Retropie question

[ClassicGMR]

OK I have tried to transfer files 2 ways:

 

1) USB method - the USB formatted to FAT32, Retropie creates the directories, I put the files in the proper rom directory and insert back to the Retropie for automatic transfer.

 

2) use Explorer to go to \\retropie and drag & drop over network

 

In both cases I get errors. The windows error that comes up states I don't have enough room. There's 26GB free on the RetroPie card, the file sizes are anywhere from 4MB to 32MB and yet when moving 886 files totaling 6.62GB there's an error. I successfully got 435 of them to transfer then:

 

6.22GB is needed to copy this item. Delete or move files so you have enough space.

 

As of this posting I am going to try and move 150 files at a time and see if that helps but I'm assuming it's something I am missing.

 

Also - the 522 Atari 2600 games transferred with no issues all at once.

Edited February 13, 2018 by ClassicGMR

[mr_me]

How are you determining how much free space is seen by Raspbian?

[ClassicGMR]

Explorer into \\Retropie

Go into the ROM directory

Select All

Properties

See how much is used

 

I also noticed about a 2GB disparity between SIZE and SIZE ON DISK.

 

EDIT: Moving 125 files at a time worked fine until I got about halfway through the list then the space error started again.

 

I found that if you F4 out of Emulationstation it gives you disk statistics.

Filesystem /dev/root

Size 31G

Used 1.9G

Avail 28G

Use% 7%

Mounted on /

Edited February 13, 2018 by ClassicGMR

[Mr Robot]

You should always leave at least 20% of your card space free for wear leveling, error correction, saved games files etc. etc. The system uses a chunk of space while running for swap and tmp files and other things of a mystic nature.

 

"Size" v's "Size on disk"... Welcome to the world of block sizes! if the block size is 4KB and you have a 1KB file, it will take up a minimum of 4KB on the disk, if a file is 4.01KB it takes up 8KB. You'd be amazed how quick this adds up.

[zzip]

OK I have tried to transfer files 2 ways:

 

1) USB method - the USB formatted to FAT32, Retropie creates the directories, I put the files in the proper rom directory and insert back to the Retropie for automatic transfer.

 

2) use Explorer to go to \\retropie and drag & drop over network

 

In both cases I get errors. The windows error that comes up states I don't have enough room. There's 26GB free on the RetroPie card, the file sizes are anywhere from 4MB to 32MB and yet when moving 886 files totaling 6.62GB there's an error. I successfully got 435 of them to transfer then:

I think I know what the problem might be, even though the card has all that free space, the image you put on it has a much smaller filesystem and isn't using that space. You have to resize it. See the following thread, there's a menu option that will do this for you:

 

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/5229/solved-how-do-i-resize-the-filesystem/3

[Mr Robot]

I think I know what the problem might be, even though the card has all that free space, the image you put on it has a much smaller filesystem and isn't using that space. You have to resize it. See the following thread, there's a menu option that will do this for you:

 

https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/5229/solved-how-do-i-resize-the-filesystem/3

 

If the image were still a shrunk image the

 

 

Filesystem /dev/root

Size 31G

Used 1.9G

Avail 28G

Use% 7%

Mounted on /

 

would report the smaller size.

Is this a cheap SD card from a iffy seller on eBay or Amazon? there are a lot of cards that say 32gb or whatever on them but in reality are rejects or much smaller cards hacked to report a larger size and reprinted. The wear leveling takes care of the missing space until the real card size is filled.

[ClassicGMR]

I found the source of my problem. I decided to go the USB permanent drive route. Works flawlessly.

 

My conclusions based on all your help is I have a crap card. ?

[toptenmaterial]

I found the source of my problem. I decided to go the USB permanent drive route. Works flawlessly.

 

My conclusions based on all your help is I have a crap card. ?

Here is a guide with ratings in respect to Retropie of many many cards

 

https://elinux.org/RPi_SD_cards

[Flojomojo]

Crap, or not formatted to use the whole thing. Glad you've fixed things!

[iesposta]

I doubt you were accessing the large Linux partition.

Probably you were copying to the small fat32 boot partition.

 

I always used an FTP/SFTP to connect and see the ext4 partition.

Now I just find premade images for 64GB or 128GB cards, and all the art, info, systems just work.

I can delete was I don't play, then SFTP over missing games / systems / new homebrews, etc.

 

It is way too easy to update something or mistype something and lose everything.

I had N64 Star Wars Pod Racer working great and Dragon's Lair and even Astrocade, and months of creating uploading original artwork. Now I can't remember how I got everything working.

[iesposta]

P.S. I never tried using the USB stick method.

[fujidude]

You should always leave at least 20% of your card space free for wear leveling, error correction, saved games files etc. etc. The system uses a chunk of space while running for swap and tmp files and other things of a mystic nature.

 

"Size" v's "Size on disk"... Welcome to the world of block sizes! if the block size is 4KB and you have a 1KB file, it will take up a minimum of 4KB on the disk, if a file is 4.01KB it takes up 8KB. You'd be amazed how quick this adds up.

 

Especially with the small files typical of retro systems.