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A short "How to install, reset and use ROMs" guide

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#1 magnasaver

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Posted 08 February 2020 - 10:59 AM

How to install, reset and use ROMs

What tables do need a ROM file

Most of the tables will only work if you have installed the correct ROM file.

All SS tables usually require that you install a ROM file.
Only if you want to play an EM table, you do not need a ROM file.
(Note: EM tables are usually tables which use a wheel for displaying the score)

Also, original tables mostly do not use ROM files. However, sometimes they might be based a real table and therefore also need a ROM file. In this case you should find the information which ROM is needed in the table instructions.



How to install a ROM file

- Search the internet for the ROM file and download it.

- Do NOT unzip the file. Just copy the zipped file as it is into the "...Visual Pinball/VPinMame/roms" folder.



Getting the right ROM

If you need a ROM file here are some hints on how to get the appropriate ROM file:

What is the correct name of the ROM file?

In order to find the correct ROM. It might be useful to find out the name of the file you need to use:

Start VPX then VPX will open a window where you can select a file. Do NOT select a file here, because if you select a file now it will automatically load AND start the selected table wich might crash VPX if it does not find the correct rom. So instead close this window first and then reopen the file selection window by choosing "File" and then "Open..." from the top menu bar. Now you can open your table without immedeately running it.

Then click on the script icon (which is the 2nd icon in the 2nd line on the icon list which is displayed on the left side of your table editor) to open the script that is attached to the table and search the code (strg+f) of the script for "cGameName =" to find out the name of the ROM.

A table may have many different ROMs: Different ROMs can have different game rules or contain different languages. Most of these alternative ROMs will also work your table and you can edit this line to change the game name if you want.

Be aware, PinMame will only accept certain game names.
To check, if a game name is acceptable, run "Visual Pinball/VPinMAME/setup.exe" then click on "Test"
There will see a list of table names and its acceptable names.

-> In some cases you must rename ROM files to match the name that is used by the script (For example if you download a ROM from the official Stern website).



ROM sound problems:

- Sometimes ROMs do not include sound files or have a broken sound. If you do not hear any sound you might want to search for another ROM file. Look at the file size. If you find two ROM files with the same name but with a different file size the resaon for this difference might be that one file does contain sound files while the other does not.



Parent ROMS, Child Roms and Bios files

- Sometimes ROMs need parent ROMs to work properly. In this case you need have both zip files, the zip file of parent rom and the zip file of the child ROM together in the roms folder. If you want to use a child rom cGameName must be set to the name of the child rom inside the script.

Most of the times you can identify the parent ROM by looking at its file size. The parent ROM has usually a substantially higher file size than its child roms. Child roms are mostly used for older revisions, special rulesets or to add other languages. Usually you are fine, if you just install the parent ROM.

- Some tables need also the bios to be installed into the roms folder:
For example some older Gottlieb tables need: "gts1.zip" or "gts1s.zip" (Keep them zipped) in the roms folder


Reset the ROM

The ROM ony provides the software that is needed to run the table all data like settings and high scores however are stored in the NVRAM file. VPX related data however is stored in the windows registry. Therefore, if you want to reset the table and delete the ROM table you need to delete the NVRAM and the registry.

Reset the ROM: delete the NVRAM file:
Look in the VPinMAME/nvrams folder and delete the nv-file of your game name.
You also might want to delete the windows registry entry of entry your game name with your registry editor.

The regsitry of your table can be found here:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER - Software - Freeware - VisualPinMame - "your GameName"


FINAL NOTE

Please note that I am myself a beginner in VPX.
So there might be some mistakes or some important information missing here.
Let me know, if you have any proposals to improve this guide.


Edited by magnasaver, 17 February 2020 - 09:03 AM.


#2 R and D REPAIR

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Posted 17 February 2020 - 02:22 AM

Please help I cannot find the "...Visual Pinball/VPinMame/roms" folder



#3 kissjozsef3

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Posted 17 February 2020 - 07:43 AM

I find it a very usefull,helpfull description Neophyte!

It is a great help for anyone new in Vp.

Thanks for your guide.



#4 magnasaver

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Posted 17 February 2020 - 09:00 AM

Please help I cannot find the "...Visual Pinball/VPinMame/roms" folder

Can you find your Visual Pinball installation folder?

There you should find a VPinMame folder.

If you cannot find a roms folder in your VPinMame folder just create one by yourself!

 

I find it a very usefull,helpfull description Neophyte!

It is a great help for anyone new in Vp.

Thanks for your guide.

Thank you for your kind feedback!



#5 MajorFrenchy

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Posted 17 February 2020 - 12:51 PM

Nice write up !

 

that will help many people. 

 

An easy way to find the required rom is to look up the rom row in DUX Retro's VP spreadsheet. 

 

https://virtual-pinb...dsheet.web.app/

 

It will point you to the appropriate link for the download.


Edited by MajorFrenchy, 09 September 2023 - 08:30 PM.


#6 Quinalt

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Posted 17 February 2020 - 07:53 PM

You might want to add that sometimes sounds don't work because the ROMs default volume is too low. Then you need to open the cab door and use the volume control buttons/keys.



#7 studlygoorite

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Posted 29 February 2020 - 04:42 PM

Thanks for this, I am new (just purchased my first Cab) and am soaking in all info as I am having issues with a few tables. This is good stuff.



#8 Greynurse

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Posted 30 May 2020 - 12:58 PM

So is there software that can open / repair older roms. For instance, the ali.zip rom has a constant hum noise. I've downloaded the file from both here and other sources, but the hum remains. I would like to attempt to eradicate the hum.

 

Cheers,

Nursie


Edited by Greynurse, 30 May 2020 - 12:59 PM.


#9 Raffy

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 06:17 PM

Very helpful.Thank you so much



#10 wiesshund

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Posted 02 April 2021 - 06:59 PM

So is there software that can open / repair older roms. For instance, the ali.zip rom has a constant hum noise. I've downloaded the file from both here and other sources, but the hum remains. I would like to attempt to eradicate the hum.

 

Cheers,

Nursie

 

No.

If a ROM itself was actually bad, you would redump it
If the emulation was flawed, then you would rework the emulator

But if a machine had a specific issue or quirk, then that is how the emulator is going to emulate it

 

But for the Ali ROM, i have 0 humming noise

It's an old stern machine, so it has that oddly modulated sound to the tones, but that is how they were
can not fix that.


If you feel the need to empty your wallet in my direction, i dont have any way to receive it anyways

If you really want to get rid of money you can donate to this

Athena's Wildlife Sanctuary


#11 Greynurse

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Posted 03 April 2021 - 09:45 PM

Thanks Wiesshund,

 

I'll review that sound and see if the hum has gone. I've upgraded my hardware since I posted that query, so it indeed may be gone now.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Nursie.



#12 wiesshund

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 01:20 AM

Thanks Wiesshund,

 

I'll review that sound and see if the hum has gone. I've upgraded my hardware since I posted that query, so it indeed may be gone now.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Nursie.

If you throw a coin in and hit start and then do nothing

once it finishes beeping at you, it should be silent

 

If you have humming, it is possible that the author is looping a transformer hum sound in the table
which is kind of authentic for that era, but might be a bit too loud

 

I have some EM tables that are of pretty old tables
and some of those have coil buzz for the flippers and other solenoids, and some 60hz AC hum

which in a really old table would be noticeable cause those old transformers were not quiet things

So i guess it is possible that the hum comes from the table itself

 

You could mute the ROM audio to find out


If you feel the need to empty your wallet in my direction, i dont have any way to receive it anyways

If you really want to get rid of money you can donate to this

Athena's Wildlife Sanctuary


#13 Juwellez

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Posted 04 April 2021 - 02:58 PM

Also try the sound manager and see if you can turn it down or even change the sound of that is associated in the script







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