Tips : Transfert your Roms Directly on your MicroSD in Windows (Without Network)

Pho3nX

Hi, for people want just copy / past ROMS/BIOS directly on their MicroSD under Windows like a USB Key, just read this tips:

1/ For Install latest batocera build on your MicroSD:

Download & install on your computer 'MiniTool Partition Wizard 10", it's a free software, you can download for free here :
https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html
Use a MicroSD > USB 2.0/3.0 Adaptator or your Card Reader, insert your MicroSD and run MiniTool Partition Wizard 10
On your MicroSD Delete all partitions and create a Primary Partition FAT32, apply changes

2/ For Flash Batocera Build on your MicroSD:

Download for free "ImageUSB by PassMark Software" here:
http://www.osforensics.com/tools/write-usb-images.html
Open ImageUSB, select *.img batocera build and click "Write"

3/ First Boot on your RPI3 or Other

After first boot, close Batocera

4/ Plug Again your MicroSD on your Computer

Return in MiniTool Partition Manager and format secondary partition "Others" in FAT32

5/ Return in your RPI3 or Other & boot with the MicroSD and change settings storage to internal and shutdown batocera from menu

6/ Finally plug your MicroSD on your computer and now your Share partition is available with all Batocera folders, all folders has been created and you can directly transfert your Bios, Roms & more...

7/ ... When it's done you can plug your MicroSD on your RPI3 or other and enjoy your games!

chanchomann

Pho3nX Ext2fsd allows WIndows to write to linux ext partitions. For free.
Paragon ExtFS was free before and did the same thing at higher performance but now after 10 days to throttles back to 5mb/sec for transfers, fine for small roms but the heavy large files are affected. Linux systems just work better using ext4. The FAT32 and NTFS standards are Microsoft-made and the linux implementation is somewhat like a hack.

nadenislamarre

i'll have to check one script to confirm that there will have no issue (but it was like that by defaut on an old beta).
Note that the drawback is that you have to shutdown correctly (using the shutdown button) batocera to be sure to not break your data while fat32 is not robust against incorrect shutdown.

nadenislamarre

@Pho3nX thanks for this tip.
ideally, we may do a script to be able to convert a such key directly in batocera.

Pho3nX

nadenislamarre
Thanks! I will try on PCx86_64 and if it work it's great for people want a USB Key with all in One

You can edit if you want for warn to always close fine Batocera by Menu (Quit > Shutdown) when i say "close Batocera" 😉

I will feedback and try the same thing with PCx86_64, it's great to have Batoceras Portable

jthemad

Pho3nX nadenislamarre Hi, I tried this method, but it doesn't work for me.. When I plug the sd in my pc (win 10), after doing all the operation needed, I can only see F:RECALBOX, and not the other (SHARE) partition. If I launch MinitoolPartition Manager, I can see the 2 partition on my SDcard (RECALBOX and SHARE).. How can I access to SHARE partition from my pc (win10)? thanks all

Pho3nX

Work also on PC x86 & X86_64 perfectly

Pho3nX

jthemad You are not read fine my tutorial.

It's normal to see a hidden partition in Minitool, and you must format these partition in FAT32 (just format, no more)

After that when you will return in Batocera just wait, in settings look that storage is INTERNAL and change a parameter and finaly use Exit > Shutdown

Return in Windows 10 and now you will see your partition FAT32 with all the Batocera folders (BIOS, Recalbox, etc...) recreate automaticaly after your FAT32 formatage

Now you can transfers all your BIOS, ROMS & you have a Batoceras Portable in your MicroSD or USB Key

nadenislamarre

@jthemad
several ways.
1) if you use x86 or x86_64 versions, press f1 when you're at the batocera menu. it will open an explorer.
2) use an external usb key formated in fat32 to save your games. use menu->system->external storage to play
3) use linux, it works out of the box.

jthemad

nadenislamarre hi! I know these solutions, but the 'problem' is another.. is there a method to access the SHARE folder connecting the mounted microSD (already mounted by Batocera) with a windows 10 pc, using an microSD-USB adapter? If I connect the microSD, I can 'see' only the RECALBOX partition, the 'other' is hidden and I can only see it by miniparition manager, but I can't copy files.. It would be very useful for transfer roms without wifi/Ethernet connection and in a faster way.. thanks!

jthemad

Pho3nX ok, I'll try it again.. could you please explain me better this:
'After that when you will return in Batocera just wait, in settings look that storage is INTERNAL and change a parameter and finaly use Exit > Shutdown'
Thanks!!

GatoSoft

Hi! 🙂
I'm using Batocera for PC x64 and I followed this guide step by step but when I try to boot Batocera again after formatting the "Other" partition to FAT32, I see the first blue Batocera logo and then just a black screen. I've already tried with the latest stable version (5.18) and the beta 5.19 release 20181117. I was about to download and give a try to yesterday's release (20181123), but I don't think it would fix my problem.
Did you know what could be happening?
Thanks in advance. 🙂

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I can turn off Batocera using a single short press to the Power button, causing Batocera's logo to show on screen a little before shutting down, as usually do when you shut down through the menu. Also, folders are created in the new FAT32 partition as the OP said it should be. Please, help! 😢

Fourch

Same problem as Gatosoft. I'm running on 5.19 PC_x64. I got from the Download version. It indeed creates "share" files but won't load EmulationStation.

I got an even more weird issue. It seems Batocera recognizes NTFS and ExFat and let me choose all drives or other external usb key in my computer as system storage. But it won't see the NTFS partition which is on the same booting key !