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.

  • thedoogster@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    If you’re using the word “ROMs” correctly, to refer to actual ROM dumps and not to just any pirated software (which is how Gen-Z uses that word), then the answer is that Linux will just read them.

  • acejavelin69@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    “ROMs” is pretty vague… ROMs for what exactly, like game emulators? You generally don’t “install” those, just put them in a directory and open the app and select the ROM to use… As long as you don’t format that drive/partition you should be able to use them.

  • Gazornenplatz@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Just like windows, you need an emulator. There’s plenty of good ones, the most popular being RetroArch (which has a Steam client so you can just download it).

  • teateateateaisking@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    A rom is just a file that you point an emulator at. They should work fine if you put them in a folder Linux can access.

  • Prykie1995@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Linux should be able to just mount the drive and read the files off it. I’ve used the same HDD for my music library across Windows and Linux and had no issues.

  • Hatta00@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    You will have to point the emulator you install on Linux to the correct path for the roms, just as if you installed a different emulator on Windows.

  • pollux65@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Emulators work the exact same way as they do on windows just different directory so i use flatpak packages for yuzu, cemu, rpcs3, dolphin etc so it would be in hidden files

    .var/app

  • gardotd426@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    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.

  • KlePu@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    tl;dr: Your old ROMs will work, just point shinyNewEmu’s ROM directory to the right location.

  • _Meek79_@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I have the same thing and no. Put them in a folder,separated by console type (PS1,PS2,N64,etc.) and when you install and setup the emulator,add that folder for that system to the ROM directory. ROMS downloaded on Windows or Linux are no different.

  • ChrisRevocateur@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    You don’t “install” roms, you just point your emulator at them and they read them because they’re made to do that.