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Usage

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Carl Goshert edited this page Aug 16, 2026 · 1 revision

PCarts can be used as general-purpose USB flashdrives, just like regular microSD cards, but their intended use is for storing executable software and gaming roms for PC gaming setups. Please refer to each of the sections below on how to use PCarts in these scenarios. Know that PCart usage is not limited to these examples. Please share how you use PCarts with us at r/PCCartridges.

Using with Kazeta

Kazeta is a cartridge-based gaming OS for PC https://kazeta.org/. It is a complete Linux operating system with retro-inspired features and runs any portable DRM-free software on specifically formated cartridges. Please see their website and Github Wiki for more details.

Kazeta requires cartridges to be formated to the ext4 filesystem. You may need Linux or a third-party Windows application to achieve this. I recommend using the-outcaster's kzi generator from github https://github.com/the-outcaster/kzi-cartridge-generator for easily creating cartridge data for Kazeta.

Using with Steam

LewdM3at created a script https://github.com/LewdM3at/Steam-Games-Cartridges for running Steam games off cartridges. It was originally intended for use with SSD's in an external Sata-to-USB adapter, but is compatible with the PCart system. Check out his Reddit post for more info: https://www.reddit.com/r/pcmasterrace/comments/1ux13ui/steam_game_cartridges/

Using with RetroPie

You can use PCarts to hold one or more game roms, or the entire RetroPie installation.

To use as rom(s) cartridge:

  1. Format the microSD card to Fat32 (may appear as vfat on Linux).
  2. Copy all the contents of /home/pi/RetroPie into the root of the microSD card.
  3. Place whichever roms or bios files you need into the appropriate folders on the microSD card.
  4. In RetroPie, enter the RetroPie Setup and disable the optional package 'usbromservice'.
  5. In RetroPie, add the following line to the bottom of /etc/fstab: /dev/sda1 /home/pi/RetroPie vfat nofail,user,uid=pi,gid=pi 0 2 Note: this may fail if you have any other USB flashdrive or NVME drive installed when the system boots.
  6. Insert the PCart into the reader slot before turning on the system. On boot, the system will automatically load the cartridge files into /home/pi/RetroPie and appear in the EmulationStation menu. Note: This will hide any other files located at /home/pi/RetroPie, including files loaded over the network if using /etc/fstab to load files from a Samba share. You cannot map multiple sources to the same location as only one will appear.

To use as a RetroPie system card:

  1. Use the official Raspberry Pi Imager tool to format a microSD card with a RetroPie installation. Then place the card inside a PCart.
  2. On Raspberry Pi 4 or 5, boot-from-USB is automatically supported. Either leave the microSD card slot on the Pi empty or edit the Pi's boot order priority so USB devices are booted first.
  3. Insert the PCart into the reader slot before turning on the system. From here, you can put all your roms and bios on the cartridge as well, or load them over the network.

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