Wiki/wiki-rtd/docs/wiki_general/retrodeck-start.md

# Getting started with RetroDECK

<img src="../../wiki_icons/pixelitos/retrodeck.png" width="50">

## Step 0: Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

- A device to install RetroDECK on.
- Related BIOS & Firmware ready.
- Game backups of various formats or purchased titles ready to play.
- On the Steam Deck, this guide needs to be done in Desktop Mode until a later step.

## Step 1: Installation & Configuration

### Steam Deck - Installation

Follow the guide: [Steam Deck - Installation and Updates](../wiki_devices/steamdeck/steamdeck-start.md)

### Linux Desktop - Installation

Follow the guide: [Linux Desktop - Installation and Updates](../wiki_devices/linux_desktop/linux-install.md)

## Step 2: Place BIOS & Firmware

Read up on [Manage your BIOS/Firmware](../wiki_management/bios-firmware.md)

Place BIOS & Firmware files in the `~/retrodeck/bios/` directory.

## Step 3: Place ROMs and Games

RetroDECK follows the ES-DE ROM folder structure.

Place ROM files in their corresponding system directory inside the roms folder. The location of the `retrodeck/roms/` folder depends on your installation location choice.

**Example:**

You have an example NES game called: `ExampleNESGame.nes`

Place `ExampleNESGame.nes` in the `/retrodeck/roms/nes` folder.

## Step 4: Playing the Games

Start RetroDECK via Steam or by itself. The systems you placed ROM files for should be shown and playable.

**Example:**

The NES category should now be shown in the ES-DE Frontend with `ExampleNESGame.nes` from `Step 3`.


## Step 5: Making the Games "Pretty" with Videos, Images, and Art

Do the following:

1. Make an account on [Screenscraper](https://www.screenscraper.fr/)
2. Read up on scraping and the various settings in the [ES-DE User Guide](../wiki_system_guides/es-de/esde-guide.md).
3. Log in to your Screenscraper account inside RetroDECK.
4. Set up the scraping how you want it.
5. Start scraping.
6. Enjoy your nice, pretty games.

**ES-DE Themes**

You can download more themes for ES-DE's frontend with the built-in theme downloader found in:

`ES-DE Configurations` -> `UI Settings` -> `Theme Downloader`

Switch between them in:

`ES-DE Configurations` -> `UI Settings` -> `Theme Set`