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libretro/wiki/first-install.md
T
Abdessamad Derraz bbbf551140 docs: first install for the full screen
The one-liner opens the full screen, and the page walked through the
line questions. It now shows the first screen, the keys and the
controller, Install, the copy from an old card and the result titles.
Troubleshooting no longer asks to move a nested bios folder by hand.
2026-10-23 18:31:33 +02:00

169 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown

---
level: start
order: 30
---
# First install, step by step
From an empty BIOS folder to games that start.
**You need:** internet and some free space. The installer says how much.
## 1. Open a terminal and paste
A **terminal** is a window where you type commands. Paste the line for your
system, then press Enter.
<Tabs syncKey="os">
<TabItem label="Windows">
Open the Start menu. Type **PowerShell** and open it.
```powershell title="PowerShell"
irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.ps1 | iex
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="macOS">
Open **Terminal**. It is in Applications, then Utilities.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Linux">
Open a terminal.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Steam Deck">
Switch to Desktop Mode and open **Konsole**.
```sh title="Terminal"
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh
```
</TabItem>
<TabItem label="Android (Termux)">
Install **Termux**, a terminal app. Run these three lines in it.
```sh title="Terminal"
pkg install python
termux-setup-storage
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh
```
</TabItem>
</Tabs>
On Batocera, Recalbox and similar setups, see
[Get your files](../which-pack.md).
## 2. Check the setup it found
It opens a menu:
```
RetroBIOS: Where do you play?
Found on this machine:
> <your setup>
Another setup or folder
BIOS folder: <its folder>
```
- **Right folder?** Press Enter.
- **Wrong folder?** Choose **Another setup or folder**, then browse to yours.
- **A handheld's SD card in a reader?** It is listed, as **muOS SD card**.
Arrows move, Enter chooses, Esc goes back. A controller's A and B do the same.
## 3. Install
The next screen counts the missing files and the free space.
Press Enter on **Install**. **Choose systems** keeps the consoles you
play.
**Old card?** In a card reader, choose **Copy the BIOS files from your old
card or a folder**, then the card. It stays unchanged.
## 4. Wait
B or Ctrl+C stops it. Run it again to carry on.
## 5. Read the result
- **Done**: all files are in place.
- **Finished with errors**: run the command again. It retries only those.
- **Nothing installed**: the screen says why. See [If it stops](#if-it-stops).
For questions line by line (screen readers), add `--plain`.
## What the command does
<!-- image: install-flow -->
## Check it later
Add `--check` to the same command. It changes nothing.
<!-- os-tabs -->
```sh
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --check
```
All good:
```
109/109 present (109 verified, 0 wrong hash)
```
## Undo
Files it replaces go to a `retrobios-backup` folder beside your BIOS folder.
The result says how to restore them.
## If it stops
### Nothing was found here.
Choose **Another setup or folder**, then your setup and its folder.
### Error: Python 3.8 or newer is required.
The message shows the command that installs Python. Run it, then run the
installer again.
A RetroPie 4.8 image has Python 3.7.3, and its update command finds nothing
newer. Run the command on a computer, with
`--platform retropie --dest \\RETROPIE\bios\`.
### Error: the downloaded installer does not match its expected fingerprint.
The download was cut short. Nothing was changed. Run the command again.
### Cannot create ...
You cannot write there. Do what the message says.
### The card is full
Nothing was written. Free some space, or choose another folder.
### The game still does not start
See [When a game does not start](troubleshooting.md).
## Next steps
- [Get your files](../which-pack.md)
- [When a game does not start](troubleshooting.md)
- Details: [Reading the installer's output, line by line](installer.md#reading-a-run)