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libretro/wiki/first-install.md
T
Abdessamad Derraz 0fb1047231 feat: count game data apart from BIOS files
The installer knew BIOS files from game data and no count showed it.
The plan, the line menu and the result count them apart for a list that
marks game data, the plan gets a game data row and the menu a g key,
each toggling it in one press, and one sentence says what game data is.
2026-10-27 16:03:25 +01:00

184 lines
4.4 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.
## 1. Open a terminal and paste
A **terminal** is a window where you type commands. Paste your system's
line, 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, or a handheld's SD card?** Choose
**Another setup or folder**. Press / and type the device (Miyoo Mini),
or browse.
Arrows move, Enter chooses, Esc goes back, as A and B on a handheld.
## 3. Install
The next screen counts missing files and free space.
Press Enter on **Install**. **Choose systems** keeps the consoles you
play.
**Game data** is what a game reads, of no use to other cores. The count
shows it apart, and its row leaves it out.
**Old card?** In a card reader, choose **Copy the BIOS files from your old
card or a folder**, then the card.
## 4. Wait
Esc or Ctrl+C stops, B on a handheld. Run again to resume.
## 5. Read the result
- **Done**: all files are in place.
- **Finished with errors**: run the command again. It retries only those.
- **Finished with files missing**: run it again online.
- **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 your setup in the list, then its folder. Where the screen offers
**Another setup or folder**, choose it first.
### Error: Python 3.8 or newer is required.
The message shows the command that installs Python. Run it, then run the
installer again.
RetroPie 4.8 has Python 3.7.3, and its update finds nothing newer. Run it on
a computer, with RetroPie's `bios` share open, `\\RETROPIE\bios` from Windows:
<!-- RetroPie-Setup scriptmodules/supplementary/samba.sh:49-52 (46128cd2) shares
$home/RetroPie/BIOS as "bios", and RetroPie docs/Transferring-Roms.md:29 names
\\RETROPIE. -->
<!-- os-tabs windows: --platform retropie --dest \\RETROPIE\bios\ -->
```sh
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --platform retropie --dest <the bios share>
```
### Error: the downloaded installer does not match its expected fingerprint.
The download was cut short. 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 on the card. On a computer, you can
also 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)