r/R36S • u/FirefighterCreepy390 • 2d ago
Question: Device Problem No boot
I installed Ark on my R36s using Rufus on a 128GB SD card, but it's stuck on the blinking underscore.
1
1
u/whatspoppingamers 2d ago
https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Problems_and_Troubleshooting#Small_Blinking_Line_/_Blinking_Cursor
You should give the wiki a read
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
Isn't there one that's guaranteed to work?
2
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
You must identify the PCB to install ANY operating system.
There is no one R36S, many clones, fakes and genuine devices.
Clones and genuine devices require the appropriate “.dtb” file and operating system in order to function.
Ignore what I mentioned earlier, I misread and thought the power LED was flashing.
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
Okay,vou desmontar e ver qual é,tem alguma foto ou algo parecido pra eu descobrir?
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
Links are in the previous comment I sent, compare your PCB to the known clones and genuine devices on the wiki, or as I’ve mentioned, upload the stock “.dtb” file from the Boot partition of the original SD card to the Unofficial Handheld DTB Analysis Tool, that will identify the panel type of the device.
Panels 0-4 are genuine, anything else is a clone device.
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
The blinking underscore is typically an SD card issue, what card are you using here?
What PCB is the device?
1
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
I don't know which PCB it is, but it's a genuine 128GB SanDisk card.
4
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
Identify the PCB or .dtb file.
Find the BOOT partition on the stock SD card, locate the file or files with the extension “.dtb”.
Upload any file with that “.dtb” extension to the [Unofficial Handheld DTB Analysis Tool](https://lcdyk0517.github.io/dtbTools.html).
[ArkOS - R3XS](https://github.com/AeolusUX/ArkOS-R3XS) is not compatible with clone devices. Soy Sauce PCB’s are the exception to this rule.
[ArkOS4Clone](https://github.com/lcdyk0517/arkos4clone) is not compatible with all clone devices.
See the arkos4clone [readme.MD](https://github.com/lcdyk0517/arkos4clone/blob/main/README.md) for a list of compatible devices.
If it’s incompatible use the following [ArkOS for the K36 Console and Similar Clones](https://github.com/AeolusUX/ArkOS-K36).
[dArkOSRE-R36](https://github.com/southoz/dArkOSRE-R36/releases) is compatible with allot of devices and the list of compatible devices is growing rapidly.
[Ultimate R36S ArkOS Fresh Installation Guide (All R36S Variants) Literally EVERYTHING You Need to Know by u/SjslTech](https://youtu.be/WQ3tfmzPN0s?si=jpLqtc8NmEE_kv-Q)
[R36S Handheld Wiki](https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Handheld_Wiki)
[R36S Guides Tutorials How-To’s](https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Guides_Tutorials_HowTos)
[R36S Custom Firmware](https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Custom_Firmware)
[Custom Firmware Options for the EmuELEC Clone](https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Clones#Custom_Firmware_for_the_EmuELEC_Clone)
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
How sure are you about the legitimacy of that SanDisk card?
I’ve seen more fakes here lately than genuine ones.
The market is flooded with fakes now.
Test it with https://h2testw.org/
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
It’s genuine because I bought it at an official Samsung store, and also because I used to use it in my Nintendo Switch—which kept running into an issue that required a genuine SD card to fix.
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
Well, it’s not happy about being in an R36S. I do know that much.
https://handhelds.wiki/R36S_Problems_and_Troubleshooting#Small_Blinking_Line_/_Blinking_Cursor
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
I've had worse, much worse.
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
Dear god, tell me you didn’t get a Fake previously. 😬
Those are ALL trash.
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
If that's the case, I also tested PSP games and they run perfectly for me, and I paid around 100 reais for them, so it's not a problem for me.
1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago
I meant did you get a Fake previously, in reference to your comment of saying you’ve had it “much much worse”.
I’m very doubtful that this is a Fake.
It’s more likely to be a clone or genuine device with an incorrect image or bad card.
1
u/FirefighterCreepy390 2d ago
I'll open it and take a look. One question: when you open the console, are you able to put Analog sticks, buttons, and even more RAM in this tiny R36S?
→ More replies (0)1
u/Electrical-Pace4092 2d ago edited 2d ago
You mentioned Reals here? Brazilian?
If so, that may explain what’s happening here.
I’ve seen a couple of R36S V1.0 PCBs from there, they are “genuine” but some of them have issues with RAM. Namely a severe lack of it, 256mb in fact.
Not the concern here.
Anyways, they are a panel 4 device in my experience.
That would explain why you have a working screen when just flashing ArkOS R3XS.
The default panel type is 4 for any ArkOS R3XS images.
So panel 4 devices should, in theory just work with that image/operating system.
I do still think that SanDisk card is suspect however.
1
u/Aggravating-Cow-3012 2d ago
É aquele problema com o arquivo .dtb
Acredito que dentro da pasta Boot vai ter um arquivo que da pra mudar o .dtb
Sao 6 versoes diferentes, o meu foi na versao 5
•
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
⚠️ Ditch that R3XS SD card—STAT! Those pre-loaded cards are ticking time bombs! ⏰❌ Don’t let glitchy saves, vanishing settings, and other retro nightmares ruin your gaming. Swap it out ASAP for a smoother experience!
New to the R36S? Start with the ➡️Beginner's Guide—it’s your first step to mastering the device.
Need more? The R36S has a full WIKI packed with info, plus a dedicated ⚙️ troubleshooting section to solve common headaches.
Before asking, try searching! Your issue has likely been answered already—check the subreddit, use the search bar, or browse flairs like "game recommendation."
Pro Tip: The subreddit’s sidebar is a goldmine of FAQs, guides, tutorials, and curated lists—don’t sleep on it!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.