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A New Chapter for MagicMirror: The Community Takes the Lead
Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.

MM always black screen with cursor

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  • N Offline
    nowayto
    last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 1:26 PM

    Hello guys,
    it’s been a whole week since I’m trying to install MagicMirror on a Raspberry PI 3 model A+.
    I waited like 3 years and now I have the free time to setting it up.
    I’m writing on this forum because there is no way to make it work.
    The principal issue is when I start the service the screen will became black with cursor on it and it wont display anything. Neither the clock.

    Raspberry is not freeze, if I press CTRL + Q it return on desktop, and work normally.

    I tried, no joking, like one million times…
    with manual installation’s first because I usually prefer manual methods and, as latest trying, I tried automatic script from “sdetweil”.

    On every test I made I started from a clean installation so:
    1- wipe the sd
    2- install bookworm 64 bit with desktop with “raspberry pi imager”. OS downloaded from raspberry site.
    4- boot and start the update/installation

    First times I update the OS before nodejs and MM installation, on the last times I didn’t update OS just to check if like this it will work.

    Another detail is I tried to disable pihole (installed in another raspberry) for 40 minutes, in order to complete the script installation without any network interferences but nothing.
    Honestly I think pihole is not connected to my issue, but I tried before disturb you in the forum.

    So every time, after the installation, I have a black screen with cursor.
    Another detail:
    Now I’m using an lcd (9-10 inches) connected with an lcd controller board, I though it should be an LCD/controller issue so I tried also to connect it on my tv screen and nothing.
    Black screen with cursor, again.

    I’m becoming CRAZY… tha’t why my name is nowayto…make it work!

    The installation is so simple! It’s impossible it doesn’t work.
    I also read every forum on google to find a solution for my issue but nothing.
    If this issue was appeared after a config.js modification, I will knew it was my fault but in that case…
    I didn’t make any modification… I’m trying just a simple startup.

    If you can help me I’ll really thank you for your time guys.
    Thanks a lot

    S 1 Reply Last reply Feb 24, 2025, 1:37 PM Reply Quote 0
    • N Offline
      nowayto @sdetweil
      last edited by Feb 25, 2025, 8:20 PM

      After 1 millions of tests and trying… now it works.
      It seems it start to work using “raspbian bookworm 32bit legacy”.
      I tried with the non-legacy too and it didn’t work.
      Is that possible?
      I’m asking that because I know my 3 model A+ is 64bit capable.
      Honestly, without your advice… I’ll never though it could be the OS.
      Thank you a lot, now I’ll start a new chapter: the configuration

      S 2 Replies Last reply Feb 25, 2025, 8:28 PM Reply Quote 0
      • S Offline
        sdetweil @nowayto
        last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 1:37 PM

        @nowayto show some of the config.js

        show the messages for npm start

        3a probably would be better w the 32 bit os image, legacy

        if you used the scripted install show the ~/install.log

        Sam

        How to add modules

        learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

        N 1 Reply Last reply Feb 24, 2025, 2:40 PM Reply Quote 0
        • N Offline
          nowayto @sdetweil
          last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 2:40 PM

          @sdetweil Thank you for the answer.
          Ok, this evening I’ll show the ~/install.log and I’ll try to install MM with 32bit image.
          I have another micro SD to test.
          “show the messages for npm start” do you mean to copy the log screen I see from SSH?
          To start MM I tried 3 ways:
          1- from ssh “npm run start” “npm start”
          2- from ssh the “DISPLAY=:0…(etc etc)” command
          3- from terminal, directly on raspberry, “npm run start” and “npm start”

          S 1 Reply Last reply Feb 24, 2025, 4:09 PM Reply Quote 0
          • S Offline
            sdetweil @nowayto
            last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 4:09 PM

            @nowayto show

            cd ~/MagicMirror
            npm start >somefile.txt

            then when screen up, ctrl-q

            and look at somefile.txt

            Sam

            How to add modules

            learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

            N 1 Reply Last reply Feb 24, 2025, 8:07 PM Reply Quote 0
            • N Offline
              nowayto @sdetweil
              last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 8:07 PM

              @sdetweil

              This is the result inside the *.txt

              magicmirror@2.30.0 start
              npm run start:x11

              magicmirror@2.30.0 start:x11
              DISPLAY=“${DISPLAY:=:0}” ./node_modules/.bin/electron js/electron.js

              [2025-02-24 20:55:20.171] [LOG] Starting MagicMirror: v2.30.0
              [2025-02-24 20:55:22.568] [LOG] Loading config …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:22.695] [LOG] config template file not exists, no envsubst
              [2025-02-24 20:55:31.157] [INFO] Checking config file /home/berrymirror/MagicMirror/config/config.js …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:31.368] [INFO] Your configuration file doesn’t contain syntax errors :)
              [2025-02-24 20:55:31.371] [INFO] Checking modules structure configuration …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.349] [INFO] Your modules structure configuration doesn’t contain errors :)
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.364] [LOG] Loading module helpers …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.371] [LOG] No helper found for module: alert.
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.399] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.401] [LOG] Module helper loaded: updatenotification
              [2025-02-24 20:55:33.404] [LOG] No helper found for module: clock.
              [2025-02-24 20:55:34.525] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:34.526] [LOG] Module helper loaded: calendar
              [2025-02-24 20:55:34.532] [LOG] No helper found for module: compliments.
              [2025-02-24 20:55:34.538] [LOG] No helper found for module: weather.
              [2025-02-24 20:55:35.571] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
              [2025-02-24 20:55:35.572] [LOG] Module helper loaded: newsfeed
              [2025-02-24 20:55:35.573] [LOG] All module helpers loaded.
              [2025-02-24 20:55:35.711] [LOG] Starting server on port 8080 …
              [2025-02-24 20:56:47.381] [LOG] Server started …
              [2025-02-24 20:56:49.306] [LOG] Connecting socket for: updatenotification
              [2025-02-24 20:56:50.754] [LOG] Starting module helper: updatenotification
              [2025-02-24 20:56:50.897] [LOG] Connecting socket for: calendar
              [2025-02-24 20:56:51.135] [LOG] Starting node helper for: calendar
              [2025-02-24 20:56:51.155] [LOG] Connecting socket for: newsfeed
              [2025-02-24 20:56:51.159] [LOG] Starting node helper for: newsfeed
              [2025-02-24 20:56:51.421] [LOG] Sockets connected & modules started …
              [2025-02-24 20:58:33.277] [LOG] Launching application.

              S 1 Reply Last reply Feb 24, 2025, 9:47 PM Reply Quote 0
              • S Offline
                sdetweil @nowayto
                last edited by Feb 24, 2025, 9:47 PM

                @nowayto i would wait a little longer, web app not open yet

                or npm start dev, in the dev window select the console tab

                see if there is an error displayed

                Sam

                How to add modules

                learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

                N 1 Reply Last reply Feb 25, 2025, 8:20 PM Reply Quote 0
                • N Offline
                  nowayto @sdetweil
                  last edited by Feb 25, 2025, 8:20 PM

                  After 1 millions of tests and trying… now it works.
                  It seems it start to work using “raspbian bookworm 32bit legacy”.
                  I tried with the non-legacy too and it didn’t work.
                  Is that possible?
                  I’m asking that because I know my 3 model A+ is 64bit capable.
                  Honestly, without your advice… I’ll never though it could be the OS.
                  Thank you a lot, now I’ll start a new chapter: the configuration

                  S 2 Replies Last reply Feb 25, 2025, 8:28 PM Reply Quote 0
                  • S Offline
                    sdetweil @nowayto
                    last edited by Feb 25, 2025, 8:28 PM

                    @nowayto i think 64 bit is ok, IF you have the physical memory
                    3A doesnt

                    Sam

                    How to add modules

                    learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • S sdetweil has marked this topic as solved on Feb 25, 2025, 8:28 PM
                    • S Offline
                      sdetweil @nowayto
                      last edited by sdetweil Feb 25, 2025, 8:34 PM Feb 25, 2025, 8:30 PM

                      @nowayto configuration, try my MMM-Config module. also supports installing modules

                      https://github.com/sdetweil/MMM-Config

                      Sam

                      How to add modules

                      learning how to use browser developers window for css changes

                      N 1 Reply Last reply Feb 26, 2025, 2:21 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • N Offline
                        nowayto @sdetweil
                        last edited by Feb 26, 2025, 2:21 PM

                        @sdetweil
                        very interesting. I’ve installed it, but I can’t access to webpanel.
                        Tried with:
                        http://IP:PORT/configure
                        http://LOCALHOST:PORT/configure
                        no access.
                        tried with standard 8080 and another port chosen by me.
                        computer IP is whitelisted, and clearly on same network.
                        config check is OK

                        ~/MagicMirror/config $ npm run config:check

                        magicmirror@2.30.0 config:check
                        node js/check_config.js
                        [2025-02-26 15:19:04.776] [INFO] Checking config file /home/PINAME/MagicM irror/config/config.js …
                        [2025-02-26 15:19:04.960] [INFO] Your configuration file doesn’t contain syntax errors :)
                        [2025-02-26 15:19:04.962] [INFO] Checking modules structure configuration …
                        [2025-02-26 15:19:05.229] [INFO] Your modules structure configuration doesn’t c ontain errors :)

                        Another little issues: sometimes I got black screen with cursor after “npm run start”
                        I have to restart it in order to making it work

                        S 1 Reply Last reply Feb 26, 2025, 2:34 PM Reply Quote 0
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