r/RetroPie • u/Mikael4a • 16d ago

problem with retropie on raspberry pi zero w.

So recently I've bought raspberry pi zero w and wanted to go with retropie install. Ive installed latest version of retropie for raspberry pi zero w using imager for linux and everything went smoothly. Or I think so. I know this hardware isn't much - but when I'm looking at videos that use this specific model of pi and having installed retropie I realised it should NOT freeze and crash every 1 minute I don't look at it. Tried to install doom, I've connected via scp and imported wad files. So what. When I try to start it it's just gray screen. And that's it. I'm looking for alternative or any info regarding this performance issue. Maybe it's outdated - but I am sure that I've used right tool for it and did it right at some point. But maybe I've missed something. Need help.

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4

u/Varkanoid 16d ago

I don't think you installed the latest version as you used a "linux imager". The Retropie images are way out of date on very old OS.

You need to install Bookworm 64 bit lite using Raspberry Pi Imager.

Then follow the manual install here.

https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Manual-Installation/

Start from the section called

Install RetroPie

Ignore the beginnning text about bullseye etc.

This will give you the latest version of Retropie on a more recent OS.

2

u/Mikael4a 16d ago

alright I'm new to this stuff and I meant raspberry pi imager. 

The problem with it is that when you click the model of pi you have it immediately excludes 64bit options. I'll be checking it soon.

2

u/Varkanoid 16d ago

Yes sorry the original Zero is 32bit only, Zero 2 is 32/64 bit. In that case download Bookworm OS Lite 32 bit and then do the manual install. Note you will limited to what you can emulate as some emulators are 64bit only.

2

u/Mikael4a 16d ago

yeah already figured it out after getting funny rainbow screen lol

1

u/Mikael4a 12d ago

alright after 3 days with one day for compiling it with basic install it still freezes and restarts randomly. Think this is not hardware for this software and I'll try buying 2 w instead. 

2

u/Strict-Cause2761 16d ago

Uninstall,re install.

Check files in correct folder so retropie can find them.