The safe way to store BIOS & ROM files.
Staying organised and legal is crucial. If you are new to this beautiful hobby, this might be a challenge. Although an easy one to overcome with our guide. Here’s how to do it right.
1. Dump Your Own Games
Ensure to dump your own games and not download roms or BIOS files from an unknown source. You never know at the end what you download and how trustworthy an unknown site might be. So be careful.
Recommended tools to dump your own games:
- Retrode
- GB Operator
- Modded PS2/Wii
- PC DVD drives (for GC/PS2/Wii via special tools)
2. Organize Your Directories
Use clean folder structures as per the examples below. Keep a separate folder for each system. Don't mix them. Certain Emulators or Frontends will not be able to handle your games properly, if you don't follow a proper structure.
Example:
/roms/snes
/roms/gb
/roms/psx
/roms/ps2
3. Backup Everything
Always keep your games at least twice. Store copies on:
- Cloud storage
- USB stick
- NAS
4. Avoid BIOS Packs
Dump your own or use community tools designed for legal extraction.
5. Keep Systems Separate
Every emulator prefers its own file structure.
Share your organisation tips in the replies.
