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Reference BIOS Files
Some systems need a copy of the original console's BIOS (or firmware) before an emulator will run anything. HaulNX ships no BIOS files — they're console firmware, not games — so you supply your own from hardware you own. This page is the one place that lists what's needed and where each emulator wants it, so the individual emulator pages don't have to repeat it.
Legal note: BIOS dumps are copyrighted. These pages assume you're dumping from your own console.
Cartridge-era systems (NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy line, N64, GBA...) generally need nothing. BIOS matters mostly for CD-based systems, a few handhelds, and arcade:
| HaulNX folder | Needed? | Typical file(s) |
|---|---|---|
psx |
Required |
scph5501.bin / scph1001.bin / scph5500.bin (by region) |
ps2 |
Required | a PS2 BIOS dump for your region (e.g. scph39001.bin) |
saturn |
Recommended |
saturn_bios.bin (sega_101.bin / mpr-17933.bin) |
dc |
Recommended |
dc_boot.bin, dc_flash.bin
|
naomi |
Required |
naomi.zip (keep zipped) |
atomiswave |
Required |
awbios.zip (keep zipped) |
sega-cd |
Required |
bios_CD_U.bin / bios_CD_E.bin / bios_CD_J.bin
|
pc-engine-cd |
Required | syscard3.pce |
pc-fx |
Required | pcfx.rom |
neo-geo, neo-geo-cd
|
Required |
neogeo.zip (keep zipped) |
nds |
Required |
bios7.bin, bios9.bin, firmware.bin — DraStic wants the same dumps under different names |
wiiu |
Required |
keys.txt (Wii U title keys, not a BIOS) |
fds |
Required | disksys.rom |
3do |
Required |
panafz1.bin (or similar 3DO BIOS) |
x68000-style / others |
Varies | Check the core's docs |
Cartridge systems not listed here need no BIOS.
The same file goes to a different place depending on which app runs the system:
| Emulator | BIOS location |
|---|---|
| RetroArch (all cores) |
sd:/retroarch/cores/system/ — files directly in it, no subfolders unless a core's docs say otherwise |
| Flycast (dc/naomi/atomiswave) | sd:/flycast/data/ |
| melonDS (nds) | next to the app, in sd:/switch/melonds/
|
| DraStic (nds) |
sd:/switch/drastic/system/, renamed nds_bios_arm7.bin / nds_bios_arm9.bin / nds_firmware.bin
|
| Cemu (wiiu) | sd:/switch/Cemu/keys.txt |
| DuckStation (psx) | its bios/ folder (set under Settings › BIOS) |
| NetherSX2 (ps2) | sd:/switch/nethersx2/bios/ |
| Yaba Sanshiro (saturn) | its bios/ folder |
| MAME / pFBN (arcade/neo-geo) | BIOS zips live in the romset folder with the games |
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Exact filenames matter. Emulators look for specific names (and often specific checksums).
scph5501.binrenamed topsx.binwon't be found. If a game refuses to boot on a CD system, a wrong-named or wrong-region BIOS is the first thing to check. -
Keep arcade BIOS zips zipped.
neogeo.zip,naomi.zip, andawbios.zipare treated like romsets — don't extract them. - Region has to match the game for some systems (PS1, Saturn, Sega CD). If a game hangs on a black screen, try the BIOS for its region.