MM always black screen with cursor

nowayto

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

nowayto

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

sdetweil

@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

nowayto

@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”

sdetweil

@nowayto show

cd ~/MagicMirror
npm start >somefile.txt

then when screen up, ctrl-q

and look at somefile.txt

nowayto

@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.

sdetweil

@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

nowayto

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

sdetweil

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

sdetweil

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

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

nowayto

@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

sdetweil

@nowayto did you add my module to config.js

{
        module:"MMM-Config",
        position:"....one_of the positions",
         config:{
          }
},

sdetweil

@nowayto

on the startup, can you show the output of
npm run start

also show output of
free -m

nowayto

@sdetweil
Yes i did and the config checker gave me the OK

this is the startup
npm run start

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

[2025-02-26 15:00:59.702] [LOG] Starting MagicMirror: v2.30.0
[2025-02-26 15:01:01.515] [LOG] Loading config …
[2025-02-26 15:01:01.525] [LOG] config template file not exists, no envsubst
[2025-02-26 15:01:10.865] [INFO] Checking config file /home/MYRASPBERRYNAME/MagicM irror/config/config.js …
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.018] [INFO] Your configuration file doesn’t contain syntax errors :)
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.020] [INFO] Checking modules structure configuration …
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.253] [INFO] Your modules structure configuration doesn’t c ontain errors :)
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.473] [LOG] Loading module helpers …
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.480] [LOG] No helper found for module: alert.

nowayto

@sdetweil
free -m
total used free shared buff/cache available
Mem: 426 180 91 81 155 112
Swap: 1023 225 798

sdetweil

@nowayto more log info, i dont see info for mmm-config

nowayto

@sdetweil

npm run start

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

[2025-02-26 15:00:59.702] [LOG] Starting MagicMirror: v2.30.0
[2025-02-26 15:01:01.515] [LOG] Loading config …
[2025-02-26 15:01:01.525] [LOG] config template file not exists, no envsubst
[2025-02-26 15:01:10.865] [INFO] Checking config file /home/MYRASPBNAME/MagicM irror/config/config.js …
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.018] [INFO] Your configuration file doesn’t contain syntax errors :)
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.020] [INFO] Checking modules structure configuration …
[2025-02-26 15:01:11.253] [INFO] Your modules structure configuration doesn’t c ontain errors :)
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.473] [LOG] Loading module helpers …
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.480] [LOG] No helper found for module: alert.
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.519] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.522] [LOG] Module helper loaded: updatenotification
[2025-02-26 15:01:12.525] [LOG] No helper found for module: clock.
[2025-02-26 15:01:13.000] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
[2025-02-26 15:01:13.001] [LOG] Module helper loaded: calendar
[2025-02-26 15:01:13.005] [LOG] No helper found for module: compliments.
[2025-02-26 15:01:13.007] [LOG] No helper found for module: weather.
[2025-02-26 15:01:42.730] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
[2025-02-26 15:01:42.732] [LOG] Module helper loaded: MMM-Wallpaper
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.127] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.128] [LOG] Module helper loaded: MMM-Config
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.437] [LOG] Initializing new module helper …
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.438] [LOG] Module helper loaded: newsfeed
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.439] [LOG] All module helpers loaded.
[2025-02-26 15:01:43.455] [LOG] Starting server on port **** …
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.268] [LOG] Server started …
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.271] [LOG] Connecting socket for: updatenotification
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.288] [LOG] Starting module helper: updatenotification
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.290] [LOG] Connecting socket for: calendar
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.291] [LOG] Starting node helper for: calendar
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.293] [LOG] Connecting socket for: MMM-Wallpaper
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.295] [LOG] Starting node helper for: MMM-Wallpaper
[2025-02-26 15:02:26.306] [LOG] Connecting socket for: MMM-Config
[2025-02-26 15:02:27.236] [LOG] Connecting socket for: newsfeed
[2025-02-26 15:02:27.237] [LOG] Starting node helper for: newsfeed
[2025-02-26 15:02:27.258] [LOG] Sockets connected & modules started …
[2025-02-26 15:02:44.884] [LOG] Launching application.

sdetweil

@nowayto then you should be able to access the mmm-config urls

nowayto

@sdetweil

Exactly but I can’t access.
Now I’m trying give a whitelist complete access.

The only error I see is a GPU process error but I don’t think is connected to the web server.

[2025-02-26 22:43:49.784] [LOG] Launching application.
[7194:0226/224359.949078:ERROR:gpu_process_host.cc(1007)] GPU process exited unexpectedly: exit_code=512
[2025-02-26 22:44:42.117] [LOG]
[7194:0226/224442.468308:ERROR:gpu_process_host.cc(1007)] GPU process exited unexpectedly: exit_code=512
[7194:0226/224504.822973:ERROR:gpu_process_host.cc(1007)] GPU process exited unexpectedly: exit_code=512
[2025-02-26 22:45:56.193] [INFO] System information:

SYSTEM: manufacturer: Raspberry Pi Foundation; model: Raspberry Pi 3 Model A Plus Rev 1.1; virtual: false

OS: platform: linux; distro: Raspbian GNU/Linux; release: 11; arch: arm; kernel: 6.1.21-v7+

VERSIONS: electron: 32.3.1; used node: 20.18.1; installed node: 20.18.1; npm: 10.8.2; pm2: 5.4.3

OTHER: timeZone: Europe/Rome; ELECTRON_ENABLE_GPU: undefined

[2025-02-26 22:45:56.931] [LOG] Create new calendarfetcher for url: https://ics.calendarlabs.com/76/****MYCAL***** - Interval: 604800000
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.049] [LOG] Create new newsfetcher for url: http://www.MYRSS**- Interval: 300000
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.118] [INFO] updatenotification: Updater Class Loaded!
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.123] [INFO] updatenotification: Checking PM2 using…
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.125] [INFO] updatenotification: [PM2] You are not using pm2
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.128] [INFO] Checking git for module: MMM-Wallpaper
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.591] [INFO] Checking git for module: MMM-Config
[2025-02-26 22:45:57.893] [INFO] Checking git for module: MagicMirror
[2025-02-26 22:45:58.426] [INFO] Calendar-Fetcher: Broadcasting 10 events from https://ics.calendarlabs.com*****MYCAL****.
[2025-02-26 22:45:58.443] [INFO] Newsfeed-Fetcher: Broadcasting 10 items.

nowayto

@sdetweil
My fault. In config.js the adress was set in “localhost”… Sorry.
Now I set the IP and I granted the access

sdetweil

@nowayto yes, the doc mentions this, and if you had set

showQR:true

it would have displayed a message about localhost