Question about NES ROMs compatibility

[speciallt1212]

Pi Model: 3
RetroPie Version Used: 4.1
Built From: Pre made SD Image on RetroPie website
USB Devices connected: Keyboard / Mouse
Controller used: 8BitDo SFC30
Guide used: Main wiki & Help Separating PC Engine & PCE-CD

I am a bit confused on NES emulation. I previously loaded NES roms onto the retropie and was able to play them (I don't recall the set I used) but I would like to try some rom hacks and translations however I can't get them to load. I've tried patching No-Intro Roms, I've tried patching goodtool roms, I've tried to load unmodified No-Intro & goodtool roms but none of the new roms work. Is there a special set I have to use when playing NES roms?

I'm using nestopia as the emulator.

[mediamogul]

@speciallt1212

The patching utility should let you know if the patch was successful after it runs. Are you having trouble with all NES ROMs or just patches? If it's the latter, is it just one patched game, or several?

[speciallt1212]

The previous games I uploaded to the retropie still work. I have no problems running them.

I've tested several hacks and translations on my PC using nestopia to verify they are patched properly and they work just fine but when I upload them to retropie and try to play them, the screen turns black for a couple of seconds then comes back to the rom list.

[mediamogul]

@speciallt1212

Launch one of the offending games and let it fail, then post the contents of /dev/shm/runcommand.log.

[speciallt1212]

This isn't one of the translations or hacks but it is one of the new games i downloaded which works in nestopia on my PC but not on retropie.

The folder you pointed to only contained three files which are outlined below.

retroarch.cfg
video_refresh_rate = 60

runcommand.info
nes
lr-nestopia
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-nestopia/nestopia_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes"

runcommand.log
Parameters:
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-nestopia/nestopia_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes" --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg

[mediamogul]

@speciallt1212

Nothing seems to stand out in any way there. Try doing the same thing, only this time invoke the runcommand window during launch and select "Launch with verbose logging". then post the information again.

[herb_fargus]

@mediamogul I'm going place my bets on headers (or rather a lack thereof.)

[mediamogul]

@herb_fargus

Seems like I had that same problem a few years ago.

[speciallt1212]

retroarch.cfg

video_refresh_rate = 60

runcommand.info

nes
lr-nestopia
/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes
/opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-nestopia/nestopia_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes"

runcommand.log

Parameters: 
Executing: /opt/retropie/emulators/retroarch/bin/retroarch -L /opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-nestopia/nestopia_libretro.so --config /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes" --verbose --appendconfig /dev/shm/retroarch.cfg
RetroArch [INFO] :: Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).srm".
RetroArch [INFO] :: === Build =======================================
Capabilities: NEON VFPv3 VFPv4 
Built: Nov 29 2016
RetroArch [INFO] :: Version: 1.3.6
RetroArch [INFO] :: Git: 5354964
RetroArch [INFO] :: =================================================
RetroArch [INFO] :: Config: loading config from: /opt/retropie/configs/nes/retroarch.cfg.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Config: appending config "/dev/shm/retroarch.cfg"
RetroArch [INFO] :: Incompatible shader for backend gl, clearing...
RetroArch [INFO] :: Resetting undo buffers.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Loading dynamic libretro core from: "/opt/retropie/libretrocores/lr-nestopia/nestopia_libretro.so"
RetroArch [INFO] :: [overrides] no core-specific overrides found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/Nestopia/Nestopia.cfg.
RetroArch [INFO] :: [overrides] no game-specific overrides found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/config/Nestopia/Gun-Nac (USA).cfg.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Shaders: preset directory: /home/pi/.config/retroarch/shaders/presets
RetroArch [INFO] :: Shaders: no game-specific preset found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/shaders/presets/Nestopia/Gun-Nac (USA).cgp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Shaders: no game-specific preset found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/shaders/presets/Nestopia/Gun-Nac (USA).glslp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Shaders: no core-specific preset found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/shaders/presets/Nestopia/Nestopia.cgp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Shaders: no core-specific preset found at /home/pi/.config/retroarch/shaders/presets/Nestopia/Nestopia.glslp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ SET_VARIABLES.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Remaps: remap directory: /opt/retropie/configs/nes/
RetroArch [INFO] :: Remaps: no game-specific remap found at /opt/retropie/configs/nes/Nestopia/Gun-Nac (USA).rmp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Remaps: no core-specific remap found at /opt/retropie/configs/nes/Nestopia/Nestopia.rmp.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Redirecting save file to "/home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).srm".
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_LOG_INTERFACE.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ PERFORMANCE_LEVEL: 6.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Loading content file: /home/pi/RetroPie/roms/nes/Gun-Nac (USA).nes.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Did not find a valid content patch.
RetroArch [INFO] :: CRC32: 0x0 .
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ SET_INPUT_DESCRIPTORS:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "B (bottom)" => "B"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "Y (left)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 2"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "Select" => "Select"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "Start" => "Start"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "D-Pad Up" => "D-Pad Up"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "D-Pad Down" => "D-Pad Down"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "D-Pad Left" => "D-Pad Left"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "D-Pad Right" => "D-Pad Right"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "A (right)" => "A"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "X (up)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 1"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "L" => "(FDS) Disk Side Change"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 1, Button "R" => "(FDS) Eject Disk"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "B (bottom)" => "B"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "Y (left)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 2"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "Select" => "Select"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "Start" => "Start"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "D-Pad Up" => "D-Pad Up"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "D-Pad Down" => "D-Pad Down"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "D-Pad Left" => "D-Pad Left"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "D-Pad Right" => "D-Pad Right"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "A (right)" => "A"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "X (up)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 1"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "L" => "(FDS) Disk Side Change"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 2, Button "R" => "(FDS) Eject Disk"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "B (bottom)" => "B"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "Y (left)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 2"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "Select" => "Select"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "Start" => "Start"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "D-Pad Up" => "D-Pad Up"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "D-Pad Down" => "D-Pad Down"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "D-Pad Left" => "D-Pad Left"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "D-Pad Right" => "D-Pad Right"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "A (right)" => "A"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "X (up)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 1"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "L" => "(FDS) Disk Side Change"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 3, Button "R" => "(FDS) Eject Disk"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "B (bottom)" => "B"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "Y (left)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 2"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "Select" => "Select"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "Start" => "Start"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "D-Pad Up" => "D-Pad Up"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "D-Pad Down" => "D-Pad Down"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "D-Pad Left" => "D-Pad Left"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "D-Pad Right" => "D-Pad Right"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "A (right)" => "A"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "X (up)" => "(VSSystem) Coin 1"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "L" => "(FDS) Disk Side Change"
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	RetroPad, User 4, Button "R" => "(FDS) Eject Disk"
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ SYSTEM_DIRECTORY: "/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS".
RetroArch [libretro INFO] :: Custom palette path: /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/custom.pal
RetroArch [libretro WARN] :: custom.pal not found in system directory.
RetroArch [libretro INFO] :: NstDatabase.xml path: /home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/NstDatabase.xml
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ SET_PIXEL_FORMAT: XRGB8888.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_favored_system:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	auto
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_genie_distortion:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	disabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_ram_power_state:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	0x00
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_nospritelimit:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	disabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_fds_auto_insert:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	enabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_blargg_ntsc_filter:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	disabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_palette:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	consumer
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_overscan_v:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	enabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_overscan_h:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	disabled
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ GET_VARIABLE nestopia_aspect:
RetroArch [INFO] :: 	auto
RetroArch [INFO] :: Environ SET_GEOMETRY.
RetroArch [INFO] :: SET_GEOMETRY: 256x224, aspect: 1.306.
RetroArch [ERROR] :: Failed to load content.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Resetting undo buffers.
RetroArch [INFO] :: Monitor FPS estimation is disabled for threaded video.

[BuZz]

@speciallt1212 Please see https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first regarding posting logs (use a code block or external site). - markdown info here http://commonmark.org/help/

Your rom probably doesn't have headers - you need nes roms with headers.

[Rion]

@speciallt1212 My best bet would be to search/get help at www.romhacking.net

As @BuZz said this sound like you have applied a patch to a rom that don't have a header. Therefore creating the problem of the rom not booting up.

Get a clean no-intro set for your roms.
Stay away from Goodsets and the likes.

[speciallt1212]

I'm still not sure what's going on. It seems like any new NES rom I load onto the retropie experiences the same issue. When I say new I mean any rom that wasn't already previously loaded on the retropie before I started to experience the issue.

I downloaded a fresh set of no-intro roms and verified they were correct using clrmamepro. I compared one of the currently working roms [Addams Family, The (USA).nes] to one of the ones in the new set I downloaded i.e.

Addams Family, The (USA).nes

CRC32: 94A230A9
MD5: 56DF8432043A2D724BAB64FEB39912D5
SHA-1: 7E236610BDFDE5A439A19E18C873982E2C607643

Everything matched so I know I'm using the correct set of roms.

I then tried to add a new rom from the same set [10-Yard Fight (USA, Europe).nes], however this rom won't load, it experiences the same problem as the other roms I described in my earlier post i.e. the screen turns black for a couple of seconds then comes back to the rom list.

10-Yard Fight (USA, Europe).nes

CRC32: B312DF62
MD5: 0E2E5DD0C3D8A48C28588DA93EAFA82B
SHA-1: ED2E5D9B4BEC0A87BAD56930A2482F752C0E06EC

Any ideas on how to fix this?