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LG WebOStv - Play games on RetroArch from USB drive
#!/bin/bash
# === For rooted LG TVs with WebOsBrew installed only ===
#
# On LG WebOStv, RetroArch only have access to a few jailed folders so to run games on a usb drive,
# we need to 'merge' the USB mounting point with one of those jailed folders using OverlayFS.
# The scripts on folder '/var/lib/webosbrew/init.d/' will run after every tv boot.
# Remove the $STARTUP_FOLDER/$SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT and reboot to revert the change.
#
# Tested on 7.3.0-03.30.72
#
# Steps:
# - Copy this script to a pen drive and insert it to the TV
# - Check if the folder '/tmp/usb/sda/sda1/' exists and have the content of your pen drive.
# - Run the script
#
# The folder structure might be different depending of your TV version
set -euo pipefail
JAILED_FOLDER=/var/palm/jail/com.retroarch/media/internal
USB_MOUTING_POINT1=/tmp/usb/sda/sda1/
USB_MOUTING_POINT2=/tmp/usb/sdb/sdb1/
USB_MOUTING_POINT3=/tmp/usb/sdc/sdc1/
SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT=add_usb_drive_to_retroarch_media_folder
STARTUP_FOLDER=/var/lib/webosbrew/init.d
echo -e "#!/bin/bash \nmount -t overlay -olowerdir=${JAILED_FOLDER}:${USB_MOUTING_POINT1},nofail overlay ${JAILED_FOLDER}" > $STARTUP_FOLDER/$SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT
echo -e "\nmount -t overlay -olowerdir=${JAILED_FOLDER}:${USB_MOUTING_POINT2},nofail overlay ${JAILED_FOLDER}" > $STARTUP_FOLDER/$SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT
echo -e "\nmount -t overlay -olowerdir=${JAILED_FOLDER}:${USB_MOUTING_POINT3},nofail overlay ${JAILED_FOLDER}" > $STARTUP_FOLDER/$SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT
chmod +x $STARTUP_FOLDER/$SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT
echo "Script ${STARTUP_FOLDER}/${SCRIPT_TO_RUN_AFTER_BOOT} created."
echo "Press any key to reboot and activate changes or CRTL+C to quit."
read -n 1
reboot
@shienok
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shienok commented Jan 11, 2025

Hi. Almost a year has passed, but my problem is still not solved.
LG C3, rooted, webos 8.2.0-710 (number1-nambung), software version 03.20.17.
Retroarch version 1.19.1 (from Homebrew Channel)
I tried 2 different flash drives with 8 and 16 gb. I tried ntfs, fat32, exfat.
My steaps:

  1. I formated flash drive. On empty flash drive i put only 2 files - add_usb_drive_to_retroarch_media_folder_install.sh and Donkey Kong Country 2 - Diddy's Kong Quest (USA) (En,Fr).sfc. I set flash drive on TV.
  2. On my pc i opened Dev Manager, successfuly conncted to my TV, opened Terminal
  3. I entered: cd /tmp/usb/sda/sda1/
  4. I checked success: ls (i see only those 2 files)
  5. I entered: sh add_usb_drive_to_retroarch_media_folder_install.sh. Pressed random buttom, TV reloaded succesfully.
  6. On TV i open Retroarch, i load snes core, i go to Load Content, i see:
    /media/internal
    /tmp/usb/sda/sda1/
    /
  7. I go to /tmp/usb/sda/sda1/ - and see nothing.

I plug off usb flash drive, set it into my PC and see only this:
-Smart TV (empty folder)
-add_usb_drive_to_retroarch_media_folder_install.sh (file)
-Donkey Kong Country 2 - Diddy's Kong Quest (USA) (En,Fr).sfc (file)

Pls what am i doing wrong?(

@maatthc
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maatthc commented Jan 16, 2025

Hi @shienok ,
Perhaps your TV is mounting the usb drive in another location, like @Nalle65 described above.
Also, try another ROM - mine are all .zip files (no idea that is inside) or .smc ..

@shienok
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shienok commented Jan 16, 2025

Hi @shienok , Perhaps your TV is mounting the usb drive in another location, like @Nalle65 described above. Also, try another ROM - mine are all .zip files (no idea that is inside) or .smc ..

Thanx for reply, pls can you write full Nalle65's code here so i can replace your original code with Nalle65's version?
I am not a programmer) i realy dont understand where to put his text code.
Thanx!

@maatthc
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maatthc commented Jan 17, 2025

Hi @shienok ,
Updated.. try and let me know if it works..

@tricky67
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On my rooted LG TV, com.retroarch is actually com.retroarch.webos. So needed this in the script
JAILED_FOLDER=/var/palm/jail/com.retroarch.webos/media/internal
Also needed to comment out the sdb and sdc lines to make it use mu USB on sda

@maatthc
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maatthc commented Feb 27, 2025

Hi @tricky67 , thanks!
I might add a test for that in the script.
What version of WeOs is your tv at?

@2gammer21
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so i rooted my lg tv, firgured out a path to ftp into the tv, i can ftp into my 2tb drive, but kodi and retro arch cant see my flash drive, and when i terminal in web os manager its un seeable, but the native apps can still use my drive

@HenryKun55
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Alguém conseguiria fazer um vídeo de como eu consigo rodar esse script sem ter feito root na tv ?

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