Contents
● Creating a Folder
● Emulation Sites (FAQ)
● ROM File Conventions
● The File Download Window
● Tidbits on Placement & Zipped Games
● Using Compressed Folders (ZIP)

Creating a Folder
I suggest you make a new folder for all the video game goodies before you start downloading. You don't have to, it just makes things easier. Here's how you create a new folder on your Windows desktop:
1. Right-click on an empty spot.
2. Left-click on New.
3. Left-click on Folder, the menu will look something like this.
4. Type in the name for the folder. I suggest "Emulation".
 
If you want to rename the folder...
1. Right-click on the folder.
2. Left-click on Rename.
3. Type the new name.
4. Press enter.

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Emulation Sites (FAQ)
Q: Where can I find ROM websites?
A: Your best resource can be my site. :) I have a bunch of ROM websites listed in my links. I try to keep that list updated.
 
Q: Are ROM websites safe?
A: I think they are. Just expect most of them to be full of ads and pop-ups. To be on the safe side I would advise browsing ROM websites with Firefox, because Internet Explorer tends to be too susceptible to spyware and such.
 
Q: Will emulators or ROMs crash my computer or give me a virus?
A: I've never heard of them doing so. You have nothing to worry about.

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ROM File Conventions
Many emulation websites list games like this:
 
     Super Mario All-Stars & World (E) [!]
     Super Mario All-Stars & World (U)
     Super Mario World (J) [!]
     Super Mario World (U) [!]
     Super Mario World (U) [T-Norwegian_V2001.04.28_Just4Fun]
     Super Mario World (V1.0) (E)
     Super Mario World (V1.1) (E) [!]
 
So what the heck do those symbols at the end mean? Here's the key:

     (U) United States release
     (E) Europe release
     (J) Japan release
     (###) Checksum
     (##k) ROM Size
     (M#) Multilanguage (# of Languages)
     [!] Verified Good Dump
     [a] Alternate
     [b] Bad Dump
     [f] Fixed
     [h] Hack
     [o] Overdump
     [p] Pirate
     [t] Trained
     [T] Translation
     [x] Bad Checksum
     ZZZ_ Unclassified

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The File Download Window
1. This is the "File Download" window.
2. Click on the Save button.
3. And now this window will show up, the "Save As" window. The Save As window gives you the option to choose where you want the file to go and to change the file name if you want to.
4. Look here. Click either "Documents" or the down arrow button next to your name to navigate your computer and choose the folder where you want to save the game.
6. Click on the Save button.

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Tidbits on Placement & Zipped Games
Now you have the game on your desktop. It will show up one of three ways:
● If you have Windows XP then it will show up as a folder with a zipper.
● If you have never installed WinZip then it will show up as an unrecognized file.
● If you already installed WinZip then it will show up as a WinZip file.

Before you touch it you should properly prepare your Emulation folder. Open it up and create a new folder for each video game system you intend to download games for. Why are these games in zipped files? Because doing so makes the game take up much less space, which allows you to download the game much faster and allows the webmasters of emulation sites to post lots more games.
● Video game emulators must be extracted (unzipped) from their zipped file in order for you to use them.
● Video game ROMs do not need to be extracted (unzipped) from their zipped files in order for you to use them. All the popular video game emulators have zip support, meaning they can automatically unzip the game for you each time you click to load it.

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Using Compressed Folders (ZIP)
As I have mentioned above, the game you downloaded will show up as a folder with a zipper on it. To extract it simply right-click on it, choose Extract All, and follow the wizard.
 
 
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