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!