Question about using cores

RetroArch Windows devices
#1

I am having a difficult time with some cores.

  1. I cant get mednafen PSX to work in windows. My roms are in bin/cue format. I can open them just fine on my android using ReARMed (although I get an error message about not finding the .bin file even if I open it using the .bin file - but it still works).

Anyway, I tried zipping up the bin/cue into a .zip file, and running RGUI with detect core selecting mednafen psx, pheonix just closes. If I run it from the commandline I get “Failed to load game.” If I do the same with the .cue or .bin file I get the same errors.

Is there a trick to getting mednafen psx to work?

  1. I am having a similar issue with MAME. Yes I know MAME has issues to begin with, but here is what is happening. I can run some roms from Final Burn ok. I have a few Neo-Geo games that wont work, and a few other random arcade that dont work with MAME on Win7. On the android I can run MAME 2003 and get some to get to the “type OK” screen, but I cant get any further cause I cant type “OK.” In Win7 it looks like the window tries to open the emulator, and for a split second I can see the “OK” screen, but then it closes.

In the cmd window I see stuff like “633m03.18a NOT FOUND” or “007766.20.d.bin NOT FOUND <NO GOOD DUMP FOUND>” Its been a while since I have used MAME, but these roms were working in the stand-alone version of MAME that I used a few years ago.

For the Neo-Geo games, I have the neo-geo.zip file, but I have no idea how these work with FB or MAME in respect to retroarch.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Especially getting mednafen psx to work.

Thanks.

#2

For Mednafen-psx, try running it from the command line with the -v switch to get a useful error output. It’s likely that your cue file is malformed, so you can try opening it in a text editor to make sure the paths and filenames are correct (case-sensitivity shouldn’t matter on Windows, but it never hurts). You may also make sure you have the correct BIOS, as mednafen wants a weird one.

For MAME, it will only reliably run ROMs from the exact same set. It may run a few stragglers from other sets, but you will get many failures, as you’ve described. For MAME, 2003 is v0.078, 2010 is v0.139 and 2013 is v0.151 (will be updated to v0.152 at some point). FBA is synced to the latest standalone FBA, though I’m not sure which number they’re on these days.

#3

Thanks. Ill check the cue file. As far as for BIOSes, I didnt know I needed one, since other PSX emu worked without me having to do anything. Where do I put the bioses? In the libretro folder or retroarch root?

As far as for MAME, is there a location where I can find other core .dll files or is that going to require a lot of work recompiling etc.? In 20140105 It seems I only have the 2013 core. I hope there is a repository somewhere because I have no expertise in compiling cores.

#4

You need to put them in the system directory (it’s defined in RGUI/Paths)

http://www.libretro.com/index.php/wiki/ … ows-guide/

#5

thanks guys.

Here is where I am with Mednafen PSX:

[ol] [li]The cue file looks fine. The bin filename is set as it should. I also tested this in PCSX in Ubuntu and it loads just fine.[/:m:1psas2ox][/li][li]I added in the bios to the system directory (7003, I could not find 5001, but everywhere I read said that 7003 is identical) and went into RGUI to set up the system directory (it was the default but just to be safe)[/:m:1psas2ox][/li][li]I added the -v to the commandline. Here is what I got.[/*:m:1psas2ox][/ol][/li]


[Removed a bunch of input settings]...

RetroArch: Found default config: C:\Users\Ray\Emulators\RetroArch-20140105\retro
arch.cfg.
RetroArch: Loading dynamic libretro from: "C:\Users\Ray\Emulators\RetroArch-2014
0105\libretro\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll"
RetroArch: Environ SET_VARIABLES.
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Skip BIOS sequence
RetroArch:      Key: psx_fastboot
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Dithering
RetroArch:      Key: psx_dithering
RetroArch:      Current value: enabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 1: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port1
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 2: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port2
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Version of libretro API: 1
RetroArch: Compiled against API: 1
RetroArch: Environ GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "C:\Users\Ray\Emulators\RetroArch-20140105\
system".
RetroArch: Environ SET_DISK_CONTROL_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ PERFORMANCE_LEVEL: 3.
RetroArch: ROM loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.
RetroArch: Environ SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.
RetroArch: Environ GET_OVERSCAN: 0
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_fastboot:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_enable_multitap_port1:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_enable_multitap_port2:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_RUMBLE_INTERFACE.
RetroArch [ERROR] :: [libretro ERROR] :: Rumble interface supported!
RetroArch [ERROR] :: Failed to load game.
RetroArch: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Req
uires to run for at least 4096 frames.
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Samples / Frame: -1.#IND0
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Estimated FPS: -1.#IND0

same output whether I try to load the bin, cue, or zipped version.

#6

You should always load the CUE.

Paste the contents of the CUE file I guess. Also your core is a bit old since that Rumble Interface thing being logged as an error has been fixed already for a few weeks (but it shouldn’t matter anyway)

#7 

FILE "Nectaris - Military Madness.bin" BINARY
  TRACK 01 MODE2/2352
    INDEX 01 00:00:00

filenames are: Nectaris - Military Madness.bin Nectaris - Military Madness.cue

the core is whatever was in the 20140105 build.

#8

Have you ever found a fix for the PSX problem? I am having the same problem and cannot figure it out!

#9

Try to use redump.org images, or post your log so we can tell if the issue is the same

#10

I tried getting a cue file from that website and it didnt seem to help.

Using this command

C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\retroarch.exe -L C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\libretro\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll -v

I get this output (after the controller configs)

=== Config end ===
RetroArch: Found default config: C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\retroarch.cfg.
RetroArch: Loading dynamic libretro from: "C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\libretro\medn
afen_psx_libretro.dll"
RetroArch: Environ SET_VARIABLES.
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Skip BIOS sequence
RetroArch:      Key: psx_fastboot
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Dithering
RetroArch:      Key: psx_dithering
RetroArch:      Current value: enabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 1: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port1
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 2: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port2
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Version of libretro API: 1
RetroArch: Compiled against API: 1
RetroArch: Environ GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\system/".
RetroArch: Environ SET_DISK_CONTROL_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ PERFORMANCE_LEVEL: 3.
RetroArch [ERROR] :: No ROM is used, but libretro core does not support this.
RetroArch: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Req
uires to run for at least 4096 frames.
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Samples / Frame: -1.#IND0
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Estimated FPS: -1.#IND0

C:\Users\HTPC>

And I realized I didn’t specify a ROM in there. Here is the second output with a different command.

C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\retroarch.exe -L C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\l
ibretro\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll -v "C:\ROMS\PSX\Army Men 3D (USA).cue"

=== Config end ===
RetroArch: Found default config: C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\retroarch.cfg.
RetroArch: Loading dynamic libretro from: "C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\libretro\medn
afen_psx_libretro.dll"
RetroArch: Environ SET_VARIABLES.
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Skip BIOS sequence
RetroArch:      Key: psx_fastboot
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Dithering
RetroArch:      Key: psx_dithering
RetroArch:      Current value: enabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 1: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port1
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Core option:
RetroArch:      Description: Port 2: Multitap enable
RetroArch:      Key: psx_enable_multitap_port2
RetroArch:      Current value: disabled
RetroArch:      Possible values:
RetroArch:              disabled
RetroArch:              enabled
RetroArch: Version of libretro API: 1
RetroArch: Compiled against API: 1
RetroArch: Environ GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "C:\Users\HTPC\RetroArch\system".
RetroArch: Environ SET_DISK_CONTROL_INTERFACE.
RetroArch: Environ PERFORMANCE_LEVEL: 3.
RetroArch: ROM loading skipped. Implementation will load it on its own.
RetroArch: Environ SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.
RetroArch: Environ GET_OVERSCAN: 0
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_fastboot:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_enable_multitap_port1:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_VARIABLE psx_enable_multitap_port2:
RetroArch:      disabled
RetroArch: Environ GET_RUMBLE_INTERFACE.
RetroArch [ERROR] :: [libretro ERROR] :: Rumble interface supported!
RetroArch [ERROR] :: Failed to load game.
RetroArch: Does not have enough samples for monitor refresh rate estimation. Req
uires to run for at least 4096 frames.
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Samples / Frame: -1.#IND0
RetroArch: [libretro INFO] :: [Mednafen PSX]: Estimated FPS: -1.#IND0
#11

I think you misunderstood, you need cue/bin images, the cue is just a text file that points to the actual images and has some data about it’s tracks. If you use a cue sheet from redump.org you need the corresponding bin (s)

You can find a small guide about making a cue sheet here https://github.com/libretro/beetle-psx-libretro

#12

I had the .bin’s already, I just never needed a .cue file before now so thats why I went to that site to get the .cue file. I renamed the bin to match the shortcuts in the cue file so everything should be working properly. I can launch and play the games in ePSXe, but not in EmulationStation. And I cant figure out if there is a way to use ePSXe instead of mednafen :frowning:

#13

Hmmmmm paste the content of your cue sheet and the name of your file (keep in mind CAPS). And there is no EPSXE on RetroArch Do you have the required BIOS files? mednafen is kinda picky.

Here are the files with their MD5SUMS:

scph5500.bin (8dd7d5296a650fac7319bce665a6a53c)
scph5501.bin (490f666e1afb15b7362b406ed1cea246)
scph5502.bin (32736f17079d0b2b7024407c39bd3050)
#14

Weird, my MD5 for 5502 was wrong, and so were the first few that I tried downloading again. Ended up that the 5552 matched your sum so I renamed it to 5502 and it seemed to work!

Thank you for the help! :slight_smile:

PS - Do you know how to get save states working in mednafen?

#15

You run into the same issues I had a few days ago. Actually 5552 seems to be another version for the PAL bios, I found a (trustful) place where the downloadable 5502 had this same checksum.

The problem though, is that mednafen recently changed the BIOS it required for PAL games, before it was 4D9E7C86 and now all of sudden is D786F0B9.