Retropie 4.1 does not boot after first successful start

Karmo

I'm having the same issue as described here: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/909/will-not-boot-after-power-off. The power supply is not the problem in my case.

In short: I can successfully run Retropie 4.1 for the first time, to configure Wifi, USB controllers etc. I can also upload roms both by the USB method and the SFTP method and play the games. But, after I shutdown Retropie from the menu, and try to start it again, nothing happens. All I see is a blank screen. The same happens with Retropie 3.8.1. Note that restart (not shutdown) from the menu seems to work ok.

Pi Model: 3B (https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-3-media-centre-kit)
SD Card: Sandisk Ultra 16 GB
RetroPie Version Used: 3.8.1 and 4.1
Built From: ISO images from Retropie downloads, then transferred using Win32DiskImager
USB Devices connected: 2 x SNES style controller (https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry-pi-compatible-usb-gamepad-controller-snes-style), mouse, keyboard
Controller used: USB gamepad, keyboard
Error messages received: none
Guide used: https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki

BuZz

@Karmo I'm not sure what the problem is - but I would try another sdcard. It's also worth testing another PSU even if you think yours is fine (Could have a fault / voltage drop). Also make sure your USB power cable is sufficient. See http://elinux.org/R-Pi_Troubleshooting#Troubleshooting_power_problems and check https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=437084

In case it's related to HDMI signal note the hdmi_force_hotplug=1 option.

If this doesn't remedy it I can't really advise further, but it's not a RetroPie issue - I suspect it's a hardware issue.

Karmo

Thanks for the very quick reply. The reason I think the PSU is fine is that I've been using it on the same RPI3 device on another SD card with Kodi for months, with zero problems.

What I find confusing is that I can do a restart from the menu just fine. It is when I do a controlled power off that the problem manifests itself.

BuZz

@Karmo said in Retropie 4.1 does not boot after first successful start:

What I find confusing is that I can do a restart from the menu just fine. It is when I do a controlled power off that the problem manifests itself.

That could point to the PSU not providing enough voltage on cold start. It could also be related to HDMI signal, or something else hardware related.

You need to switch some components around to rule them out. SDcard, PSU/USB power cable, etc.

What PSU is it btw ? (output specs 5v/ Xamps)

Karmo

The PSU is the standard Pi Hut device (Stontronics), see the link in my first post. The volt/amp specification should be correct (5.1V/2.5A).

I have two SD cards, one with Retropie and one with Kodi. The Retropie SD card works fine for the first boot, but not thereafter. If I switch in the one on Kodi, everything works fine, no matter how much I shut it down. I really don't understand how this issue could be hardware-related.

Could it be that the first Retropie run might accidentally mess up some configuration files? Is it possible to replace some of the files (namely those related to the bootup sequence) on the SD card? Or is there a safe-mode boot option?

As a side note: I updated the setup script and all the system files on the first Retropie start, but the problem persists.

Karmo

Modifying the config file per the above instructions (hdmi_force_hotplug=1) AND enabling safe mode AND replacing the boot directory files with new ones from firmware update -- all done in Windows directly on the SD card -- seems to work to a degree.

I can now get Retropie to boot again (finally!).

Some games don't start -- all I get is a flickering screen -- but I guess I can work that out.

BuZz

You don't want to use safe_mode for general use - forces lower resolution mode etc. hdmi_safe also enables hdmi_force_hotplug=1see https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/config-txt.md