DIY SD reader, kernel panic: not syncing

[jasarien]

Hey guys,

I'm following along with the guides and I'm currently working on the SD Reader cartridge mod. I've followed the guide as closely as I can and double, triple and quadruple checked all my soldering and connections with a multimeter and I'm still having issues.

When I try to boot retropie from the DIY SD reader, it get a kernel panic on boot saying "unable to mount VFS, not syncing, attempted to kill init".

If I use the same SD card in the built in reader on the Pi Zero, then it boots fine.

I've added a 1uF capacitor on pins 3 and 4 of the SD adaptor, as mentioned in the guide, so that should rule out signal noise. My capacitor had the same length legs, so I assumed it didn't have a polarity - but to be sure I've tried it both ways and still get the kernel panic.

I believe it's reading the card from the DIY reader, since it boots far enough to get the kernel panic - if no SD is inserted, the Pi Zero doesn't even power on.

Any help, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[marketus]

Hello, I have the same issue, but my pi doesn't even read the SD adaptor DIY, but when I fit it in the micro-sd socket it runs ok. I've already checked connections and everything is ok...

[Lpoolm]

Hey guys,

I'm following along with the guides and I'm currently working on the SD Reader cartridge mod. I've followed the guide as closely as I can and double, triple and quadruple checked all my soldering and connections with a multimeter and I'm still having issues.

When I try to boot retropie from the DIY SD reader, it get a kernel panic on boot saying "unable to mount VFS, not syncing, attempted to kill init".
If I use the same SD card in the built in reader on the Pi Zero, then it boots fine.

I've added a 1uF capacitor on pins 3 and 4 of the SD adaptor, as mentioned in the guide, so that should rule out signal noise. My capacitor had the same length legs, so I assumed it didn't have a polarity - but to be sure I've tried it both ways and still get the kernel panic.

I believe it's reading the card from the DIY reader, since it boots far enough to get the kernel panic - if no SD is inserted, the Pi Zero doesn't even power on.

Any help, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Did you find a solution to this, I also now have this problem?

[oliddell]

My 2 cents reading from other posts, you may want to shorten the cables as much as possible and twist the data lines (to shield from interference).

[Lpoolm]

My 2 cents reading from other posts, you may want to shorten the cables as much as possible and twist the data lines (to shield from interference).

Thanks will give that a go later, will report back if it works..

[Tainio]

Did anyone find a solution to this please?

[Lpoolm]

Did anyone find a solution to this please?

not yet, shortened my wires, shield my wires, same issue..
i have tried two different cartridge readers with the same issue which makes me think it is the wires within the game cart.
my next thing i will try (when i can be bothered!) is to move one wire at a time within the cart and cartridge reader, i am hoping i just have one wire causing an issue?

[McGyver]

I tried it similar... sometimes booting with some errors, meaning the wiring is ok, just the shielding is an issue...

My decision was to move the raspberry Pi Zero into the cartridge to get the micro SD card accessible from the outside without any extensions necessary. Since I am using an HDMI screen there is no argument to have the PI HDMI port accessible from outside anymore...