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.