2,011
edits
 |
Progress Continues
We've already had 21774 updates since Dolphin 5.0. Keep up with Dolphin's continuing progress through the Dolphin Blog: February, March, and April 2024 Dolphin Progress Report. |
 |
The Dolphin Emulator Wiki needs your help! Dolphin can play thousands of games, and changes are happening all the time. Help us keep up! Join in and help us make this the best resource for Dolphin. |
Virtual SD Card Guide: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
We changed SD card generation recently. We should really remove all the third party stuff eventually.
m (→Linux: Re-worded some of the steps) |
(We changed SD card generation recently. We should really remove all the third party stuff eventually.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Dolphin can store data to a virtual SD card named '''sd.raw'''. By default, it will be created with the size of 128MB. | Dolphin can store data to a virtual SD card named '''sd.raw'''. By default, it will be created with the size of 128MB. | ||
The virtual SD card has important use for homebrew apps on Dolphin. Project M and [[Mario Kart Wii]] custom tracks are two good examples, as some homebrew apps can only work using files stored on the SD card of the real hardware for which they were designed. | The virtual SD card has important use for homebrew apps on Dolphin. Project M and [[Mario Kart Wii]] custom tracks are two good examples, as some homebrew apps can only work using files stored on the SD card of the real hardware for which they were designed. | ||
== Creating a Virtual SD Card == | == Creating a Virtual SD Card == | ||
It is recommend to create one with size at least 1GB for large homebrew apps, for example, Project M, and no more than 2GB for best compatibility as there are compatibility issues with some homebrew apps trying to run under an SDHC card on the real hardware. | It is recommend to create one with size at least 1GB for large homebrew apps, for example, Project M, and no more than 2GB for best compatibility as there are compatibility issues with some homebrew apps trying to run under an SDHC card on the real hardware. | ||
=== Command Line and Executable Files === | As of {{revision|5.0-16891}}, Dolphin can also automatically generate SD cards if you set a specific folder, and it will automatically determine the size during this process. This bypasses the need for third party programs. | ||
=== Using Dolphin's Built-in SD Card Generation === | |||
The built-in generation is handled in the Options -> Configuration -> Wii menu along with the other SD card options. It will look something like this with the user having to manually configure the paths. | |||
{{Image|SDCardGeneration.jpg|In 5.0-16891 or newer, you'll have these options to setup a SD Card.|br}} | |||
The options do as follows: | |||
* **Insert SD Card**: Tells the emulated Wii that an SD card is inserted. | |||
* **Allow Writes to SD Card**: Allows the emulated Wii to make changes to the SD Card. This should only be unchecked if you are using the SD card for Netplay/TASing or other experiments outside of normal use. | |||
* **Automatically Sync with Folder on Emulation Start and End**: This means that Dolphin will generate the SD card based on your configured folder on *every* Wii game start, and then resync the folder *after* emulation. **Warning**: May be extremely slow with large Virtual SD Cards. | |||
* **Convert Folder to File now**: Will use the configured SD Sync Folder to generate an SD card in the configured SD Card Path. **Warning**: Will overwrite any existing SD Card. | |||
* **Convert File to Folder now**: Will extract the configured SD Card to generate a folder based on the SD Sync Folder path. **Warning**: Will delete all files previously in the SD Sync Folder! | |||
Dolphin can still only use the SD Card file during emulation, but these options make it much easier to generate an SD card without the use of Third Party tools. | |||
=== Generating SD Cards with Third Party Tools === | |||
If you're using older builds or simply prefer to use a Third Party tool for some reason, there are options for most operating systems. | |||
==== Command Line and Executable Files ==== | |||
Download ''[http://www.mediafire.com/download/cfr9q8542e9lsos/Virtual+SD+Card+Maker.zip Virtual SD Card Maker]'', unzip it, and open the appropriate folder for your system (Linux / OS X / Windows). The tool is run with a command like: | Download ''[http://www.mediafire.com/download/cfr9q8542e9lsos/Virtual+SD+Card+Maker.zip Virtual SD Card Maker]'', unzip it, and open the appropriate folder for your system (Linux / OS X / Windows). The tool is run with a command like: | ||
<pre>mksdcard 2048M sd.raw</pre> | <pre>mksdcard 2048M sd.raw</pre> | ||
| Line 21: | Line 43: | ||
Alternatively, a non-Mediafire download link can be found by visiting https://developer.android.com/studio/#command-tools and downloading the OS-specific zip there (mksdcard is part of the Android SDK) | Alternatively, a non-Mediafire download link can be found by visiting https://developer.android.com/studio/#command-tools and downloading the OS-specific zip there (mksdcard is part of the Android SDK) | ||
=== Manual macOS Command Line Creation === | ==== Manual macOS Command Line Creation ==== | ||
This example creates a 2048 megabyte (2GB) SD card formatted as FAT32: | This example creates a 2048 megabyte (2GB) SD card formatted as FAT32: | ||
<pre> | <pre> | ||
| Line 28: | Line 50: | ||
</pre> | </pre> | ||
=== Manual Linux Command Line Creation === | ==== Manual Linux Command Line Creation ==== | ||
If the above tool does not work, one can manually create a FAT32 partition image in Linux provided <kbd>dosfstools</kbd> is installed. | If the above tool does not work, one can manually create a FAT32 partition image in Linux provided <kbd>dosfstools</kbd> is installed. | ||
First, pull up a terminal, and then chdir into the Wii folder, which under certain configurations may be located at <var>~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/Wii</var> instead. | First, pull up a terminal, and then chdir into the Wii folder, which under certain configurations may be located at <var>~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/Wii</var> instead. | ||
| Line 44: | Line 66: | ||
== Editing a Virtual SD Card == | == Editing a Virtual SD Card == | ||
With Dolphin's built-in tools available in {{revision|5.0-16891}} or newer, you can simply <i>Convert File to Folder Now</i> and then change whatever you want directly in your operating system by opening that folder. When you are done, simply <i>Convert Folder to File Now</i> to generate a new SD card. Alternatively, you can use <i>Automatically sync with Folder on emulation start and end</i> to do this process automatically, but it will cause longer startup/closing time on Wii games. | |||
If you are stuck on older builds or simply wish to use other methods, there are ways to do this on most other operating systems. | |||
=== Linux === | === Linux === | ||
The virtual SD card can be edited by mounting it to a virtual disk. Create a directory as a mountpoint: | The virtual SD card can be edited by mounting it to a virtual disk. Create a directory as a mountpoint: | ||
| Line 87: | Line 114: | ||
For the Wii game launcher app, users on both ends must have the same copies of homebrew app and the game in their game list first, then set the game as default ISO, as mentioned in previous section. | For the Wii game launcher app, users on both ends must have the same copies of homebrew app and the game in their game list first, then set the game as default ISO, as mentioned in previous section. | ||
== Handling Virtual SD Cards on Android == | |||
Currently there is not a good way to do this. Dolphin will generate a default SD Card that is 128MB, but the Android GUI cannot currently change the directory, or automatically convert a folder into a SD card. The best way to do this is to use the instructions for a Desktop build of Dolphin to generate a SD card, and if you have an Android Device that allows you to access per-app directories from "File Transfer" when connected to a desktop, accessing "\Android\data\org.dolphinemu.dolphinemu\files\Wii" and then overwrite the "sd.raw" that is was generated there. | |||
If done successfully, Dolphin on Android will now have your newly generated SD card with whatever data you put on it. | |||
[[Category:Tutorials]] | [[Category:Tutorials]] | ||