens.

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

                @stoltzy A default install for the Desktop version should be enough (no need for a full install). Do any other OpenGL programs work fine ? Something like glxgears, which shows a small demo window using OpenGL ?

                EDIT: how are you starting EmulationStation ? Are you using the rpi application entry or you've added a script to start it ?

                S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  stoltzy @mitu
                  last edited by

                  @mitu I ran glxgears and it runs fine, 60 fps.

                  I'm launching ES by just typing emulationstation in the terminal, per the docs.

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                  • mituM
                    mitu Global Moderator
                    last edited by

                    Can you try running with

                    emulationstation --windowed

                    and see it makes a difference ?

                    S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • S
                      stoltzy @mitu
                      last edited by stoltzy

                      @mitu That worked. ES launches in a window and is fully functional.

                      Other thoughts on fullscreen?

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

                        @stoltzy Something related to your WM maybe or a bug in SDL which doesn't correctly set up fullscreen. What WM/DE are you using ?

                        Combined with --resolution WxH, you can use --windowed to start ES as 'full screen', just to avoid this issue.

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