XFCE Desktop Environment for RG35XXP, RG35XXH, and RG35XXSP Handhelds

This project provides a method to install the XFCE desktop environment on RG35XXP, RG35XXH, and RG35XXSP handheld gaming consoles. It's designed to enhance the functionality of these devices by adding a versatile desktop environment.

[!IMPORTANT] 2024-09-10 UPDATE

The scripts are now updated to support firmware 1.1.6.

You can use the following disk image to avoid the need to run the scripts https://archive.org/details/rg-35-xx-p-v-1.1.6-en-16-gb-240822-xfce.-7z

[!CAUTION] If using the stock image above, you will need to remove xfce-screensaver to prevent desktop lock-ups. Once you log in, just run the following:

rm /etc/xdg/autostart/xfce4-screensaver.desktop
rm /etc/xdg/autostart/xscreensaver.desktop
apt remove -y xfce4-screensaver

The setup scripts run this automatically however this issue was not identified until after the image above was created. The screen will still blank after a timeout, but will no longer lock up.

Installation

1. Add the repository to TF1 (the internal SD card) in the directory /Roms/APPS. Make sure its unzipped.
2. Insert the SD card into the device, then connect the device to WiFi. Packages are not included as part of the repo so WiFi is required for installation.
3. Execute the app script install_xfce.sh. This process may take ~5-10 minutes, after which the console will reboot.
4. Navigate to the app XFCE and run it. The UI will be in Chinese and sound won't work initially.
5. Run the desktop item Run Setup Script. This will:
   • Correct the language
   • Update the OS
   • Fix the sound
   • Install a web browser
   • Perform other necessary configurations
6. When clicking the setup script, a popup in Chinese will appear. Select the first terminal option and then select the right option (O) to accept.
7. The setup process will take ~20 minutes. The console will reboot when complete.

[!NOTE] If the screen turns off during installation, it won't turn back on unless you use a physical mouse, as the D-pad doesn't trigger screen wake.

If you're not getting audio after booting to desktop, switch the input device. While I managed to get Pulse set up and running, I cant for the life of me manage to figure out how to get it to select the right sink when XFCE starts.

Usage

To launch the XFCE desktop environment:

• Navigate back to the APPS directory and select XFCE to run it.

Additional Notes

• A virtual keyboard and a joypad-to-mouse application are preinstalled.
• You can remap keys using the joypad icon on the taskbar, but this requires a physical mouse.
• Install an adblocker in Firefox ASAP, as the device has limited memory for rendering webpages.
• YouTube videos may play better in fullscreen mode.

Important Notes

• Discretion Advised: Installing this environment may affect other functionalities of the device. No adverse effects have been observed, but installation is at the user's discretion.
• Peripheral Support: The environment supports (not requires) mouse and keyboard, which are necessary for remapping QJoyPad.

Contributing

Feel free to fork this project and contribute. If you have any suggestions, improvements, or want to contribute to the project, please do so through GitHub.

Contact

For any queries or discussions regarding this project, please open an issue on this GitHub repository.