Help configuring Atari 800 bios

[Everett1954]

Hi,
I have the latest version of RetroPie, all the Atari 8 bit bios files in the bios folder and working .ATR games in the rom folder. I am on a PI3.
I have tried the BIOS files and the games on another computer emulator and they work fine.
When I go to the emulator to try and specify the directory all the roms are in a hit the space bar, it does nothing. I back out using the ESC key until I am able to save the config file and I get an error "error saving config file".
When I try to run the .ATR games I get the invalid bios error.
5200 games work fine once i select the proper cart size.
Why do i get the save error?
Does the spacebar directory thing not work?
Any suggestions?

[mediamogul]

@Everett1954

The Atari800 emulator has an issue to where the preferences become corrupted if any change is made from within the GUI. You may have to delete /opt/retropie/configs/atari800/atari800.cfg, launch the emulator again to let it recreate a fresh preference file, exit the emulator and then add the BIOS paths manually to /opt/retropie/configs/atari800/atari800.cfg through a text editor. As an example, my entires look like:

ROM_OS_A_PAL=/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/ATARIOSA.ROM
ROM_OS_BB01R2=/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/ATARIXL.ROM
ROM_5200=/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/5200.rom
ROM_BASIC_C=/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/ATARIBAS.ROM
ROM_400/800_CUSTOM=/home/pi/RetroPie/BIOS/ATARIOSB.ROM

[Everett1954]

Yes, you were correct the atari800.config file was corrupted, most of it was missing. I copied the one from the online manual made a few NTSC/PAL changes and replaced it. Now everything works great.

[clemon79]

I am having this problem, but it's not working when I Nano the .cfg file from https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Atari-800-and-5200 either. If I try to pick the BIOS files by hand it's telling me they are the wrong size, so I assume I have bad BIOS files. Where can I find them that I can trust? Thanks!

[mediamogul]

@clemon79

Where can I find them that I can trust?

Asking for ROM and BIOS files, or even discussing where you might find them is not allowed. I'm sorry, but you'll have to rely on trial and error.

[future.child]

If you find them (google is your friend) check them for correct md5 checksums:

ATARIOSA.ROM EB1F32F5D9F382DB1BBFB8D7F9CB343A
ATARIXL.ROM 06DAAC977823773A3EEA3422FD26A703
5200.ROM 281F20EA4320404EC820FB7EC0693B38
ATARIBAS.ROM 0BAC0C6A50104045D902DF4503A4C30B
ATARIOSB.ROM A3E8D617C95D08031FE1B20D541434B2

[clemon79]

@future.child That helps a little, thanks much.

[clemon79]

Okay, the ones I have are all good...and the ones on the Pi were corrupted as hell, I think? Weird. At any rate, I have replaced those with these, re-downloaded them back to Windows, and double-confirmed the checksums, so these should be fine. Fingers crossed....

[clemon79]

Yep, fixing the corrupted system ROMs was the key. The controls are dreadful and the emulator doesn't want to respond to F9 to exit, but those are other issues I can address. Thanks again!