GameCube Main Menu

The GameCube's Main Menu, commonly known as the GameCube BIOS, is the Initial Program Loader (IPL) of the GameCube and its top level interface, allowing the player to load discs, change settings, and manage up to two memory cards at once. To access these features, the player must either hold A on controller 1, have no disc inserted, or have the lid open as the GameCube logo animates.

Dolphin does not include the GameCube Main Menu by default, and it doesn't need it; it is able to launch games straight from the Dolphin GUI. However, the GameCube Main Menu is fully functional and even capable of launching games.

Accessing the Menu
To access the menu, you must first dump a copy of IPL.bin from a console matching the region of the title being emulating; then disable Skip BIOS, load any GameCube game of the appropriate region, and hold A as the GameCube logo animates. Unlike the Wii Menu, there is no way to directly boot to the menu, refer.

To change discs, right click on any game in the game list and select "Change Disc", or use File > Change Disc.

Savestates/GameINIs/Cheats Do Not Work
Due to how Dolphin works, Dolphin only recognizes the first thing loaded as the game that is being played. For example, if you load Super Smash Bros. Melee from the Game List, and then change disc and load Super Mario Sunshine, the game settings from the GameINI, cheats, and even any savestates you make will be for Melee and not Sunshine. So accordingly, by loading the GameCube Main Menu first, the settings, cheats, and savestates are all from/to the IPL, and not the game you wish to run. There is no solution at this time, although Action Replay would allow you to use Action Replay cheat codes only, but only what is available on-disc or on the memory card.

Flickering/Stretchy Menu
The start up animation and menu will stretch and distort unless XFB is enabled, either virtual or real will correct for this issue.

Missing Music/Incorrect Audio
Despite the fixes made to the DSP HLE sound by more accurately emulating Zelda ucode, music and effects in the IPL are still missing or distorted. Needs DSP LLE for proper audio. Refer.

Screeching Audio
Needs DSP LLE to prevent screeching audio. Fixed DSP HLE to be more tolerable starting with.

Missing JP Text
Various portions of text are not displayed in the Japaneses BIOS, including: button instructions, game description, and others. Refer. Fixed in.