How do saves work on the ZSNES?

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:08 am

I recently got into this emulator (version 1.42). I got a Chrono Trigger ROM and I saved it through the system in the actual game. How would I get to the area I saved at? Whenever I load the game it just starts as a new game.

Ichinisan · Post by **Ichinisan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:13 am

ZSNES probably couldn't save the data to your hard drive. If the game's ROM image file is on a CD-R disc, then ZSNES is trying to save the game data directly to the disc (which cannot be done). You can edit the ZSNESW*.CFG file to tell ZSNES to use a folder on your hard drive to store save data. If you are running ZSNES from a CD-R, then you can't edit the configuration file to make this change.

Try copying everything to your hard drive. Then check the folder properties for both the folder containing ZSNES and the folder containing the game ROM and make sure that "Read Only" is not selected. You can right-click a folder and click "Properties" from the pop-up context menu to find the Read-Only attribute.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:17 am

The ZSNES file and the ROM are just in a folder on my Local Disk. There are also two new items that have appeared that are titled Chrono Trigger as well from when I stopped playing last night. I'm not sure if these are the saves or if I can load them or something. I'm not too good on the technical stuff.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:19 am

I didn't really now anything about save states yesterday. I'm guessing I shouldn't save on the actual ROM but on the ZSNES save states for more reliability?

kevman · Post by **kevman** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:02 am

CT Man wrote:I didn't really now anything about save states yesterday. I'm guessing I shouldn't save on the actual ROM but on the ZSNES save states for more reliability?

Typically, the opposite is true. If these files appeared, Zsnes is probably saving it correctly. Just make sure to exit Zsnes properly (go game-> Exit) and that you are working Chrono Trigger correctly.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:10 am

I'm pretty sure I'm working it correctly. I drag the ROM to the ZSNES and it plays. I've also tried loading it but it still takes me to a new game. Those other 2 files don't appear when I go to load.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:14 am

If it matters the ROM says it's a ZST file and the others are SRM and SMC. Also, are you normally just supposed to load the ROM and it is supposed to start from the last save?

Ichinisan · Post by **Ichinisan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 3:55 am

The SRM file is the one that concerns you. It contains SRAM data. The memory inside a game cartridge is called SRAM. There is a tiny battery inside the cartridge that provides just enough electricity to keep it from losing your save data.

I suspect that your problem has to do with the way you launch ZSNES. You should put the ROM inside the same folder as ZSNES. Start ZSNES and then click Game>Load from the menu. If you don't see the game listed on the left side of the Load menu, close ZSNES and delete ZSNESW.CFG so that ZSNES will forget which path to look in and search it's own folder for the ROM and SRM file.

Post by **Agozer** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:41 am

As a general rule, do not start games by dragging and dropping files into ZSNES. Use Game --> Load istead.

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:05 pm

Btw. configure Windows to show file extensions.

SMC = one commonly used extension for ROM files
SRM = extension of the files that store the SRAM info (Save RAM or Static RAM, not sure)
ZST, ZS1..ZS9 = Zsnes saveSTate files

Post by **Agozer** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:15 pm

creaothceann wrote:Static RAM

Correct.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:36 pm

The ROM is in the same folder as the ZSNES. The Chrono Trigger game appears when I go to load, but it always starts a new game. I guess I'll try some of these tips.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:06 am

I'm not exactly sure what the ZSNESW.CFG is, though. Nevermind, found it.

CT Man · Post by **CT Man** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:27 am

There's also some weird media file in the ZSNES folder called zquicfgw.dat. Sorry. I guess my next option would be to delete the ZSNESW.CFG?

Post by **Agozer** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:33 am

Don't triple-post; edit your old post if you have something to add.

Zguicfg.dat isn't a media file, it stores all the GUI options.

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 10:41 am

CT Man wrote:I'm not exactly sure what the ZSNESW.CFG is, though. Nevermind, found it.

If in doubt, use Notepad.

CFG (obviously?) means "config".

xamenus · Post by **xamenus** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 5:54 pm

Has everyone totally forgotten about the SRAM Check + Save option?

CT Man, enable it in the options menu.