Read the statement by Michael Teeuw here.
Black screen instead of desktop after installing PIR sensor
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@Fozi MagicMirror framework is installed, yes.
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@Fozi I can’t reinstall Raspbian because this is for a science fair project, due in two weeks, and I put too much work into it for me to be able to finish on time if I reinstall. There has to be a way to get my desktop back without reinstalling.
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@09succotash As said, copy the whole MM-folder, eg. via scp to another PC and then reinstall Raspbian.
I’m sorry that I can’t provide a more satisfying solution:disappointed_face: -
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@Fozi Ahh, its ok. Thanks for your help, I’ll figure something out.
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@09succotash can u ssh into the machine?
is MM running on pm2? do pm2 status, and if not stopped do pm2 stop for each line (use number or name)
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@sdetweil I cannot ssh into it. I am able to access the terminal though. MM is running on pm2, I just setup an autostart script for it. I don’t think MM is causing the issue, because the issue started just when I was setting up the PIR sensor.
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@09succotash but it can’t hurt to stop it…
if you can get to terminal, then its not a desktop problem…
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@sdetweil I could only get to terminal, by right clicking somewhere on the screen. I tried stopping MM using pm2, didn’t have any effect.
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@09succotash said in Black screen instead of desktop after installing PIR sensor:
by right clicking somewhere on the screen
ok, so desktop is running, even tho u might not be able to see it…
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@sdetweil Exactly. It seems to be running, but my wallpaper, taskbar, and icons are gone. Black screen shows in its place.
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@09succotash this is stretch or???
lsb_release -a in the terminal window
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@sdetweil This is Raspbian Stretch, yep.
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@09succotash if u right click, does the popup menu have desktop preferences?
is should -
@sdetweil This is what mine looks like. The white bar at the top of the screen is vnc viewer, not the screen. I’m using vnc viewer on my laptop.

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@09succotash ok, select Desktops or reconfigure
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@sdetweil Clicked reconfigure, nothing shows up. Clicked desktop, just shows a list of desktops. Shows 4 desktops. I’ve been through them all, shows the same black screen.
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@09succotash in the terminal window, if u run sudo raspi-config
and look at boot options…beyond that there are 1 few (hundred) posts about problems like this if u search google
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@sdetweil Boot options, and then what?
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@09succotash I might try to change desktop with login
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