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libretro/wiki/troubleshooting.md
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Abdessamad Derraz c33114714e feat: leave out names a FAT card refuses
FAT, exFAT and Windows refuse < > : " | ? * in a name (fs/fat/namei_vfat.c:201-207, fs/exfat/nls.c:396-403). RetroDECK's component manifest names zxs:48.rom, zxs:if1-2.rom and snes:st018.data.rom: on an exFAT card each write failed with EINVAL on every run. The installer now probes the BIOS folder as keeps_case does, leaves those entries out and names them.
2026-11-09 05:47:43 +01:00

3.8 KiB

level, order, terms
level order terms
start 40 bios not found, bios missing, firmware missing, bios error, check my bios folder, check bios folder

When a game does not start

Usually a BIOS file is missing or wrong.

1. Check my BIOS folder

Your emulator says BIOS not found, BIOS missing or firmware missing? Run the command with --check. It changes nothing.

curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh -s -- --check

Read the count line:

  0 in place, 108 missing, 1 wrong copy
  • wrong copy: another region or model, or damaged.
  • A number before missing: files are missing.
  • A line under a file, like still zipped, says the fix.
  • 0 missing, 0 wrong copies: go to step 3.

2. Fix the files

Without --check, it adds missing files and replaces wrong ones.

3. Check the folder and the names

  • Right folder? Get your files names it.
  • Exact name? scph5501.bin and SCPH-5501.BIN differ.
  • A bios folder inside your BIOS folder? The installer copies those files up one level.
  • BIOS setting on a subfolder, like system/dc? Point it at the BIOS folder. Emulators add their own, like dc/ for Flycast.
  • A ZIP in parts, like Pack.part1of2.zip? Unzip all parts into one folder.
  • "left out" on an exFAT card? The card refuses a : in a name. An ext4 card holds these files.

An arcade game does not start

It needs its BIOS set, like neogeo.zip, and a game set for the same emulator version.

The BIOS is fine, the game still fails

  • Another emulator? Each reads the files listed on its page.
  • A BIOS setting? Some emulators can skip the BIOS. In PCSX ReARMed, set BIOS Selection to Auto.
  • The screen says "Please insert PlayStation CD-ROM"? The BIOS works. The game did not load, so open its .cue or .m3u file, not a .bin.

If the command fails

  • Network error: try again later.
  • The clock reads ...: set the right date.
  • Permission denied: do what the message says.
  • No supported platform detected: name the folder. Not sure? Open RetroArch's Settings > Directory > System/BIOS.
curl -fsSL https://abdess.github.io/retrobios/i | sh -s -- --platform retroarch --dest ~/.config/retroarch/system

Other messages: When something goes wrong.

Next steps