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RetroBIOS

np2pi

np2pi emulates NEC PC-98. It reads 15 files, none of them required: it starts games without them.

About this profile
Detail Value
Type standalone
Classification Community fork
Source https://github.com/eagle0wl/np2pi
Upstream https://np2.yui.ne.jp
Version 0.83
Revision eagle0wl/np2pi@2e995768b55e
Profiled 2026-10-20
Profile YAML, JSON
Cores np2pi
Systems NEC PC-98
Install this emulator's files

With RetroPie: the installer finds RetroPie and its BIOS folder, then downloads only the files np2pi reads there and checks each one.

Open a terminal on the device. Or connect from a computer with SSH, a terminal over the network. Paste the line. Press Enter.

Terminal
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Abdess/retrobios/main/install.sh | sh -s -- --emulator np2pi
Technical notes

Raspberry Pi build by eagle0wl of Yui's Neko Project II 0.83 (np2ver.h:1), the SDL front end compiled with sdl/makefile.rpi and sdl/raspberrypi/compiler.h. That header defines SUPPORT_SASI and SUPPORT_SCSI but not SUPPORT_PC9821, and bios/bios.c defines BIOS_SIMULATE, so bios9821.rom and itf.rom are never opened: the ITF image is the itfrom.res table compiled into the binary. ref: sdl/raspberrypi/compiler.h:136-139, bios/bios.c:16-21, bios/bios.c:257-268, bios/bios.c:302-318

Every file below is opened from the working directory. datadir is "./", file_setcd(datadir) makes it the base of file_getcd, and getbiospath falls back to file_getcd while the biospath key of np2.cfg is empty, as it is by default. np2.cfg itself is read and written there. ref: sdl/np2.c:48, sdl/np2.c:152, sdl/dosio.c:180-195, pccore.c:98-111, sdl/ini.c:318, sdl/ini.c:412-416

RetroPie launches np2 from its pc98 configuration directory, where it links 2608_bd.wav, 2608_hh.wav, 2608_rim.wav, 2608_sd.wav, 2608_tom.wav, 2608_top.wav, bios.rom, FONT.ROM and sound.rom from the pc98 folder of its BIOS directory, and TakaoGothic as default.ttf. The paths below follow that folder. The other files are read only when placed in the working directory itself.

Fonts are filled in order and each source only supplies the glyphs still missing: the fontfile key of np2.cfg (empty by default), FONT.BMP, FONT.ROM, then the PC-8801 KANJI1.ROM, KANJI2.ROM and PC88.FNT. Glyphs still missing after that are drawn from default.ttf through SDL_ttf into font.tmp, which is reused on later runs. default.ttf is a desktop font, not a machine ROM. ref: pccore.c:251, font/font.c:113-188, font/fontdata.c:8-12, font/fontpc88.c:81-193, sdl/fontmng.c:12-16

Files

Section titled “Files”

15 files: 0 required, 15 optional. 9 have an HLE fallback.

File
pc98/bios.rom
pc98/FONT.BMP
pc98/FONT.ROM
pc98/KANJI1.ROM
pc98/KANJI2.ROM
pc98/PC88.FNT
pc98/sound.rom
pc98/2608_bd.wav
pc98/2608_sd.wav
pc98/2608_top.wav
pc98/2608_hh.wav
pc98/2608_tom.wav
pc98/2608_rim.wav
pc98/sasi.rom
pc98/scsi.rom

In this collection: 13 in repo, 1 missing and 1 unsourceable.

Optional

Section titled “Optional”
15 files

bios.rom optional in repo HLE fallback

PC-9801 system BIOS, E8000h-FFFFFh

  • The first 0x18000 bytes are read to E8000h. A shorter file, or no file, leaves the built-in BIOS simulation in place.

FONT.BMP optional in repo HLE fallback

PC-98 character generator as a 2048x2048 monochrome bitmap

  • First font source tried from the working directory.

FONT.ROM optional in repo HLE fallback

PC-98 character generator in the Virtual98 layout

  • Read when glyphs are still missing after FONT.BMP. 0x46800 bytes are read, a shorter file is ignored.

KANJI1.ROM optional in repo HLE fallback

PC-8801 first level kanji ROM

  • Read after FONT.ROM for the ANK and first level kanji glyphs still missing, 0x20000 bytes.

KANJI2.ROM optional in repo HLE fallback

PC-8801 second level kanji ROM

  • Read for the second level kanji glyphs still missing, 0x20000 bytes.

PC88.FNT optional missing HLE fallback

PC-8801 ANK font

  • Read for the ANK glyphs still missing, 0x1800 bytes.

sound.rom optional in repo HLE fallback

FM sound board BIOS

  • Each board first tries its own image, sound14.rom, sound26.rom, sound86.rom, sound118.rom or soundSPB.rom, then sound.rom, reading 0x4000 bytes. Without one a 9-byte stub is written to the ROM window.

2608_bd.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, bass drum

2608_sd.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, snare drum

2608_top.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, top cymbal

2608_hh.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, hi-hat

2608_tom.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, tom

2608_rim.wav optional in repo

YM2608 rhythm sample, rim shot

sasi.rom optional in repo HLE fallback

SASI controller BIOS

  • Read when a SASI disk is attached, 0x1000 bytes. Otherwise the built-in stub is copied.

scsi.rom optional unsourceable HLE fallback

SCSI controller BIOS

  • Read when a SCSI disk is attached, 0x4000 bytes. Otherwise the built-in stub is copied.
  • Not collectable: PC-98 SCSI BIOS image the collection does not hold, and a same-named ROM of another machine must not stand in (acknowledged gaps)

Next steps

Section titled “Next steps”
.

Maintained by Abdess on GitHub. Report a problem.

Packs from release v2026.10.10, .

MIT for the tooling and metadata. BIOS and firmware files are third-party system software, preserved for personal backup, archival and interoperability.