config.txt killed my Pi !?!

[snusmumriken]

Hi There,

I ordered 2 Pis (intend to build one into a desktop and one into a laptop) and a HDMI-VGA adaptor (Adafruit part # 1151). I monkeyed around with the setup options and config.txt to get a decent display resolution. Somehow in the process I corrupted my pre-loaded SD card and after searching around I used BerryBoot to load up a new card and download Raspbian again.

So far so good. Then I tried changing config.txt again (still was only getting 640x480 resolution) and at some point in the process one of my Pis went into an infinite boot cycle. And it's locked there now. At power on the rainbow screen appears, and then the initial graphic of BerryBoot shows up and then click -- the pi reboots and I see the rainbow screen, then initial graphic of BerryBoot, and click... you get the idea.

The reason I think it's hardware is that the same SD card works totally fine in my 2nd Pi.

Anyone ever run into this problem?

Thanks!
Keagan

[PS1981]

Are you sure you've got enough power, that it's not just resetting (switching off) for power reasons?

[snusmumriken]

Well, I have one power supply, one HDMI cable, one keyboard/mouse, one SD card. The steup works perfectly on one PI - move it all over to the second board and I get this cycle.

[Mobius]

Could still be the power supply is marginal given that the voltage drop across the input polyfuse may be slightly more on one of the Pis. Measure from TP1 to TP2 while booting. If the voltage ever drops below 4.75 volts that's an issue. You don't say what commands you are using in config.txt for your HDMI. Here is what I recommend (set for my resolution of 1366x768 - yours may be different):

Code: Select all

framebuffer_width=1366
framebuffer_height=768
hdmi_force_hotplug=1

All other commands remain commented out.

[snusmumriken]

Hi Mobius,
I had
hdmi_force_hotplug=1, hdmi_group=2, hdmi_mode=16, and the one about signalboos=4 (i'm at work now and can't quite remember!).

I'll check the power issue - the wacko board was made in China, good board in the UK. Don't know if ppl have noticed quality differences between manufactures... The powersupply says 5v 1A, but it was cheap so...

I'll also try the framebuffer options like you said - do you just not specify hdmi_group and hdmi_mode when using framebuffer?
Thanks again!
Keagan

[snusmumriken]

oh I see, all other comments are #commented out. thanks.

[snusmumriken]

Hi PS1981, Mobius,

So it was a power issue after all! I tried booting without the mouse and it booted up fine.

Thanks!

Still can't get the Adafruit HDMI to VGA to give me anything other than 640x480

Guess I'll have to live with shitty resolution till I can afford a new monitor.

Thanks again,
Keagan