Newbie user. Raspbian and RetroPie

Floob

@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.

columboscoat

@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.

SohailNassiri

@columboscoat 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

SohailNassiri

@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

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.

SohailNassiri

@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.

columboscoat

@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.

SohailNassiri

@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.

columboscoat

@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.

columboscoat

@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.

SohailNassiri

@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?

columboscoat

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

SohailNassiri

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

columboscoat

@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.

SohailNassiri

@columboscoat OK, this is after installation, correct?

columboscoat

@SohailNassiri Yes. You can get into using the RetroPie option on the GUI. This should be your only option available as you will have no ROMs installed yet. Systems will only appear when you have ROMs in the relevant directories (folders).

SohailNassiri

@columboscoat OK, got it, cheers!

columboscoat

@SohailNassiri No problem. Again. I'm just sitting watching YouTube and doing not very much. Happy to help. Most people on this forum are more than willing to help out someone struggling but they do expect you to read the resources available and to provide all the info needed. Simply because everyone's set-up is so different and there are so many variables that it can just turn into a guessing game sometimes. Anyway, good luck. If you encounter any further issues unrelated to installation I would advise you to search the forum first then start a new thread if you can't find a solution.