3.6 KiB
level, order
| level | order |
|---|---|
| start | 50 |
Common questions
Do I need BIOS files?
- Yes for PlayStation 1 and 2, Saturn and Neo Geo.
- Better with it for Dreamcast: some games need it.
- Usually not for NES or Super Nintendo cartridges.
How do I know which BIOS I need?
Run the command with --dry-run. It lists the files, changing nothing.
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --dry-run
Do I need every file of a console?
No. A console often has one BIOS per region. To keep only yours, add your
region, like --region us.
Does the BIOS set the game's language?
Rarely. It comes from the game. Some games follow the console's setting, like Flycast's Language option.
Zip or unzip?
Unzip the ZIP you downloaded into the folder your setup's page names. Keep
the ZIPs inside zipped, like neogeo.zip.
Does a BIOS work on every setup?
Usually. The command installs the version each setup expects, like its
neogeo.zip.
My arcade game does not start
The game set must match the emulator's version, and neogeo.zip stays zipped.
Reference: Which version each emulator reads.
Keys, firmware or BIOS?
- BIOS or firmware: the console's own program, like
scph5501.bin. - Some newer consoles need a system update, like
PS3UPDAT.PUP, installed from the emulator's menu. - Keys unlock encrypted games, like
prod.keysfor Switch.
Can I play without the BIOS?
Sometimes. Some emulators carry a stand-in, and some games then fail.
Is the command safe?
- It stops if the installer does not match its expected fingerprint, then checks each file before saving it.
- It writes in your BIOS folder, and for some emulators in your save folder.
- It never touches a game or a save.
- It keeps any file it replaces in
retrobios-backup, next to your BIOS folder.--restoreputs it back.
Read them first: install.sh, install.ps1, install.py. How the installer checks itself.
Windows or my antivirus blocks the command
Download your setup's ZIP from Get your files instead.
Fill an SD card from a computer?
Yes. Name your setup and the BIOS folder on the card. For RetroArch on a Switch
card in drive E::
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh \
| sh -s -- --platform retroarch --dest /path/to/sdcard/retroarch/cores/system
No internet on the device?
Unzip your setup's ZIP into the folder its page names. To check each file, use
--from-pack: Without a network.
My setup is not in the list
- Name your emulator's BIOS folder with
--dest. - ES-DE, LaunchBox: the command fills the folders of the emulators they start.
- iPhone, iPad: no terminal. Use the ZIP.
Why is a file missing from the ZIP?
Some come with the emulator, so the ZIP leaves them out.
My game shows a black screen
A BIOS file is often missing: When a game does not start.
Is this legal?
Laws differ by country. Is it legal?