Files
libretro/wiki/troubleshooting.md
T
Abdessamad Derraz 70d761682c docs: plain copy on the newcomer pages
The Start here pages ran 460 to 2,100 words and the first command of
Get your files sat 254 words down. Each page now opens on its action,
with short sentences and one fact per block. The facts a newcomer does
not act on moved one level down: the legal analysis to wiki/legal.md,
the project terms to wiki/reference-terms.md, the annotated run and the
installer failures to the installer page, collection figures to a new
Explore index.

tests/test_site_copy.py holds the budgets on the generated pages, and
the testing guide states them with their reasons.

Four statements the repository contradicts are rewritten: prboom.wad
is compiled into PrBoom (emulators/prboom.yml), Batocera reports a
mismatch as UNTESTED (batocera-systems checkBios), 13 hle_fallback
entries are required, and the gaps headline splits missing firmware
from game data and unread entries.
2026-10-22 14:23:54 +02:00

2.7 KiB

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When a game does not start

Most of the time, a BIOS file is missing or is the wrong version. Three checks find it.

1. Check your BIOS folder

Run the command with --check. It changes nothing.

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --check

Read the count line:

  1/109 present (0 verified, 1 wrong hash)
  • wrong hash: a file is there, but its contents are wrong. It may be for another region or model, or damaged.
  • Fewer present than the total: some files are missing.
  • 0 wrong hash and all present: your files are fine. Go to step 3.

2. Fix the files

Run the same command without --check. It adds the missing files and replaces the wrong ones. It keeps the old ones in retrobios-backup, beside your BIOS folder.

3. Check the folder and the names

  • Right folder? Your emulator must read the folder the command used. Your setup's page names it.
  • Is the name exact? scph5501.bin and SCPH-5501.BIN are two different names. On Linux, capital letters count too.
  • Unzipped by hand on Linux? Use the command. Some emulators there need a lower-case name the ZIP lacks.
  • A ZIP in parts will not open? Download every part, like Pack.part1of2.zip and Pack.part2of2.zip. Unzip each one into the same folder.

One console only

Add --system and its name:

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --check --system sony-playstation --verbose

--verbose names each missing or wrong file. --list-systems shows every console name.

My setup says UNTESTED

Batocera shows UNTESTED for a file whose contents it does not expect. Run the command without --check to replace it.

If the command fails

  • Network error: check that github.com opens, then try again.
  • Permission denied: on Batocera, Recalbox and ROCKNIX, put sudo and a space before the command. It then runs as the administrator.
  • No setup found: name it yourself, with your BIOS folder:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --platform retroarch --dest ~/.config/retroarch/system

Other messages: Details: When something goes wrong.

!!! tip "Next"

- [Your setup's page](../which-pack.md): its folder and how it checks files
- [FAQ](faq.md)