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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

    Newbie user. Raspbian and RetroPie

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    raspbianretropie-setup
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    • S
      SohailNassiri
      last edited by

      Hi,

      I have a Raspberry Pi 3 and have installed the latest Raspbian OS. I would like use RetroPie but can I had it on a separate SD card and load into it via Rasbian or do I have boot into it directly?

      If I can load into it from Raspbian, please advise on how I may do this or direct me to a link with instructions?

      Please assist.

      Many thanks,
      Sohail

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • FloobF
        Floob
        last edited by

        RetroPie uses Raspbian as its OS - RetroPie is not an OS.

        If you just want to use RetroPie, you would be best to just use the images provided on this site:
        https://retropie.org.uk/download/

        Or you could manually install it on Raspbian yourself, just scroll down on the link above.

        Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
        RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

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        • S
          SohailNassiri
          last edited by

          Thanks very much.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            SohailNassiri
            last edited by

            Hi again,

            Sorry, I just looked at the link above. I had seen this before I posted my original post. I cannot see how I install RetroPie if I have Raspbian using the image. The link, https://github.com/retropie/retropie-setup/wiki/manual-installation the way I read is suggesting that it installs RetroPie plus Raspbian but omits some elements of Raspbian to keep the install slimmer (such as Pixel desktop).

            I would like to have Raspbian, not mess with it, and access RetroPie from it. Can you please assist?

            Thanks,
            Sohail

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            • FloobF
              Floob
              last edited by

              The guide shows how to install the RetroPie setup on top of Raspbian.

              I like my setup as per the standard image as it is optimised for that purpose, but if you want to install RetroPie on "full fat" Raspbian, that guide is the best way to do it.

              Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
              RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

              S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                SohailNassiri @Floob
                last edited by

                @Floob Hi and thanks again for your patience. I'm stumped, I'm not sure I follow how to install RetroPie on Raspbian. Is there more of a step-by-step available anywhere?

                FloobF columboscoatC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • FloobF
                  Floob @SohailNassiri
                  last edited by

                  @SohailNassiri
                  RetroPie is already on Raspbian

                  Raspbian is an operating system:
                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspbian

                  I would strongly recommend using the pre-built image available on this site, unless there is a critical reason why you need components of Raspbian that arent present.

                  If you really want to install RetroPie onto a vanilla Raspbian image, the guide should do it really. If there is a specific issue with the guide just let us know and someone can help.

                  Please read the Docs before asking a new question.
                  RetroPie Help Guides: https://goo.gl/3gcNsT

                  S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • columboscoatC
                    columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                    last edited by

                    @SohailNassiri Just use the commamd line and follow the step-by-step instructions in the official guide. You won't find a better one that that. If you are not confortable using the command line / terminal then I would advise you to use the retropie image from the retropie website and then install the desktop using retropie. Raspbian is not the desktop environment, it is the Operating System the Pi uses. The desktop is just a program that runs on Raspbian like Kodi or RetroPie.

                    S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • S
                      SohailNassiri @columboscoat
                      last edited by

                      @columboscoat Thanks a lot. I just have the two following concerns:

                      1. I didn't want to lose any components of the Raspbian OS and also,
                      2. I was unsure if the Raspbian via RetroPie was the latest version etc?

                      I am comfortable giving the command line a go, it's not that difficult to follow the instructions I guess, even for a total novice like me I hope, but am I to install Raspbian via NOOBS (which I have done) and then what? How do I get RetroPie's image onto the Raspberry Pi to then begin the process?

                      Sorry, I must have missed something.

                      Best regards,
                      Sohail

                      columboscoatC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • S
                        SohailNassiri @Floob
                        last edited by

                        @Floob Thanks a lot. I just have the two following concerns:

                        I didn't want to lose any components of the Raspbian OS and also,
                        I was unsure if the Raspbian via RetroPie was the latest version etc?
                        I am comfortable giving the command line a go, it's not that difficult to follow the instructions I guess, even for a total novice like me I hope, but am I to install Raspbian via NOOBS (which I have done) and then what? How do I get RetroPie's image onto the Raspberry Pi to then begin the process?

                        Sorry, I must have missed something.

                        Best regards,
                        Sohail

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • columboscoatC
                          columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                          last edited by columboscoat

                          @SohailNassiri You won't lose ANY of the Raspbian elements if those packages are already installed. They will NOT be removed when you manually install RetroPie as per the instructions. You do not need to install the image if you already have Raspbian on your SD card. Just install RetroPie manually on top of the Raspbian OS. Again, the desktop is NOT Raspbian. Raspbian is the Operating System. The desktop is just a graphical user interface. Using a RetroPie disk image is an ALTERNATIVE method to the one you have chosen. I suggested it as you might have found it easier to follow.

                          S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            SohailNassiri @columboscoat
                            last edited by

                            @columboscoat Got it, thanks. So, now, my question is, how do I get RetroPie to the Raspberry Pi that has the Raspbian on it that I installed?

                            Thanks for your patience with me.

                            columboscoatC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • columboscoatC
                              columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                              last edited by

                              @SohailNassiri use the command line / console / terminal ( whatever you choose to call it) and follow the detailed instructions in the official manual installation guide. If you do exactly what it tells you to do, in the correct order you can't go wrong. Just type the commands in as instructed. And be patient. It may appear to hang at some points but it's just doing its' thing. Give it a go and let us know how you got on.

                              S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                SohailNassiri @columboscoat
                                last edited by

                                @columboscoat Thanks again. Sorry, I'm being really stupid here. I have an SD card with just Raspbian on it (NOOBS). It is in the SD slot of my Raspberry Pi. I have downloaded Pi Baker and I have downloaded the RetroPie image. Now what do I do? How do I get the image onto the Raspberry Pi to 'run' it to install it? The Terminal is on the Raspberry Pi, Raspbian? Correct? Doesn't the RetroPie image need to be accessible via the Terminal on the Raspbian? How do I acheive this?

                                Thanks. I feel close to making this work.

                                columboscoatC 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • columboscoatC
                                  columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                                  last edited by

                                  @SohailNassiri You don't. You install RetroPie using the Pi. No need for another device to install once you have an operational OS on the Pi its' self. Hook a keyboard up to the Pi. Connect to the internets, if you haven't already, and follow the guide.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • columboscoatC
                                    columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                                    last edited by

                                    @SohailNassiri I feel you are becoming a touch confused. You need either the Raspbian image and install RetroPie manually on top, as you would any piece of sotware OR you use the RetroPie image. Not both. You seem to be preferring the 1st so go with that. Forget about the RetroPie image you downloaded. You don't need it. It's just another way to install RetroPie and the Raspbian OS it uses in one go.

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                                    • S
                                      SohailNassiri @columboscoat
                                      last edited by

                                      @columboscoat I am/was confused! I get it now. So, I just connect to the internet via my Raspberry Pi, download/install Retro Pie using Terminal on the Raspberry Pi? I can point to it via the Raspberry Pi? I am understanding this now?

                                      columboscoatC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • columboscoatC
                                        columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                                        last edited by

                                        @SohailNassiri Yes. You have got it, by jove! As I said, follow the guide to the letter and be patient.

                                        S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          SohailNassiri @columboscoat
                                          last edited by

                                          @columboscoat Hallelujah! Thank you for being patient with me!

                                          columboscoatC 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                          • columboscoatC
                                            columboscoat Banned @SohailNassiri
                                            last edited by

                                            @SohailNassiri No problem. Happy to help. 1st thing to do is update the RetroPie Setup script. Then update all installed packages. Just to ensure you are all up to date. You should be but it does no harm.

                                            S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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