ROM Save Files

First_Blood · 12 Sept 2016, 16:37

I am new to Raspberry Pie and RetroPie and am having an issue backing up in-game save files (NOT save-states). Super Mario World on Snes9x saves in-game. I want to make a copy of this save file for another raspberry pi. All of my searches in these forums and elsewhere online don't seem to be answering my question. From what I understand, the save file (.srm I believe?) should be located where the ROMs are. I must be missing something but where/how can I locate this? When I remove the SD card from the pi and plug it into my PC, it shows "boot" and it has a file folder called "overlays" and then lots of random other files but no ROM files or folders. Again, I'm really new to this and I seem to get lost in most of the technical explanations online (I am completely ignorant of editing code and most other in-depth computer talk). Would someone be able to explain to me in layman's terms how I can make a copy of this save file and then take that copy and put it onto another SD card for another Pi? The SD card where the original file is version 4.0.

I apologize if this seems like a silly question or has been answered previously. I just can't seem to access the ROM folder that is on the SD card when I plug it into my computer. I can't see ANY ROMs or save files. Just lots of "boot" information.

Thank you so much.

edmaul69 · 12 Sept 2016, 16:44

@First_Blood windows cant read the linux partition. You need to download an ftp program like winscp and ftp into your pi.

cyperghost · 9 Dec 2016, 18:10

@First_Blood
Install Linux Reader from
http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/

This program can extract files to your windows system.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/2654/copy-image-file-to-same-size-sd-card-fails

Files are located unter /sdcarddevice/home/pi/RetroPie/ROMS/SNES/

First_Blood · 12 Sept 2016, 17:31

@cyperghost This worked perfectly. Very simple. I was able to locate all the different save files. Thank you so much.

cyperghost · 9 Dec 2016, 19:12

@First_Blood
You are welcome!

But Linux Reader is only a Reader but it's a very powerful utility and it's portable :)
To transfer files from Windows to the RASPBERRY use the RetroPie samba share from your Windows Network or use a FTP-Programm like WINSCP.

Belowstupid · 12 Sept 2016, 18:26

I connect to my raspberry pi remotely through ssh. The files are ordered similar to how they are on the usb stick, I just copy the files to my computer.

cyperghost · 9 Dec 2016, 19:48

@Belowstupid
Well in fact there are several ways in doing a file transfer. After > I tell you the disadvantages (maybe it's okay for you ;)

via WINSCP > but it's speed transfer is limited to your LAN connection (try to transfer 30GB of data?)
via Linux Reader > It's only a reader but extraction speed is limited to your SD card read speed and USB host
via Linux system on PC (live system, virtual system...) > that's the best option, fast, relieable and full read/write access
via ext3fsd (never tried that!!! ....)
Stick USB device on Pi#1, SSH into terminal and copy files via cp > working via command line isn't always a neat solution :)

Maybe there are other methods but imho Linux Reader is the easiest way for Windows users because you can also extract your SD card block by block and can even miss out Win32Image.

UP4IT · 2 Aug 2017, 02:49

@cyperghost I use MobaXterm SSH Client, it has upload/download file option from local PC to Pi and vice versa

Vanpotheosis · 2 Aug 2017, 02:41

@belowstupid You know you don't have to install / download anything to access the files on Retropie, right? If you just connect the thing to your wifi network you can automagically access it from the file explorer under Network. It'll be the one named "raspberry pi" or something unless you renamed it yourself.

Not sure why everyone is suggesting that people follow complicated steps downloading stuff and learning to use the command line when you could literally just drag and drop files and save yourself potentially hours in the process.

Cheers.

Vanpotheosis · 2 Aug 2017, 02:49

@up4it Why? You can just drag and drop from windows without downloading anything at all... You can see the Pi in the File Explorer.

Verced · 3 Sept 2017, 20:57

@vanpotheosis That is exactly my thoughts. I guess people want to show you how smart and elite they are in their linux prowess ;-) I guess there might be a time where using ssh protocol and telnet into the pie would be the only way to get access to the files on the sd card but using samba is SO MUCH easier and accomplishes the same goal.

Vanpotheosis · 20 Feb 2018, 06:21

@vanpotheosis

Welp, I finally got another RPi 3 B+ and wanted to transfer my savestates / saves from my old pi to the new. I plugged my SD card containing the files I wished to copy over and realized (remembered) that I was unable to do so because the files are written in a format which is inaccessible to windows.

SO

I came back to Google, wondering if anyone else had a viable solution to this problem. Just as I am about to download this "LinuxReader" thing I scroll down, and see a post from myself... Answering a question to the future me. Pretty weird. And out of everything else I was just willing to try I found that my solution was surprisingly the most elegant one offered. But I was pretty vague in offering instruction to the easy method I discovered so many months ago, and have since forgotten. Now that I remember, I can offer more thorough instruction to those who may stumble upon this thread in the future. Specifically to those who are using Windows operating systems, like OP here who probably went out of his way to install / download risky software to solve a simple problem which doesn't requiring the installation of any third party programs at all...

Step ONE

No need to download or install any software. Simply TURN ON your Pi and make sure that it's connected to your local network.

Step TWO

Open File Explorer. This is the little Folder icon you see on Windows 10 at the bottom of your screen where you would normally see the Start bar. You can click on it to open it. Or you can Right Click on it and select "File Explorer" from the tree menu which appears.

Step THREE

You will now be in the File Explorer. At this point you'll realize you have been here many times before. Maybe you just didn't know what it was called this whole time. Or maybe you have always known, and I'm just wasting time by having your read this... Anyway, on the left side of the window you will see a list of icons which begin with "This PC" and go on to include all of your disk drives, Pictures, Music, Documents, etc.

TL;DR Step THREE

On the left side of the window that appears, at the Very Bottom of this list you will see Network. Click on this.

Step FOUR

See your Raspberry Pi? If it's connected to the same internet as your main PC is, I can guarantee that you're seeing it RIGHT NOW. If you are transferring between two Pi's all you have to do is make sure that both of them are turned on and connected to your home internet.

That's IT!

Step FIVE

DRAG and DROP any file, ROM, Splashscreen, Configuration file, or whatever you want to.

There... I just saved you from possibly installing malware or vulnerable software you actually never needed to move your Saves around. Hopefully enough people scroll to the bottom of this thread before they end up installing specialized programs for no reason.

Hopefully this list is simple enough for the uber casual gamer / computer novice to easily understand. The only thing that's missing are pictures. But I think this is pretty easy to follow step by step.

Happy gaming!

Clyde · 20 Feb 2018, 13:03

@cyperghost said in ROM Save Files:

Stick USB device on Pi#1, SSH into terminal and copy files via cp > working via command line isn't always a neat solution :)

Just a very late addition … using mc gives the ssh user at least some kind of "graphical" file manager that has the same advantage of a high local transfer speed like @cyperghost's suggestion does. :)

cyperghost · 20 Feb 2018, 17:32

@clyde Wow this thread is so old - it gots a beard meanwhile. That was before SAMBA package was installed afaik. Anyway... the method with linux reader also gots the advantage to read IMG files in any kind and condition and on any medium.
The speed question is also reasonable, I extracted a few GB of ROMs once a time with that method.
Of cource mc is also reasonable - den habe ich fast vergessen ;)

@Vanpotheosis

I guess people want to show you how smart and elite they are in their linux prowess ;-)

First time that someone called my suggestion as linux elite like by using a Windows programm - sounds strange. But I recommend you to get in touch with SSH and the terminal. It offers the valuest way.

Clyde · 21 Feb 2018, 22:23

@cyperghost I got drawn here by @Vanpotheosis' post and thought it could be a good idea to add a little something that may be useful to other drive-by readers. :) I didn't know Linux Reader before, it may be a good advice to some of my Windows-using friends.

@cyperghost said in ROM Save Files:

@Vanpotheosis

I guess people want to show you how smart and elite they are in their linux prowess ;-)

First time that someone called my suggestion as linux elite like by using a Windows programm - sounds strange. But I recommend you to get in touch with SSH and the terminal. It offers the valuest way.

That was @Verced, not @Vanpotheosis. ;)