Portable Emulationstation - HerbFargus/Portable-Game-Station GitHub Wiki

Portable Emulationstation (using a USB or External Harddrive)

EmulationStation

First download emulationstation from HERE

http://emulationstation.org/#download

create a folder called emulationstation in your USB drive or external harddrive and extract the zip file into the emulationstation folder you just created.

Missing DLLs:

When you try to start emulationstation you may have errors saying you are missing DLL's- the links below should cover for the major missing dlls. save them in the emulationstation folder.

msvcp120.dll

32 Bit: Download

64 Bit: Download

msvcr120.dll

32 Bit: Download

64 Bit: Download

D3DX9_43.dll

32 Bit: Download

64 Bit: Download

RetroArch

You can either download the stable version HERE

For the stable version you can just use the online core updater in retroarch to get your cores.

Or you can download the latest nightly build HERE be sure to choose RetroArch_full.7z

for the nightly build you can either use the online core updater within retroarch or you can download the cores from HERE

Once you have retroarch downloaded you'll create a folder

I:\emulationstation\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch

(Note that the I:\ can be any letter value and it may vary for your setup.)

and extract retroarch into that folder.

If you manually download the cores you'll need to place them here:

I:\emulationstation\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores

Remember for windows:

x86_64= 64 bit

x86= 32 Bit

whichever you download will need to correspond to the proper dll files listed above.

Configurations

Once you have emulationstation set up you'll want to create:

I:\emulationstation\.emulationstation\es_systems.cfg

I've provided a sample es_systems.cfg:

<!-- This is the EmulationStation Systems configuration file.
All systems must be contained within the <systemList> tag.-->

<systemList>
~\.emulationstation\roms
<system>
    <name>3do</name>
    <fullname>3do</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\3do</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\4do_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>3do</platform>
    <theme>3do</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>amiga</name>
    <fullname>Amiga</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\amiga</path>
    <extension>.adf .ADF</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\puae_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>amiga</platform>
    <theme>amiga</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>atari2600</name>
    <fullname>Atari 2600</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\atari2600</path>
    <extension>.a26 .bin .rom .A26 .BIN .ROM</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\stella_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>atari2600</platform>
    <theme>atari2600</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>atarist</name>
    <fullname>Atari ST, STE, Falcon</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\atarist</path>
    <extension>.st, .stx, .img, .rom</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\hatari_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>atarist</platform> 
    <theme>atarist</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>atari7800</name>
    <fullname>Atari 7800 ProSystem</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\atari7800</path>
    <extension>.a78 .bin .A78 .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\prosystem_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>atari7800</platform>
    <theme>atari7800</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>atarijaguar</name>
    <fullname>Atari Jaguar</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\atarijaguar</path>
    <extension>.j64 .J64 .jag .JAG</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\virtualjaguar_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>atarijaguar</platform>
    <theme>atarijaguar</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>atarilynx</name>
    <fullname>Atari Lynx</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\atarilynx</path>
    <extension>.lnx .LNX</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\handy_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>atarilynx</platform>
    <theme>atarilynx</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>Dreamcast</name>
    <fullname>Sega Dreamcast</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\dreamcast</path>
    <extension> .mds, .MDS, .mdf, .MDF, .bin, .BIN, .cue, .CUE, .cdi, .CDI .gdi .GDI</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\dreamcast\nullDC.exe -config nullDC_GUI:Fullscreen=0 -config nullDC:Emulator.Autostart=1 -config ImageReader:LoadDefaultImage=1 -config ImageReader:DefaultImage="%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>dreamcast</platform>
    <theme>dreamcast</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>fba</name>
    <fullname>Final Burn Alpha</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\fba</path>
    <extension>.fba .zip .FBA .ZIP</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\fb_alpha_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>arcade</platform>
    <theme>fba</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>gamegear</name>
    <fullname>Sega Gamegear</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\gamegear</path>
    <extension>.gg .bin .GG .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>gamegear</platform>
    <theme>gamegear</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>gb</name>
    <fullname>Game Boy</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\gb</path>
    <extension>.gb .GB</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\gambatte_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>gb</platform>
    <theme>gb</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>gbc</name>
    <fullname>Game Boy Color</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\gbc</path>
    <extension>.gbc .GBC</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\gambatte_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>gbc</platform>
    <theme>gbc</theme>
</system>

<system>
    <name>gba</name>
    <fullname>Game Boy Advance</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\gba</path>
    <extension>.gba .GBA</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mgba_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>gba</platform>
    <theme>gba</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>gc</name>
    <fullname>Nintendo GameCube</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\gc</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO .gcm .GCM</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\dolphin\Dolphin.exe -e "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>gc</platform>
    <theme>gc</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>genesis</name>
    <fullname>Sega Genesis</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\genesis</path>
    <extension>.smd .bin .gen .md .sg .SMD .BIN .GEN .MD .SG</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>genesis</platform>
    <theme>genesis</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>mame</name>
    <fullname>MAME</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\mame</path>
    <extension>.zip .ZIP</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mame_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>arcade</platform>
    <theme>mame</theme>	
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>mastersystem</name>
    <fullname>Sega Master System</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\mastersystem</path>
    <extension>.sms .bin .SMS .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>mastersystem</platform>
    <theme>mastersystem</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>megadrive</name>
    <fullname>Sega Mega Drive / Genesis</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\megadrive</path>
    <extension>.smd .bin .gen .md .sg .SMD .BIN .GEN .MD .SG</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>megadrive</platform>
    <theme>megadrive</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>msx</name>
    <fullname>MSX</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\msx</path>
    <extension>.rom .mx1 .mx2 .col .dsk .ROM .MX1 .MX2 .COL .DSK</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\fmsx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>msx</platform>
    <theme>msx</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>n64</name>
    <fullname>Nintendo 64</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\n64</path>
    <extension>.v64 .z64 .n64 .V64 .Z64 .N64</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mupen64plus_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>n64</platform>
    <theme>n64</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>nes</name>
    <fullname>Nintendo Entertainment System</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\nes</path>
    <extension>.nes .NES</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\fceumm_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>nes</platform>
    <theme>nes</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>nds</name>
    <fullname>Nintendo DS</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\nds</path>
    <extension>.nds .NDS</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\desmume_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>nds</platform>
    <theme>nds</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>ngp</name>
    <fullname>Neo Geo Pocket</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\ngp</path>
    <extension>.ngp .ngc</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_ngp_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>ngp</platform>
    <theme>ngp</theme>  
</system>

<system>
    <name>pc</name>
    <fullname>PC (x86)</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\pc</path>
    <extension>.sh .bat .com .exe .SH .BAT .COM .EXE</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\dosbox_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>pc</platform>
    <theme>pc</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>pcfx</name>
    <fullname>PC-FX</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\pcfx</path>
    <extension>.cue .CUE</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_pcfx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>pcfx</platform>
    <theme>pcfx</theme>
</system>

<system>
    <name>psp</name>
    <fullname>Playstation Portable</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\psp</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO .cso .CSO</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\ppsspp_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>psp</platform>
    <theme>psp</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>psx</name>
    <fullname>Playstation</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\psx</path>
    <extension>.cue .CUE</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_psx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>psx</platform>
    <theme>psx</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>ps2</name>
    <fullname>Playstation 2</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\ps2</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO .cue .CUE .BIN .bin .mds .MDS</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\pcsx2\PCSX2\pcsx2.exe "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>ps2</platform>
    <theme>ps2</theme>
</system> 
  
<system>
    <name>pcengine</name>
    <fullname>TurboGrafx 16 (PC Engine)</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\pcengine</path>
    <extension>.pce .zip .cue .PCE .ZIP .CUE</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_pce_fast_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>pcengine</platform>
    <theme>pcengine</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>scummvm</name>
    <fullname>ScummVM</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\scummvm</path>
    <extension>.bat .BAT</extension>
    <command>"%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>pc</platform>
    <theme>scummvm</theme>
</system>

<system>
    <name>sega32x</name>
    <fullname>Sega 32x</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\sega32x</path>
    <extension>.32x .smd .bin .md .32X .SMD .BIN .MD</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\picodrive_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>sega32x</platform>
    <theme>sega32x</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>segacd</name>
    <fullname>Sega Mega Drive / Genesis</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\segacd</path>
    <extension>.smd .bin .md .zip .iso .SMD .BIN .MD .ZIP .ISO</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\picodrive_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>segacd</platform>
    <theme>segacd</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>saturn</name>
    <fullname>Sega Saturn</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\saturn</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\yabause_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>saturn</platform>
    <theme>saturn</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>sg-1000</name>
    <fullname>Sega SG-1000</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\sg-1000</path>
    <extension>.sg .zip .bin .SG .ZIP .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\genesis_plus_gx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>sg-1000</platform>
    <theme>sg-1000</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>snes</name>
    <fullname>Super Nintendo Entertainment System</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\snes</path>
    <extension>.smc .sfc .SMC .SFC</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\snes9x_next_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>snes</platform>
    <theme>snes</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>vectrex</name>
    <fullname>Vectrex</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\vectrex</path>
    <extension>.vec .gam .bin .VEC .GAM .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\vecx_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>vectrex</platform>
    <theme>vectrex</theme>
</system>
  
 <system>
    <name>videopac</name>
    <fullname>Odyssey 2 / Videopac</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\videopac</path>
    <extension>.bin .BIN</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\o2em_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>videopac</platform>
    <theme>videopac</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>virtualboy</name>
    <fullname>Virtual Boy</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\virtualboy</path>
    <extension>.vb .VB</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_vb_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>virtualboy</platform>
    <theme>virtualboy</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>wii</name>
    <fullname>Nintendo Wii</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\wii</path>
    <extension>.iso .ISO</extension>
    <command>"%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\dolphin\dolphin.exe" -e "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>wii</platform>
    <theme>wii</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>wonderswan</name>
    <fullname>Wonderswan</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\wonderswan</path>
    <extension>.ws .wsc</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\mednafen_wswan_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>wonderswan</platform>
    <theme>wonderswan</theme>
</system>
  
<system>
    <name>zxspectrum</name>
    <fullname>ZX Spectrum</fullname>
    <path>~\.emulationstation\roms\zxspectrum</path>
    <extension>sna .szx .z80 .tap .tzx .gz .udi .mgt .img .trd .scl .dsk SNA .SZX .Z80 .TAP .TZX .GZ .UDI .MGT .IMG .TRD .SCL .DSK</extension>
    <command>%HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\retroarch.exe -L %HOME%\.emulationstation\systems\retroarch\cores\fuse_libretro.dll "%ROM_RAW%"</command>
    <platform>zxspectrum</platform>
    <theme>zxspectrum</theme>
</system>

</systemList>

ROMS

Then you'll create

I:\emulationstation\.emulationstation\roms

The rom folder name will correspond to the paths that you choose for the es_system.cfg so for example with the Super Nintendo"

<path>~\.emulationstation\roms\snes</path>

you create a snes folder in the roms folder, and that is where you will put your snes games.

When launching emulationstation you need to be sure to choose the launch portable.bat otherwise it won't work.

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