The Atari800 core plays .atr files but not .xex ones.
When else can we use? Or how to fix this?
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Both the 800 and 400 are listed as “working” in MAME. I’ll do some testing when I get home.
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So the 400 and 800 work fine in MAME (Including the controls.) but forcing it to run an *.xex was a no go.
I was able to run a *.xex my first try in the Atari800 core.
You need to have the core Atari System set to 400/800 (OS B) and make sure you have all the bios files set up correctly.
You can use this .atari800.cfg as an example and edit the paths to match your setup. (Notice the leading period… it may render the file invisible on some OS)
Atari 800 Emulator, Version 3.1.0
ROM_OS_A_NTSC=
ROM_OS_A_PAL=E:\RetroArch\system\ATARIOSA.ROM
ROM_OS_B_NTSC=
ROM_OS_AA00R10=
ROM_OS_AA00R11=
ROM_OS_BB00R1=
ROM_OS_BB01R2=E:\RetroArch\system\ATARIXL.ROM
ROM_OS_BB02R3=
ROM_OS_BB02R3V4=
ROM_OS_CC01R4=
ROM_OS_BB01R3=
ROM_OS_BB01R4=
ROM_OS_BB01R59=
ROM_OS_BB01R59A=
ROM_5200=E:\RetroArch\system\5200.rom
ROM_5200_A=
ROM_BASIC_A=
ROM_BASIC_B=
ROM_BASIC_C=E:\RetroArch\system\ATARIBAS.ROM
ROM_XEGAME=
ROM_400/800_CUSTOM=E:\RetroArch\system\ATARIOSB.ROM
ROM_XL/XE_CUSTOM=
ROM_5200_CUSTOM=
ROM_BASIC_CUSTOM=E:\RetroArch\system\BASIC.ROM
ROM_XEGAME_CUSTOM=
OS_400/800_VERSION=AUTO
OS_XL/XE_VERSION=AUTO
OS_5200_VERSION=AUTO
BASIC_VERSION=AUTO
XEGS_GAME_VERSION=AUTO
H1_DIR=
H2_DIR=
H3_DIR=
H4_DIR=
HD_READ_ONLY=1
PRINT_COMMAND=lpr %s
SCREEN_REFRESH_RATIO=1
MACHINE_TYPE=Atari 400/800
RAM_SIZE=48
DEFAULT_TV_MODE=NTSC
MOSAIC_RAM_NUM_BANKS=0
AXLON_RAM_NUM_BANKS=0
ENABLE_MAPRAM=0
DISABLE_BASIC=1
ENABLE_SIO_PATCH=0
ENABLE_SLOW_XEX_LOADING=0
ENABLE_H_PATCH=0
ENABLE_P_PATCH=0
ENABLE_NEW_POKEY=1
STEREO_POKEY=0
BUILTIN_BASIC=0
KEYBOARD_LEDS=0
F_KEYS=0
BUILTIN_GAME=0
KEYBOARD_DETACHED=0
1200XL_JUMPER=0
CFG_SAVE_ON_EXIT=0
MIO_ROM=
BLACK_BOX_ROM=
PROTO80_ROM=
CARTRIDGE_FILENAME=
CARTRIDGE_TYPE=0
CARTRIDGE_PIGGYBACK_FILENAME=
CARTRIDGE_PIGGYBACK_TYPE=0
CARTRIDGE_AUTOREBOOT=1
CASSETTE_FILENAME=
CASSETTE_LOADED=0
CASSETTE_WRITE_PROTECT=0
RTIME=1
XEP80_CHARSET=
AF80_ROM=
AF80_CHARSET=
COLOURS_NTSC_SATURATION=0
COLOURS_NTSC_CONTRAST=0
COLOURS_NTSC_BRIGHTNESS=0
COLOURS_NTSC_GAMMA=2.35
COLOURS_NTSC_HUE=0
COLOURS_NTSC_GTIA_DELAY=26.8
COLOURS_NTSC_EXTERNAL_PALETTE=
COLOURS_NTSC_EXTERNAL_PALETTE_LOADED=0
COLOURS_NTSC_ADJUST_EXTERNAL_PALETTE=0
COLOURS_PAL_SATURATION=0
COLOURS_PAL_CONTRAST=0
COLOURS_PAL_BRIGHTNESS=0
COLOURS_PAL_GAMMA=2.35
COLOURS_PAL_HUE=0
COLOURS_PAL_GTIA_DELAY=23.2
COLOURS_PAL_EXTERNAL_PALETTE=
COLOURS_PAL_EXTERNAL_PALETTE_LOADED=0
COLOURS_PAL_ADJUST_EXTERNAL_PALETTE=0
ARTIFACT_NTSC=NONE
ARTIFACT_PAL=NONE
ARTIFACT_NTSC_MODE=0
SCREEN_SHOW_SPEED=0
SCREEN_SHOW_IO_ACTIVITY=1
SCREEN_SHOW_IO_COUNTER=0
SCREEN_SHOW_1200XL_LEDS=1
FILTER_NTSC_SHARPNESS=-0.5
FILTER_NTSC_RESOLUTION=-0.1
FILTER_NTSC_ARTIFACTS=0
FILTER_NTSC_FRINGING=0
FILTER_NTSC_BLEED=0
FILTER_NTSC_BURST_PHASE=0
SOUND_ENABLED=1
SOUND_RATE=44100
SOUND_BITS=16
SOUND_BUFFER_MS=0
SOUND_LATENCY=20
Here is a shot of Boulder Dash in MAME.
I owe you a vote of thanks. I caught a bug in my preset that I was able to squash. 
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Looks like i’m missing the BASIC.ROM file.
I’ll try to fix that
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Hmm, can’t seem to be able to find this file anywhere. It’s not mentioned here either:
https://docs.libretro.com/library/atari800/
But it’s the only thing that’s different in my cfg file so surely that must be the reason xex files don’t work, right?
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I just renamed my BASIC.ROM and an xex still loaded.
What error are you getting exactly?
Did you verify that the files in the CFG are actually in your system folder?
Originally I had to go into the emulator configuration and set everything up.
I followed the instructions in this video.
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Yeah, i followed the instructions in the video word by word, though my cfg was already configured correctly so the video just verified it for me.
This is the error i’m getting with .xex files
Maybe my issue is with the .opt file?
atari800_artifacting = "disabled"
atari800_cassboot = "disabled"
atari800_internalbasic = "disabled"
atari800_keyboard = "poll"
atari800_ntscpal = "PAL"
atari800_opt1 = "enabled"
atari800_opt2 = "disabled"
atari800_resolution = "336x240"
atari800_sioaccel = "disabled"
atari800_system = "400/800 (OS B)"All xex files work on atari800 core.
But apparently not in my case though.
These are the contents of my opt.
atari800_artifacting = "disabled"
atari800_cassboot = "disabled"
atari800_internalbasic = "disabled"
atari800_keyboard = "poll"
atari800_ntscpal = "NTSC"
atari800_opt1 = "disabled"
atari800_opt2 = "disabled"
atari800_resolution = "336x240"
atari800_sioaccel = "disabled"
atari800_system = "400/800 (OS B)"
But xex files still run using your settings. 
I propose that you have some corrupt bios.
I downloaded the bios files from a different source (internet archive) and it still doesn’t work.
Maybe the .xex files are all corrupted on my end for some reason?
Could you try loading one if i send you?
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That is a possibility. I’m using the tosec Atari 8 bit collection. I could try one of yours if you like.
Thank you, i’ll pm you
I played around a bit and managed to make Bomb Jack work (the only .xex game i managed to make work). It’s a complete crapshoot of different core options combination. You just have to find the correct ones. Though the same combination of core settings for this game didn’t work for the other xex games.
“Wrong” core options might also make .atr games not work. The majority do with the default settings i have but some still need different settings. Seems like the emulator can’t auto-detect stuff so you have to manually find them yourself for each game in the .opt file. And some games refuse to work no matter what anyway.
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I got the same error with Caves of Rigel that you did.
The other two loaded fine, plus a dozen or more XEX files I tested.
The trick was to use…
atari800_system = "Modern XL/XE(1088K)"
…in the opt.
I am not too concerned about 5200 roms since we have an alternate core for those.
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