The Complete ROMs & BIOS Organization Guide (Best File Types, Converting, .m3u Playlists & More!)

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

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[@_ghr0_]

Don't know about you but I heard "folders" and "organization" and got all excited.

[@PacoVJ]

Finally a simple yet complete step by step on how to manage those multi disc games in emulators!!

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

Much more useful than "Everybody knows where to get ROMS!" explanation most videos use.

[@Jamesssssssssssssss]

Something I don't see a lot of people use but works pretty well for me is the PS1 to PSP PBP files. They work well in duck station and are only one file for each game even if its multiple disks. Had my collection in PBP since the PSP days and they have served me well. They dont work in retro arch for achievements but Duck station stand alone does work with achievements.

[@TBMartin]

You probably don't see them being used because of the reasons you highlighted. But it's still a great idea to use that format when it still works, saves you space and saves you swapping discs

[@ninjason57]

This is what I do as well. You can even compress them with a converter.

[@Jamesssssssssssssss]

@@ninjason57 Yup! PSP still holding it down all these years later.

[@MiguelDeMarchena]

before having android and linux based emulation consoles i had two homebrewed PSPs one 1000 and one 2000 for emulation purposes (almost 10 years) so i kept using eboot.pbp and CISO files but now with the PS2, NGC and SDC it may be necessary to use a lot of CHD that i am not so familiar dealing with.

[@TBMartin]

@@MT1014-p3s hello

[@RetroDodo]

Great video Joey!

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Thanks!

[@SigeaIdris]

Pair this with Syncthing and you're set for life. Nice video

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

That's my setup!

[@jtw1821]

The perfect video for folks with OCD, thank you

[@doolittle_]

"There's nothing sexy about today's video." Well, you're still on it, Joey.

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Aw shucks.

[@modestyblaise4167]

Awesome video Joey. The Wii U conversion is a great tip that I’d never heard of. Time convert those loadline folders. For me I solve the PS1 disc swapping hassle with .pbp files and .cso for all of my PSP games. All the best.

[@darrenkeller2731]

Joey - thank you for this. I’ve watched so many videos about .m3u files and couldn’t figure them out. Your video was the first one that really worked. Thank you!!

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Glad it helped!

[@antonio_carvalho]

This is GOLD! Essential knowledge that eliminates a lot of headaches.

[@Mister_Phafanapolis]

I just devised a plan to organize my own ROMS. Lets see how close I got in my mind's eye!

[@jonathanbriu]

looks like I found what ill be tinkering with over the weekend. Thanks Joey

[@dustyr112]

Immediate add to my "Retro Gaming" playlist. 👏👏👏

[@petervladyevich8535]

Hi Joey, you are now one of the few people I promote with a thumbs up before the end of your video

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Appreciate that!

[@petervladyevich8535]

​@@JoeysRetroHandhelds You deserve my best, you saved my rg405m from infinite boot loop where it was stuck for 4 months

[@v2power921]

I was configuring ES-DE on my new Odin 2, and this video came right on time! Thank you Joey❣

[@silverbackhc]

excellent video joey - very handy for us newbies to retro gaming - keep up the good work joey

[@tim7392]

Thanks Joey, you always post at the right time 👍

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

You're welcome!

[@j.a.styles547]

I was so surprised how to setup m3u files in emulation station on android in your guide.... Thank you sir.

[@Tugennov]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@chocho2188]

Great video 🙂

[@sjab5987]

Mega helpful thanks Joey

[@KeRaySh]

0:00 literally had to delete this video from my watch history because the content was too steamy. Wouldn't want my wife to see my weird fetish content... I've spent the last two weeks (not literally 24/7...) to organize my SD card for when my Odin 2 mini arrives and it felt so satisfying to do so...

[@KingKalos5th]

Great content 👍 For noobs like me this is awesome

[@jimbobcheezeburger2020]

On your website, could you also include the switch's files compression? I heard there's ways to combine the .nsp with the updates and dlc. a good example would be Super Smash Bros Ultimate

[@TruSuCiO23]

I heard home server! Would love to see you explain setting one up one day! 😂

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Oh God, pls no.

[@boscotheman82]

Cso format still works fine for compressing PSP iso's

[@R1SKbreaker]

Isn't xiso the preferred format for OG Xbox emulation? That's awesome to hear about CHD for PSP. I didn't know that was a thing. Better than CSO for sure.. Glad I didn't nuke my ISO set so I can convert to CHD.

[@ezg8448]

Awesome guide! Gonna use this stuff soon cause I need to clean up my ROMS + ISOs. CHDs are good but I was wondering if the same program can also uncompress back to ISO?

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Kind of, you'd have to adjust the code of the bat file to do so.

[@PC-ONE]

Very useful video

[@codered7070]

Great overview! Does the .m3u file work with Bin/Cue files

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Yep! Use the cue in the m3u.

[@codered7070]

@@JoeysRetroHandhelds Amazing thanks! Do I move the bin files into the hidden folder as well?

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

@@codered7070 yep!

[@The_Supreme_Savage]

Isn't xiso the preferred format for OG Xbox emulation??? I heard that xemu only work with xiso format

[@davidmacias1270]

Finally……I wish this was a book, so I can relax!🔥🫡

[@squallstrife6943]

I wish I understood arcade bios files better. I have over 200 arcade roms that work great on all my non android devices, like 280m, a30, rg351p. Then only a fraction of them work in retroarch on android. Even after getting all the neo geo, mame, fba, and other bios that I'm aware of. I even pulled every bios from those devices, and less than half my games still don't work in retroarch.

[@shoeb24in]

I updated my RG35xxH yesterday on 16th July 2024. I see BIOS folder is no more in new 2024 June 26th updated version so i Copied all roms again but kept bios outside just to check what will happen. Believe me without BIOS i am able to play all the games.

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

You will not be able to play disc based systems (PS1, Dreamcast) etc. Good luck!

[@focvl.point19]

For the algorithm!!

[@TBMartin]

I have issues with some PS1 games in CHD format (WWF Wrestlemania - The Arcade as 1 example) when trying to use said game with Duckstation (standalone) but the same file works with Beatle PSX HW Retroarch core. No matter the platform, some games just refuse to work with some emulators in CHD even though that file type is supported. It's a pain lol

[@antonio_carvalho]

Hey Joey, if you don't mind me asking here: what frontend do you prefer on Android at this moment? Beacon, Daijisho and ES all have pros and cons. Thank you!

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Currently still Daijisho until ES-DE gets native Android app support!

[@antonio_carvalho]

@@JoeysRetroHandhelds thank you! It's what I'll be using on the RG556 that's on my way, then. Whenever you feel in need of new things to cover, a video on "the current state of Android frontends" (or Linux CFWs) is always welcome!

[@xtranslux]

Hey Joey, with regards to the TrimUI Smart Pro i havent found a good way to get .m3u playlists to work for ps1, any tips?

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Hm, haven't checked in a while. Steps in the video didn't work?

[@mcgrog]

my biggest concern at the moment is keeping roms that work with retro achievements, do the chd files stil make the same retro achievement hash after being converted from bin cue?

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Yep.

[@jjempi]

Chd is the best file....foe ps2,psx, and Dreamcast....while Rvz files for wii and gc

[@Kiddenreal]

chdman did not work for me

[@lee99bay]

❤

[@R1SKbreaker]

In Emulation Station, is there a way to hide the .hidden folder that has the multidisc CHD games? I edit the metadata and select hidden for that folder, but it is just greyed out. It's still there. Hoping there is a better way.

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

IIRC there's a setting to show/hide hidden folders in ES DE, try that?

[@R1SKbreaker]

@@JoeysRetroHandhelds yup, I checked again and in "Other Settings," there is a setting for show hidden files and folders. Also one for show hidden games. I just had to turn both off and it was all good. Thank you.

[@KateHikes1933]

Firmware? Bios? Emulation Station?

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

Are these questions? Lol

[@etphonedome6595]

even when following your guide i seem to be having trouble with psx i get "failed to load CD image" and with dream cast it does not say anything it just pulles me out of emulation station and wont launch have any tips? i have a bunch of multi disk games id like to play but i dont know if i can now :(

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

What folder is your psx games in? Is it named exactly "psx"? EmulationStation is picky, this is a problem with that, not my guide :) you also didn't say which emulator you're using. Dreamcast issue is likely missing bios.

[@etphonedome6595]

@@JoeysRetroHandhelds thanks for the reply! yes its named correctly the games work fine till i try and run the disks from a m3u file thats why im stumped i did get it to work when the chd and m3u files were in the same place but that defeats the purpose a bit lol if the chd files are even in another folder in the psx folder it wont work ive been trying for a few hours now. btw your guide was great i didnt mean to make it sound like i was blaming the guide i know its got to be something on my end i just dont know what and im using duckstation and redream

[@JoeysRetroHandhelds]

@@etphonedome6595 Did you add the roms to Duckstation and Redream? Remove what's there and readd them to the actual emulators.

[@etphonedome6595]

​@@JoeysRetroHandhelds got it all figured out it was an issue with finding the proper path for the .hidden folder i had to download something off the play store to get it thanks again for the help!

[@dazealex]

Nobody talks about this stuff.

[@samh5886]

Is there anyway to auto create m3u for multi disc game, similar to the function in arkos, without using arkos? Something that can be run on other devices or even pc?

[@antiantifa886]

Thank you so much for this vid!