Use this page as a triage front door#
If the setup fails, start here before applying random commands. Most failures are path, prefix, file-case, share-permission, or old-build problems rather than true game incompatibility.
Questions and answers#
Why is my game a black screen?#
Separate boot black screens from IGR exit black screens. A HDD Apps launch with the HDD LED stuck often points to OPL devices left on Auto. A black screen after IGR usually points to the BOOT.ELF exit chain or the loader-disable PATCH_9.BIN issue.
How do I force PAL or fix 50/60 Hz?#
Use $FORCEPAL, $NOPAL, and $YPOS_## only for a specific region/display symptom. Do not globally add display commands just because a list mentions them.
Does POPStarter support exFAT?#
Stock POPStarter does not add internal HDD exFAT support. USB exFAT requires BDM Assault-style driver substitution or a modern launcher path that explicitly documents BDMA behavior.
My cheats do nothing. Why?#
Check uppercase CHEATS.TXT, the exact per-game support folder, and raw-code timing. Raw GameShark/Action Replay-style codes generally need $SAFEMODE; POPStarter special commands do not.
My USB drive is not detected.#
Config byte $413 affects POPStarter USB access delay before the device is reached. The $USBDELAY_# command affects POPS streaming behavior later. They solve different classes of problems.
Saves disappear after reboot.#
Confirm SLOT0.VMC and SLOT1.VMC are being created in the expected per-game folder. On SMB, write permission is required. On multi-disc sets, later discs usually need VMCDIR.TXT pointing back to disc 1.
Does it support physical PS1 memory cards?#
No. The recovered FAQ material treats POPS saving as VMC-based; physical PS1 memory-card saving is not the route to debug.
Does it support multitap?#
The recovered FAQ material says no: only the first two controllers are recognized.
Which buttons open IGR?#
Use $IGR0, $IGR1, or $IGR2 for menu IGR, and $IGR3, $IGR4, or $IGR5 for no-popup direct close. The OPL-like macro is L1+L2+R1+R2+Start+Select.
What is the latest canonical POPStarter build?#
Use r13 Beta 2019/06/05 as the final public build unless you are deliberately testing older WIP/RIP behavior. Old instructions can describe pre-final byte meanings and broken commands.
Does widescreen work?#
Widescreen commands are GTE/FOV hacks. They do not repair HUDs, fonts, menus, 2D backgrounds, or every game. Treat them as per-game experiments.
Where are the emulator binaries?#
Not here. This site may identify proprietary POPS files by filename, role, and hash-style verification, but it must not host or link Sony emulator binaries or package mirrors.