Asking for help installing Picochess 4.2 on Pi4

[oeste...@gmail.com]

Hello Picochess friends!

I have a Pi4 from 2018 running Picochess 3.1. I have been away from the computer chess scene for a couple of years, and now I would like to test the new Picochess 4.2. 

As my knowledge about coding, compiling etc. is very limited, I have been searching for an image ready for flashing to a SD-card (like my 3.1 version of Picochess), but I have not been able to find such an 4.2 image.

I have been trying to follow Johan Sjostroms guide on his GitHub page (flashing OS-images with the Pi Imager and compiling Picochess), but I have not had any success. When I flash a Trixie-based 64-bit OS (desktop version), my Pi boots to the prompt, but does not boot into Desktop mode. When I flash a Bookworm-based 64-bit OS (desktop version), my Pi hangs on boot.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Regards

Torben

[Dimosthenis Aliferis]

I think this will do

https://groups.google.com/g/picochess/c/f0lfmQZCHhk/m/WJOi_0oZCQAJ

[Randy Reade]

Make sure you are using the latest version of Raspberry Pi Imager when flashing the latest Trixie 64-bit Desktop OS.

I did share a v4 image (check back through the forum) but I’m not sure how well the update function will work. Probably best to follow Johan’s instructions using the latest Trixie.

I will eventually get time to update my images.

Randy

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[Antonio]

https://groups.google.com/g/picochess/c/M6V9BHEAA6w

[oeste...@gmail.com]

Hi all

Thanks for your quick help!

It seems my main problem was that the EEPROM needed updating.

I am now up and running Picochess 4.2.1 on a Trixie-based 64-bit OS :-)

Regards

Torben

onsdag den 18. februar 2026 kl. 16.31.43 UTC+1 skrev Antonio:

https://groups.google.com/g/picochess/c/M6V9BHEAA6w

[RandyR]

Good to know.

[oeste...@gmail.com]

Hi again

Well, one problem remains. My Pi4 does not log into Desktop or Picochess GUI, it only boots to the prompt.

Picochess is running fine in the background, and I can access it via the webserver. I can also log into Desktop and Picochess GUI by manually typing "startx" at the prompt. 

How to login into Picochess GUI automatically? I have enabled kiosk-mode autostart with no success. In raspi-config auto login to Desktop is enabled.

Still, my Pi4 only boots to the prompt. What to do?

Regards

Torben

[Randy Reade]

Can you use raspi-config and switch to Wayland in the Advanced menu (startx is for X11)? Also, are you using the latest Raspberry Pi OS or a custom image? Any errors in 'journalctl' that might point to something? 

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[oeste...@gmail.com]

Hi Randy

Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately switching to Wayland via raspi-config does not help.

I am using the latest Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit flashed via Raspberry Pi Imager v. 2.0.6.

I have no clue how to read/understand the log in journalctl.

Regards

Torben

[Randy Reade]

When did you lose the desktop? I assume it was working before running the install-picochess.sh script. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/picochess/871e4909-f37a-4863-a5e4-7e37ad7c4006n%40googlegroups.com.

[oeste...@gmail.com]

I never had the desktop! It always booted to the prompt (command line).

[oeste...@gmail.com]

By the way, I am running on a Pi4, model B, rev. 1.4, 4GB.

[Randy Reade]

How is your monitor attached? 

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[Randy Reade]

And, you're sure you didn't download the Lite image by mistake. 😊

On Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 1:29 p.m. oeste...@gmail.com <oeste...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[oeste...@gmail.com]

My monitor is attached by a HDMI cable.

And yes, I am sure I did not download the Lite image :-) It is a full image with desktop files, which I, as mentioned, have flashed with Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0.6.

[RandyR]

You could try adding the line 'hdmi_force_hotplug=1' to config.txt.

sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.txt

Add the line, save (Ctl-o, Ctl-x) and reboot.

If that doesn't work, use the command 'journalctl -b > systemlog.txt' and send me the systemlog.txt file using "Reply to author" (see 3 dots).

Randy