I downloaded a lot of ROM’s on my desktop under windows and I’m looking to change to Linux for reasons. My questions is would I have to reinstall all those ROM’s if i change to Linux or will Linux just read the ROM’s? I have a 6TB hdd that is specifically for emulation so there is no OS on that drive.
Dude Linux is better for emulation than Windows by a country mile. There’s a reason we have retropi, emulation station, etc.
ROM files are 100% OS-independent.
Install RetroArch, point it to your ROMs folder, and play your games.
If you have roms for games that don’t have RetroArch cores, then just download the emulators, point them to the roms, and there you go.
Linux has the superior versions of RetroArch, Dolphin, Cemu, Ryujinx, Yuzu, RPCS3, PCSX2, PPSSPP, and basically every other emulator (except Xenia). And with a Switch Pro Controller, you can use full motion controls with no trouble at all in Yuzu/Ryujinx/Cemu.
I have every single NES, SNES, and N64 game ever made, along with about 5000 Arcade ROMs. I never have to leave RetroArch to play any of them. I only leave RetroArch for PS2, PS3, WiiU, and Switch games.