diff --git a/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp b/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
index f1ce0be8..26767049 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/Account/Account.cpp
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 #include "Account.h"
 #include "util/helpers/helpers.h"
-#include "gui/CemuApp.h"
 #include "util/helpers/SystemException.h"
-
 #include "config/ActiveSettings.h"
 #include "Cafe/IOSU/legacy/iosu_crypto.h"
 #include "Common/FileStream.h"
@@ -175,7 +173,7 @@ std::error_code Account::Load()
 
 std::error_code Account::Save()
 {
-	fs::path path = CemuApp::GetMLCPath(fmt::format(L"usr/save/system/act/{:08x}", m_persistent_id)).ToStdWstring();
+	fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath(fmt::format(L"usr/save/system/act/{:08x}", m_persistent_id));
 	if (!fs::exists(path))
 	{
 		std::error_code ec;
@@ -184,7 +182,7 @@ std::error_code Account::Save()
 			return ec;
 	}
 		
-	path /= L"account.dat";
+	path /= "account.dat";
 
 	try
 	{
@@ -302,7 +300,7 @@ void Account::SetMiiName(std::wstring_view name)
 const std::vector<Account>& Account::RefreshAccounts()
 {
 	std::vector<Account> result;
-	const fs::path path = CemuApp::GetMLCPath(L"usr/save/system/act").ToStdWstring();
+	const fs::path path = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath("usr/save/system/act");
 	if (fs::exists(path))
 	{
 		for (const auto& it : fs::directory_iterator(path))
@@ -417,7 +415,7 @@ fs::path Account::GetFileName(uint32 persistent_id)
 	if (persistent_id < kMinPersistendId)
 		throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("persistent id {:#x} is invalid", persistent_id));
 	
-	return CemuApp::GetMLCPath(fmt::format(L"usr/save/system/act/{:08x}/account.dat", persistent_id)).ToStdWstring();
+	return ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath(fmt::format("usr/save/system/act/{:08x}/account.dat", persistent_id));
 }
 
 OnlineValidator Account::ValidateOnlineFiles() const
diff --git a/src/Cafe/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Cafe/CMakeLists.txt
index 9c671b1e..3c49b60d 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Cafe/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -454,8 +454,6 @@ add_library(CemuCafe
   TitleList/BaseInfo.cpp
   TitleList/BaseInfo.h
   TitleList/GameInfo.h
-  TitleList/MetaInfo.cpp
-  TitleList/MetaInfo.h
   TitleList/ParsedMetaXml.h
   TitleList/SaveInfo.cpp
   TitleList/SaveInfo.h
diff --git a/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp b/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
index cb58284d..ef3e2806 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/CafeSystem.cpp
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ uint32 loadSharedData()
 			// advance write offset and pad to 16 byte alignment
 			dataWritePtr += ((fileSize + 15) & ~15);
 		}
-		forceLog_printfW(L"COS: System fonts found. Generated shareddata (%dKB)", (uint32)(dataWritePtr - (uint8*)shareddataTable) / 1024);
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "COS: System fonts found. Generated shareddata ({}KB)", (uint32)(dataWritePtr - (uint8*)shareddataTable) / 1024);
 		return memory_getVirtualOffsetFromPointer(dataWritePtr);
 	}
 	// alternative method: load RAM dump
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GamePatch.cpp b/src/Cafe/GamePatch.cpp
index bd4630fe..4134287e 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GamePatch.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/GamePatch.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ void hle_scan(uint8* data, sint32 dataLength, char* hleFunctionName)
 			uint32 offset = (uint32)(scanCurrent - scanStart) + 0x01000000;
 			debug_printf("HLE signature for '%s' found at 0x%08x\n", hleFunctionName, offset);
 			uint32 opcode = (1<<26)|(functionIndex+0x1000); // opcode for HLE: 0x1000 + FunctionIndex
-			memory_writeU32Direct(offset, opcode);
+			memory_write<uint32>(offset, opcode);
 			break;
 		}
 		scanCurrent += 4;
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ void GamePatch_scan()
 #endif
 		sint32 functionIndex = hleIndex_h000000001;
 		uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | (functionIndex); // opcode for HLE: 0x1000 + FunctionIndex
-		memory_writeU32Direct(hleAddr - 4, opcode);
+		memory_write<uint32>(hleAddr - 4, opcode);
 	}
 	hleIndex_h000000002 = osLib_getFunctionIndex("hle", "h000000002");
 	hleAddr = hle_locate(botw_busyLoopSignature2, botw_busyLoopMask2, sizeof(botw_busyLoopSignature2));
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ void GamePatch_scan()
 #endif
 		sint32 functionIndex = hleIndex_h000000002;
 		uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | (functionIndex); // opcode for HLE: 0x1000 + FunctionIndex
-		memory_writeU32Direct(hleAddr - 4, opcode);
+		memory_write<uint32>(hleAddr - 4, opcode);
 	}
 
 	// FFL library float array endian conversion
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ void GamePatch_scan()
 		forceLogDebug_printf("HLE: Hook FFL float array endian swap function at 0x%08x", hleAddr);
 		sint32 functionIndex = hleIndex_h000000003;
 		uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | (functionIndex); // opcode for HLE: 0x1000 + FunctionIndex
-		memory_writeU32Direct(hleAddr, opcode);
+		memory_write<uint32>(hleAddr, opcode);
 	}
 
 	// XCX freeze workaround
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
index 0aa9e785..a0045f13 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.cpp
@@ -500,6 +500,14 @@ GraphicPack2::GraphicPack2(std::wstring filename, IniParser& rules)
 	}
 }
 
+// returns true if enabling, disabling (changeEnableState) or changing presets (changePreset) for the graphic pack requires restarting if the game is already running
+bool GraphicPack2::RequiresRestart(bool changeEnableState, bool changePreset)
+{
+	if (!GetTextureRules().empty())
+		return true;
+	return false;
+}
+
 bool GraphicPack2::Reload()
 {
 	Deactivate();
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.h b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.h
index 4c18b5c6..a087f757 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.h
+++ b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2.h
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ public:
 	sint32 GetVersion() const { return m_version; }
 	const std::wstring& GetFilename() const { return m_filename; }
 	const fs::path GetFilename2() const { return fs::path(m_filename); }
+	bool RequiresRestart(bool changeEnableState, bool changePreset);
 	bool Reload();
 
 	bool HasName() const { return !m_name.empty();  }
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ public:
 
 	static void ActivateForCurrentTitle();
 	static void Reset();
+
 private:
 	bool Activate();
 	bool Deactivate();
diff --git a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2Patches.cpp b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2Patches.cpp
index 3910000a..ffd36074 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2Patches.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/GraphicPack/GraphicPack2Patches.cpp
@@ -102,14 +102,14 @@ bool GraphicPack2::LoadCemuPatches()
 					// load Cemu style patch file
 					if (!ParseCemuPatchesTxtInternal(patchesStream))
 					{
-						forceLog_printfW(L"Error while processing \"%s\". No patches for this graphic pack will be applied.", path.c_str());
+						cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Error while processing \"{}\". No patches for this graphic pack will be applied.", _pathToUtf8(path));
 						cemu_assert_debug(list_patchGroups.empty());
 						return true; // return true since a .asm patch was found even if we could not parse it
 					}
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					forceLog_printfW(L"Unable to load patch file \"%s\"", path.c_str());
+					cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Unable to load patch file \"{}\"", _pathToUtf8(path));
 				}
 				foundPatches = true;
 			}
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteCommandProcessor.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteCommandProcessor.cpp
index 95d9bab3..fffa9df5 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteCommandProcessor.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteCommandProcessor.cpp
@@ -559,19 +559,19 @@ LatteCMDPtr LatteCP_itLoadReg(LatteCMDPtr cmd, uint32 nWords, uint32 regBase)
 	MPTR physAddressRegArea = LatteReadCMD();
 	uint32 waitForIdle = LatteReadCMD();
 	uint32 loadEntries = (nWords - 2) / 2;
-	uint32 regIndex = 0;
+	uint32 regShadowMemAddr = physAddressRegArea;
 	for (uint32 i = 0; i < loadEntries; i++)
 	{
 		uint32 regOffset = LatteReadCMD();
 		uint32 regCount = LatteReadCMD();
 		cemu_assert_debug(regCount != 0);
+		uint32 regAddr = regBase + regOffset;
 		for (uint32 f = 0; f < regCount; f++)
 		{
-			uint32 regAddr = regBase + regOffset + f;
-			uint32 regShadowMemAddr = physAddressRegArea + regIndex * 4;
 			LatteGPUState.contextRegisterShadowAddr[regAddr] = regShadowMemAddr;
-			LatteGPUState.contextRegister[regAddr] = memory_readU32Direct(regShadowMemAddr);
-			regIndex++;
+			LatteGPUState.contextRegister[regAddr] = memory_read<uint32>(regShadowMemAddr);
+			regAddr++;
+			regShadowMemAddr += 4;
 		}
 	}
 	return cmd;
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ LatteCMDPtr LatteCP_itHLESampleTimer(LatteCMDPtr cmd, uint32 nWords)
 {
 	cemu_assert_debug(nWords == 1);
 	MPTR timerMPTR = (MPTR)LatteReadCMD();
-	memory_writeU64Slow(timerMPTR, coreinit::coreinit_getTimerTick());
+	memory_writeU64(timerMPTR, coreinit::coreinit_getTimerTick());
 	return cmd;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
index 048df102..936378b9 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteShaderCache.cpp
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ void LatteShaderCache_load()
 	if(!fc_shaderCacheGeneric)
 	{
 		// no shader cache available yet
-		forceLog_printfW(L"Unable to open or create shader cache file \"%s\"", pathGeneric.c_str());		
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Unable to open or create shader cache file \"{}\"", _pathToUtf8(pathGeneric));
 		LatteShaderCache_finish();
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteTextureLoader.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteTextureLoader.cpp
index c873bbb8..7782e3d6 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteTextureLoader.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/Latte/Core/LatteTextureLoader.cpp
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ void LatteTextureLoader_UpdateTextureSliceData(LatteTexture* tex, sint32 texture
 	if (textureLoader.dump)
 	{
 		wchar_t path[1024];
-		swprintf(path, 1024, L"dump\\textures\\%08x_fmt%04x_slice%d_mip%02d_%dx%d_tm%02d.tga", physImagePtr, (uint32)tex->format, sliceIndex, mipIndex, tex->width, tex->height, tileMode);
+		swprintf(path, 1024, L"dump/textures/%08x_fmt%04x_slice%d_mip%02d_%dx%d_tm%02d.tga", physImagePtr, (uint32)tex->format, sliceIndex, mipIndex, tex->width, tex->height, tileMode);
 		tga_write_rgba(path, textureLoader.width, textureLoader.height, textureLoader.dumpRGBA);
 		free(textureLoader.dumpRGBA);
 	}
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
index 9e22d907..00de8312 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.cpp
@@ -293,11 +293,6 @@ uint8* memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffsetAllowNull(uint32 virtualOffset)
 	return memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(virtualOffset);
 }
 
-void memory_writeU32Direct(uint32 address, uint32 v)
-{
-	*(uint32*)(memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address)) = CPU_swapEndianU32(v);
-}
-
 // write access
 void memory_writeDouble(uint32 address, double vf)
 {
@@ -320,12 +315,6 @@ void memory_writeU32(uint32 address, uint32 v)
 	*(uint32*)(memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address)) = CPU_swapEndianU32(v);
 }
 
-void memory_writeU64Slow(uint32 address, uint64 v)
-{
-	memory_writeU32(address+0, (v>>32)&0xFFFFFFFF);
-	memory_writeU32(address+4, (v)&0xFFFFFFFF);
-}
-
 void memory_writeU64(uint32 address, uint64 v)
 {
 	*(uint64*)(memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address)) = CPU_swapEndianU64(v);
@@ -372,12 +361,6 @@ uint32 memory_readU32(uint32 address)
 	return CPU_swapEndianU32(v);
 }
 
-uint32 memory_readU32Direct(uint32 address)
-{
-	uint32 v = *(uint32*)(memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address));
-	return CPU_swapEndianU32(v);
-}
-
 uint16 memory_readU16(uint32 address)
 {
 	uint16 v = *(uint16*)(memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address));
diff --git a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.h b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.h
index 63272440..03238aaa 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.h
+++ b/src/Cafe/HW/MMU/MMU.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ uint8* memory_getPointerFromPhysicalOffset(uint32 physicalOffset);
 uint32 memory_virtualToPhysical(uint32 virtualOffset);
 uint32 memory_physicalToVirtual(uint32 physicalOffset);
 
-extern uint8* memory_base; // points to 0x00000000
+extern uint8* memory_base; // points to base of PowerPC address space
 
 enum class MMU_MEM_AREA_ID
 {
@@ -171,33 +171,26 @@ bool memory_isAddressRangeAccessible(MPTR virtualAddress, uint32 size);
 #define MEMORY_SHAREDDATA_AREA_ADDR			(0xF8000000)
 #define MEMORY_SHAREDDATA_AREA_SIZE			(0x02000000) // 32MB
 
-static uint16 CPU_swapEndianU16(uint16 v)
-{
-	return (v>>8)|(v<<8);
-}
-
 #if BOOST_OS_WINDOWS
 #define CPU_swapEndianU64(_v) _byteswap_uint64((uint64)(_v))
 #define CPU_swapEndianU32(_v) _byteswap_ulong((uint32)(_v))
+#define CPU_swapEndianU16(_v) _byteswap_ushort((uint16)(_v))
 #elif BOOST_OS_LINUX
 #define CPU_swapEndianU64(_v) bswap_64((uint64)(_v))
 #define CPU_swapEndianU32(_v) bswap_32((uint32)(_v))
+#define CPU_swapEndianU16(_v) bswap_16((uint16)(_v))
 #elif BOOST_OS_MACOS
 #define CPU_swapEndianU64(_v) OSSwapInt64((uint64)(_v))
 #define CPU_swapEndianU32(_v) OSSwapInt32((uint32)(_v))
+#define CPU_swapEndianU16(_v) OSSwapInt16((uint16)(_v))
 #endif
 
-// direct memory access (no hardware interface access)
-void memory_writeU32Direct(uint32 address, uint32 v);
-uint32 memory_readU32Direct(uint32 address);
-
-// memory access (includes hardware interface, slower)
+// C-style memory access, deprecated. Use memory_read<> and memory_write<> templates instead
 void memory_writeDouble(uint32 address, double vf);
 void memory_writeFloat(uint32 address, float vf);
 void memory_writeU32(uint32 address, uint32 v);
 void memory_writeU16(uint32 address, uint16 v);
 void memory_writeU8(uint32 address, uint8 v);
-void memory_writeU64Slow(uint32 address, uint64 v);
 void memory_writeU64(uint32 address, uint64 v);
 
 double memory_readDouble(uint32 address);
@@ -210,43 +203,24 @@ uint8 memory_readU8(uint32 address);
 void memory_createDump();
 
 template<size_t count>
-void memory_readBytes(uint32 address, std::array<uint8, count>& buffer)
+void memory_readBytes(VAddr address, std::array<uint8, count>& buffer)
 {
 	memcpy(buffer.data(), memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(address), count);
 }
 
-template <typename T> T memory_read(uint32 address)
+template <typename T> inline T memory_read(VAddr address)
 {
-	if constexpr(std::is_floating_point<T>::value)
-	{
-		if constexpr(sizeof(T) == sizeof(float))
-			return memory_readFloat(address);
-		else
-			return memory_readDouble(address);
-	}
-	else if(std::is_integral<T>::value)
-	{
-		if constexpr (sizeof(T) == sizeof(uint8))
-			return (T)memory_readU8(address);
-		else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == sizeof(uint16))
-			return (T)memory_readU16(address);
-		else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == sizeof(uint32))
-			return (T)memory_readU32(address);
-		else if constexpr (sizeof(T) == sizeof(uint64))
-			return (T)memory_readU64(address);
-	}
+	return *(betype<T>*)(memory_base + address);
+}
 
-	debugBreakpoint(); 
-	return {};
+template <typename T> inline void memory_write(VAddr address, T value)
+{
+	*(betype<T>*)(memory_base + address) = value;
 }
 
 // LLE implementation
 void memory_initPhysicalLayout();
 
-// updated code
-using EAddr = uint32; // effective address
-using PAddr = uint32; // physical address
-
 namespace MMU
 {
 	using MMIOFuncWrite32 = void (*)(PAddr addr, uint32 value);
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
index 43e39d5b..ab127354 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/RPL/rpl.cpp
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ uint32 RPLLoader_MakePPCCallable(void(*ppcCallableExport)(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU
 	sint32 functionIndex = PPCInterpreter_registerHLECall(ppcCallableExport);
 	MPTR codeAddr = memory_getVirtualOffsetFromPointer(RPLLoader_AllocateTrampolineCodeSpace(4));
 	uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | functionIndex;
-	memory_writeU32Direct(codeAddr, opcode);
+	memory_write<uint32>(codeAddr, opcode);
 	g_map_callableExports[ppcCallableExport] = codeAddr;
 	return codeAddr;
 }
@@ -772,7 +772,7 @@ uint32 rpl_mapHLEImport(RPLModule* rplLoaderContext, const char* rplName, const
 	{
 		MPTR codeAddr = memory_getVirtualOffsetFromPointer(RPLLoader_AllocateTrampolineCodeSpace(4));
 		uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | functionIndex;
-		memory_writeU32Direct(codeAddr, opcode);
+		memory_write<uint32>(codeAddr, opcode);
 		// register mapped import
 		mappedFunctionImport_t newImport;
 		newImport.hash1 = mappedImportHash1;
@@ -792,8 +792,8 @@ uint32 rpl_mapHLEImport(RPLModule* rplLoaderContext, const char* rplName, const
 	uint32 codeStart = memory_getVirtualOffsetFromPointer(RPLLoader_AllocateTrampolineCodeSpace(256));
 	uint32 currentAddress = codeStart;
 	uint32 opcode = (1 << 26) | (0xFFD0); // opcode for HLE: Unsupported import
-	memory_writeU32Direct(codeStart + 0, opcode);
-	memory_writeU32Direct(codeStart + 4, 0x4E800020);
+	memory_write<uint32>(codeStart + 0, opcode);
+	memory_write<uint32>(codeStart + 4, 0x4E800020);
 	currentAddress += 8;
 	// write name of lib/function
 	sint32 libNameLength = std::min(128, (sint32)strlen(libName));
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.cpp
index 25c142cc..74087a7e 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.cpp
@@ -176,12 +176,11 @@ namespace coreinit
 		alarm->setMagic();
 	}
 
-	void coreinitExport_OSCreateAlarmEx(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
+	void OSCreateAlarmEx(OSAlarm_t* alarm, const char* alarmName)
 	{
-		OSAlarm_t* OSAlarm = (OSAlarm_t*)memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(hCPU->gpr[3]);
-		OSCreateAlarm(OSAlarm);
-		OSAlarm->name = _swapEndianU32(hCPU->gpr[4]);
-		osLib_returnFromFunction(hCPU, 0);
+		memset(alarm, 0, sizeof(OSAlarm_t));
+		alarm->setMagic();
+		alarm->name = alarmName;
 	}
 
 	std::unordered_map<OSAlarm_t*, OSHostAlarm*> g_activeAlarms;
@@ -274,14 +273,12 @@ namespace coreinit
 
 	void OSSetAlarmUserData(OSAlarm_t* alarm, uint32 userData)
 	{
-		alarm->userData = _swapEndianU32(userData);
+		alarm->userData = userData;
 	}
 
-	void coreinitExport_OSGetAlarmUserData(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
+	uint32 OSGetAlarmUserData(OSAlarm_t* alarm)
 	{
-		OSAlarm_t* OSAlarmBE = (OSAlarm_t*)memory_getPointerFromVirtualOffset(hCPU->gpr[3]);
-		MPTR userData = _swapEndianU32(OSAlarmBE->userData);
-		osLib_returnFromFunction(hCPU, userData);
+		return alarm->userData;
 	}
 
 	void OSAlarm_resetAll()
@@ -337,15 +334,13 @@ namespace coreinit
 
 	void InitializeAlarm()
 	{
-		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSCreateAlarm, LogType::Placeholder);
-		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSCancelAlarm, LogType::Placeholder);
-		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetAlarm, LogType::Placeholder);
-		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetPeriodicAlarm, LogType::Placeholder);
-
-		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetAlarmUserData, LogType::Placeholder);
-
-		osLib_addFunction("coreinit", "OSCreateAlarmEx", coreinitExport_OSCreateAlarmEx);
-		osLib_addFunction("coreinit", "OSGetAlarmUserData", coreinitExport_OSGetAlarmUserData);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSCreateAlarm, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSCreateAlarmEx, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSCancelAlarm, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetAlarm, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetPeriodicAlarm, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSSetAlarmUserData, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
+		cafeExportRegister("coreinit", OSGetAlarmUserData, LogType::CoreinitAlarm);
 
 		// init event
 		OSInitEvent(g_alarmEvent.GetPtr(), OSEvent::EVENT_STATE::STATE_NOT_SIGNALED, OSEvent::EVENT_MODE::MODE_AUTO);
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.h b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.h
index 717ecc90..a67beca7 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.h
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Alarm.h
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 namespace coreinit
 {
-
 	class OSHostAlarm;
 	OSHostAlarm* OSHostAlarmCreate(uint64 nextFire, uint64 period, void(*callbackFunc)(uint64 currentTick, void* context), void* context);
 	void OSHostAlarmDestroy(OSHostAlarm* hostAlarm);
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@ namespace coreinit
 	struct OSAlarm_t
 	{
 		/* +0x00 */ betype<uint32>  magic;
-		/* +0x04 */ MPTR_UINT8      name;
+		/* +0x04 */ MEMPTR<const char> name;
 		/* +0x08 */ uint32	        ukn08;
 		/* +0x0C */ MPTR			handler;
 		/* +0x10 */ uint32          ukn10;
@@ -21,7 +20,7 @@ namespace coreinit
 		/* +0x24 */ MPTR			next; // pointer to OSAlarm
 		/* +0x28 */ uint64          period; // period (zero for non-periodic timer)
 		/* +0x30 */ uint64          startTime; // period start
-		/* +0x38 */ MPTR            userData;
+		/* +0x38 */ uint32be        userData;
 		/* +0x3C */ uint32		    ukn3C;
 		/* +0x40 */ OSThreadQueue   uknThreadQueue;
 		/* +0x50 */ MPTR			alarmQueue;
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Thread.h b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Thread.h
index 615e51d9..bb0aca91 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Thread.h
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/coreinit/coreinit_Thread.h
@@ -428,8 +428,8 @@ struct OSThread_t
 
 	/* +0x38C */ coreinit::OSThreadLink				activeThreadChain;					// queue of active threads (g_activeThreadQueue)
 
-	/* +0x394 */ MPTR_UINT8							stackBase;							// upper limit of stack
-	/* +0x398 */ MPTR_UINT32						stackEnd;							// lower limit of stack
+	/* +0x394 */ MPTR								stackBase;							// upper limit of stack
+	/* +0x398 */ MPTR								stackEnd;							// lower limit of stack
 
 	/* +0x39C */ MPTR								entrypoint;
 	/* +0x3A0 */ crt_t								crt;
@@ -443,8 +443,7 @@ struct OSThread_t
 	/* +0x5C8 */ uint32								userStackPointer;
 
 	/* +0x5CC */ MEMPTR<void>						cleanupCallback2;
-	/* +0x5D0 */ //MPTR								deallocator;
-	MEMPTR<void> deallocatorFunc;
+	/* +0x5D0 */ MEMPTR<void>						deallocatorFunc;
 
 	/* +0x5D4 */ uint32								stateFlags;						// 0x5D4 | various flags? Controls if canceling/suspension is allowed (at cancel points) or not? If 1 -> Cancel/Suspension not allowed, if 0 -> Cancel/Suspension allowed
 	/* +0x5D8 */ betype<REQUEST_FLAG_BIT>			requestFlags;
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/gx2/GX2_Misc.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/gx2/GX2_Misc.cpp
index ae079dc1..1f20cac5 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/gx2/GX2_Misc.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/gx2/GX2_Misc.cpp
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ void gx2Export_GX2GetSwapStatus(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
 {
 	memory_writeU32(hCPU->gpr[3], _swapEndianU32(LatteGPUState.sharedArea->flipRequestCountBE));
 	memory_writeU32(hCPU->gpr[4], _swapEndianU32(LatteGPUState.sharedArea->flipExecuteCountBE));
-	memory_writeU64Slow(hCPU->gpr[5], lastSwapTime);
-	memory_writeU64Slow(hCPU->gpr[6], lastSwapTime);
+	memory_writeU64(hCPU->gpr[5], lastSwapTime);
+	memory_writeU64(hCPU->gpr[6], lastSwapTime);
 
 	osLib_returnFromFunction(hCPU, 0);
 }
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ void gx2Export_GX2GetGPUTimeout(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
 void gx2Export_GX2SampleTopGPUCycle(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
 {
 	gx2Log_printf("GX2SampleTopGPUCycle(0x%08x)\n", hCPU->gpr[3]);
-	memory_writeU64Slow(hCPU->gpr[3], coreinit::coreinit_getTimerTick());
+	memory_writeU64(hCPU->gpr[3], coreinit::coreinit_getTimerTick());
 	osLib_returnFromFunction(hCPU, 0);
 }
 
 void gx2Export_GX2SampleBottomGPUCycle(PPCInterpreter_t* hCPU)
 {
 	gx2Log_printf("GX2SampleBottomGPUCycle(0x%08x)\n", hCPU->gpr[3]);
-	memory_writeU64Slow(hCPU->gpr[3], GX2_INVALID_COUNTER_VALUE_U64);
+	memory_writeU64(hCPU->gpr[3], GX2_INVALID_COUNTER_VALUE_U64);
 
 	osLib_returnFromFunction(hCPU, 0);
 	return;
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nn_temp/nn_temp.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nn_temp/nn_temp.cpp
index 7ed619ad..2e0030ca 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nn_temp/nn_temp.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nn_temp/nn_temp.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ namespace nn::temp
 		forceLogDebug_printf("TEMPCreateAndInitTempDir(...) - placeholder");
 
 		// create random temp id
-		memory_writeU64Slow(hCPU->gpr[5], tempIdGenerator);
+		memory_writeU64(hCPU->gpr[5], tempIdGenerator);
 		tempIdGenerator = (tempIdGenerator << 3) | (tempIdGenerator >> 61);
 		tempIdGenerator += 0x56e28bd5f4ULL;
 
diff --git a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nsyshid/nsyshid.cpp b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nsyshid/nsyshid.cpp
index 8c390c0a..e6ae8815 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nsyshid/nsyshid.cpp
+++ b/src/Cafe/OS/libs/nsyshid/nsyshid.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ namespace nsyshid
 					deviceItr->hFile = openDevice(deviceItr->devicePath);
 					if (deviceItr->hFile == INVALID_HANDLE_VALUE)
 					{
-						forceLog_printfW(L"HID: Failed to open device \"%s\"", deviceItr->devicePath);
+						cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "HID: Failed to open device \"{}\"", boost::nowide::narrow(std::wstring(deviceItr->devicePath)));
 						return nullptr;
 					}
 					HidD_SetNumInputBuffers(deviceItr->hFile, 2); // dont cache too many reports
diff --git a/src/Cafe/TitleList/GameInfo.h b/src/Cafe/TitleList/GameInfo.h
index 3a2e6121..c8809a16 100644
--- a/src/Cafe/TitleList/GameInfo.h
+++ b/src/Cafe/TitleList/GameInfo.h
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "config/CemuConfig.h"
-#include "MetaInfo.h"
 #include "TitleInfo.h"
 #include "config/ActiveSettings.h"
 
diff --git a/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.cpp b/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.cpp
deleted file mode 100644
index b08c4fc2..00000000
--- a/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.cpp
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,179 +0,0 @@
-#include "MetaInfo.h"
-#include "Cafe/Filesystem/fsc.h"
-
-#include "pugixml.hpp"
-#include "Cafe/Filesystem/FST/FST.h"
-
-MetaInfo::MetaInfo()
-{
-	m_type = GameType::FSC;
-	
-	uint32 meta_size;
-	const auto meta_data = ReadFSCFile("vol/meta/meta.xml", meta_size);
-	if (meta_size == 0 || !meta_data)
-		throw std::runtime_error("meta.xml missing");
-
-	pugi::xml_document meta_doc;
-	ParseMetaFile(meta_doc, meta_doc.load_buffer_inplace(meta_data.get(), meta_size));
-}
-
-MetaInfo::MetaInfo(const fs::path& filename)
-{
-	if (!fs::exists(filename))
-		throw std::invalid_argument("filename doesn't exist");
-
-	if (fs::is_directory(filename))
-	{
-		MetaInfo::ParseDirectory(filename);
-		m_type = GameType::Directory;
-		m_type_path = filename;
-	}
-	else
-		MetaInfo::ParseFile(filename);
-}
-
-std::string MetaInfo::GetName(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const
-{
-	std::string long_name{ GetLongName(language) };
-	const auto nl = long_name.find(L'\n');
-	if (nl != std::string::npos)
-		long_name.replace(nl, 1, " - ");
-
-	return long_name;
-}
-
-const std::string& MetaInfo::GetLongName(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const
-{
-	return m_long_name[(int)language].empty() ? m_long_name[(int)CafeConsoleLanguage::EN] : m_long_name[(int)language];
-}
-
-const std::string& MetaInfo::GetShortName(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const
-{
-	return m_short_name[(int)language].empty() ? m_short_name[(int)CafeConsoleLanguage::EN] : m_short_name[(int)language];
-}
-
-const std::string& MetaInfo::GetPublisher(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const
-{
-	return m_publisher[(int)language].empty() ? m_publisher[(int)CafeConsoleLanguage::EN] : m_publisher[(int)language];
-}
-
-void MetaInfo::ParseDirectory(const fs::path& filename)
-{
-	const auto meta_dir = fs::path(filename).append(L"meta");
-	if (!fs::exists(meta_dir) || !fs::is_directory(meta_dir))
-		throw std::invalid_argument("meta directory missing");
-
-	const auto meta_file = meta_dir / L"meta.xml";
-	if (!fs::exists(meta_file) || !fs::is_regular_file(meta_file))
-		throw std::invalid_argument("meta.xml missing");
-
-	ParseMetaFile(meta_file.wstring());
-}
-
-bool MetaInfo::ParseFile(const fs::path& filename)
-{
-	if (filename.filename() != "meta.xml")
-		return false;
-	
-	const auto base_dir = filename.parent_path().parent_path();
-
-	ParseMetaFile(filename);
-	m_type = GameType::Directory;
-	m_type_path = base_dir;
-	return true;
-}
-
-void MetaInfo::ParseMetaFile(const fs::path& meta_file)
-{
-	pugi::xml_document doc;
-	const auto result = doc.load_file(meta_file.wstring().c_str());
-	ParseMetaFile(doc, result);
-}
-
-void MetaInfo::ParseMetaFile(const pugi::xml_document& doc, const pugi::xml_parse_result& result)
-{
-	if (!result)
-		throw std::invalid_argument(fmt::format("error when parsing the meta.xml: {}", result.description()));
-
-	const auto root = doc.child("menu");
-	if (!root)
-		throw std::invalid_argument("meta.xml invalid");
-
-	for (const auto& child : root.children())
-	{
-		std::string_view name = child.name();
-		if (name == "title_version")
-			m_version = child.text().as_uint();
-		else if (name == "product_code")
-			m_product_code = child.text().as_string();
-		else if (name == "company_code")
-			m_company_code = child.text().as_string();
-		else if (name == "content_platform")
-			m_content_platform = child.text().as_string();
-		else if (name == "title_id")
-			m_title_id = std::stoull(child.text().as_string(), nullptr, 16);
-		else if (name == "region")
-			m_region = (CafeConsoleRegion)child.text().as_uint();
-		else if (boost::starts_with(name, "longname_"))
-		{
-			const sint32 index = GetLanguageIndex(name.substr(std::size("longname_") - 1));
-			if (index != -1)
-				m_long_name[index] = child.text().as_string();
-		}
-		else if (boost::starts_with(name, L"shortname_"))
-		{
-			const sint32 index = GetLanguageIndex(name.substr(std::size("shortname_") - 1));
-			if (index != -1)
-				m_short_name[index] = child.text().as_string();
-		}
-		else if (boost::starts_with(name, L"publisher_"))
-		{
-			const sint32 index = GetLanguageIndex(name.substr(std::size("publisher_") - 1));
-			if (index != -1)
-				m_publisher[index] = child.text().as_string();
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-std::unique_ptr<uint8[]> MetaInfo::GetIcon(uint32& size) const
-{
-	size = 0;
-	switch (m_type)
-	{
-	case GameType::FSC:
-		return ReadFSCFile("vol/meta/iconTex.tga", size);
-	case GameType::Directory:
-	{
-		cemu_assert_debug(!m_type_path.empty());
-		const auto icon = fs::path(m_type_path).append(L"meta").append(L"iconTex.tga");
-		std::ifstream file(icon, std::ios::binary | std::ios::ate);
-		if (file.is_open())
-		{
-			size = file.tellg();
-			if (size > 0)
-			{
-				file.seekg(0, std::ios::beg);
-				auto result = std::make_unique<uint8[]>(size);
-				file.read((char*)result.get(), size);
-				return result;
-			}
-		}
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-	case GameType::Image:
-	{
-		cemu_assert_debug(!m_type_path.empty());
-		FSTVolume* volume = FSTVolume::OpenFromDiscImage(m_type_path);
-		if (volume)
-		{
-			auto result = ReadVirtualFile(volume, "meta/iconTex.tga", size);
-			delete volume;
-			return result;
-		}
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-	default:
-		UNREACHABLE;
-	}
-	return nullptr;
-}
diff --git a/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.h b/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.h
deleted file mode 100644
index bcd511c3..00000000
--- a/src/Cafe/TitleList/MetaInfo.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-#pragma once
-
-#include "BaseInfo.h"
-#include "config/CemuConfig.h"
-
-class MetaInfo : public BaseInfo
-{
-public:
-	MetaInfo();
-	MetaInfo(const fs::path& filename);
-
-	// returns long name with replaces newlines to ' - '
-	[[nodiscard]] std::string GetName(CafeConsoleLanguage language = CafeConsoleLanguage::EN) const;
-	
-	[[nodiscard]] uint64 GetTitleId() const { return m_title_id; }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetTitleIdHigh() const { return (uint32)(GetTitleId() >> 32); }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetTitleIdLow() const { return (uint32)(GetTitleId() & 0xFFFFFFFF); }
-	
-	[[nodiscard]] uint64 GetBaseTitleId() const { return m_title_id & ~0xF00000000ULL; }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetBaseTitleIdHigh() const { return (uint32)(GetBaseTitleId() >> 32); }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetBaseTitleIdLow() const { return (uint32)(GetBaseTitleId() & 0xFFFFFFFF); }
-
-	[[nodiscard]] uint64 GetUpdateTitleId() const { return GetBaseTitleId() | 0xE00000000ULL; }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetUpdateTitleIdHigh() const { return (uint32)(GetUpdateTitleId() >> 32); }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetUpdateTitleIdLow() const { return (uint32)(GetUpdateTitleId() & 0xFFFFFFFF); }
-
-	[[nodiscard]] uint64 GetDLCTitleId() const { return GetBaseTitleId() | 0xC00000000ULL; }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetDLCTitleIdHigh() const { return (uint32)(GetDLCTitleId() >> 32); }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetDLCTitleIdLow() const { return (uint32)(GetDLCTitleId() & 0xFFFFFFFF); }
-
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetLongName(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const;
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetShortName(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const;
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetPublisher(CafeConsoleLanguage language) const;
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetProductCode() const { return m_product_code; }
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetCompanyCode() const { return m_company_code; }
-	[[nodiscard]] const std::string& GetContentPlatform() const { return m_content_platform; }
-	[[nodiscard]] uint32 GetVersion() const { return m_version; }
-	[[nodiscard]] CafeConsoleRegion GetRegion() const { return m_region; }
-
-	[[nodiscard]] std::unique_ptr<uint8[]> GetIcon(uint32& size) const;
-
-protected:
-	// meta.xml
-	uint32 m_version;
-	std::string m_product_code;
-	std::string m_company_code;
-	std::string m_content_platform;
-	uint64 m_title_id;
-	CafeConsoleRegion m_region;
-
-	std::array<std::string, 12> m_long_name;
-	std::array<std::string, 12> m_short_name;
-	std::array<std::string, 12> m_publisher;
-
-	void ParseDirectory(const fs::path& filename) override;
-	bool ParseFile(const fs::path& filename) override;
-
-	void ParseMetaFile(const fs::path& meta_file);
-	void ParseMetaFile(const pugi::xml_document& doc, const pugi::xml_parse_result& result);
-};
-
diff --git a/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.cpp b/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.cpp
index 105ee860..dd7c6d4f 100644
--- a/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.cpp
+++ b/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.cpp
@@ -87,12 +87,12 @@ private:
 #define FILECACHE_FILETABLE_NAME2			0xFEFEFEFEFEFEFEFEULL
 #define FILECACHE_FILETABLE_FREE_NAME		0ULL
 
-FileCache* FileCache::Create(wzstring_view path, uint32 extraVersion)
+FileCache* FileCache::Create(const fs::path& path, uint32 extraVersion)
 {
-	FileStream* fs = FileStream::createFile(std::wstring(path).c_str());
+	FileStream* fs = FileStream::createFile2(path);
 	if (!fs)
 	{
-		forceLog_printf("Failed to create cache file \"%ls\"", path);
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Failed to create cache file \"{}\"", _pathToUtf8(path));
 		return nullptr;
 	}
 	// init file cache
@@ -124,9 +124,9 @@ FileCache* FileCache::Create(wzstring_view path, uint32 extraVersion)
 	return fileCache;
 }
 
-FileCache* FileCache::_OpenExisting(wzstring_view path, bool compareExtraVersion, uint32 extraVersion)
+FileCache* FileCache::_OpenExisting(const fs::path& path, bool compareExtraVersion, uint32 extraVersion)
 {
-	FileStream* fs = FileStream::openFile2(path.data(), true);
+	FileStream* fs = FileStream::openFile2(path, true);
 	if (!fs)
 		return nullptr;
 	// read header
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ FileCache* FileCache::_OpenExisting(wzstring_view path, bool compareExtraVersion
 	fs->readU64(headerFileTableOffset);
 	if (!fs->readU32(headerFileTableSize))
 	{
-		forceLog_printf("\"%ls\" is corrupted", path);
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "\"{}\" is corrupted", _pathToUtf8(path));
 		delete fs;
 		return nullptr;
 	}
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ FileCache* FileCache::_OpenExisting(wzstring_view path, bool compareExtraVersion
 	invalidFileTableSize = (headerFileTableSize % sizeof(FileTableEntry)) != 0;
 	if (invalidFileTableSize)
 	{
-		forceLog_printf("\"%ls\" is corrupted", path);
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "\"{}\" is corrupted", _pathToUtf8(path));
 		delete fs;
 		return nullptr;
 	}
@@ -212,14 +212,14 @@ FileCache* FileCache::_OpenExisting(wzstring_view path, bool compareExtraVersion
 	}
 	if (incompleteFileTable)
 	{
-		forceLog_printf("\"%ls\" is corrupted (incomplete file table)", path);
+		cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "\"{}\" is corrupted (incomplete file table)", _pathToUtf8(path));
 		delete fileCache;
 		return nullptr;
 	}
 	return fileCache;
 }
 
-FileCache* FileCache::Open(wzstring_view path, bool allowCreate, uint32 extraVersion)
+FileCache* FileCache::Open(const fs::path& path, bool allowCreate, uint32 extraVersion)
 {
 	FileCache* fileCache = _OpenExisting(path, true, extraVersion);
 	if (fileCache)
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ FileCache* FileCache::Open(wzstring_view path, bool allowCreate, uint32 extraVer
 	return Create(path, extraVersion);
 }
 
-FileCache* FileCache::Open(wzstring_view path)
+FileCache* FileCache::Open(const fs::path& path)
 {
 	return _OpenExisting(path, false, 0);
 }
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ sint32 FileCache::GetFileCount()
 
 void fileCache_test()
 {
-	FileCache* fc = FileCache::Create(L"testCache.bin", 0);
+	FileCache* fc = FileCache::Create("testCache.bin", 0);
 	uint32 time1 = GetTickCount();
 
 	char* testString1 = (char*)malloc(1024 * 1024 * 8);
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ void fileCache_test()
 	debug_printf("Writing took %dms\n", time2-time1);
 	delete fc;
 	// verify if all entries are still valid
-	FileCache* fcRead = FileCache::Open(L"testCache.bin", 0);
+	FileCache* fcRead = FileCache::Open("testCache.bin", 0);
 	uint32 time3 = GetTickCount();
 	for(sint32 i=0; i<2200; i++)
 	{
diff --git a/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.h b/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.h
index 52972fbd..de1996c5 100644
--- a/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.h
+++ b/src/Cemu/FileCache/FileCache.h
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include "Common/zstring_view.h"
 #include <mutex>
 
 class FileCache
@@ -36,9 +35,9 @@ public:
 
 	~FileCache();
 
-	static FileCache* Create(wzstring_view path, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
-	static FileCache* Open(wzstring_view path, bool allowCreate, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
-	static FileCache* Open(wzstring_view path); // open without extraVersion check
+	static FileCache* Create(const fs::path& path, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
+	static FileCache* Open(const fs::path& path, bool allowCreate, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
+	static FileCache* Open(const fs::path& path); // open without extraVersion check
 
 	void UseCompression(bool enable) { enableCompression = enable; };
 
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ private:
 
 	FileCache() {};
 
-	static FileCache* _OpenExisting(wzstring_view path, bool compareExtraVersion, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
+	static FileCache* _OpenExisting(const fs::path& path, bool compareExtraVersion, uint32 extraVersion = 0);
 
 	void fileCache_updateFiletable(sint32 extraEntriesToAllocate);
 	void _addFileInternal(uint64 name1, uint64 name2, const uint8* fileData, sint32 fileSize, bool noCompression);
diff --git a/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.h b/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.h
index 72d10ad3..c9718f07 100644
--- a/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.h
+++ b/src/Cemu/Logging/CemuLogging.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ enum class LogType : sint32
 	CoreinitThread = 17,
 	CoreinitLogging = 18, // OSReport, OSConsoleWrite etc.
 	CoreinitMemoryMapping = 19, // OSGetAvailPhysAddrRange, OSAllocVirtAddr, OSMapMemory etc.
+	CoreinitAlarm = 23,
 
 	PPC_IPC = 20,
 	NN_AOC = 21,
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ bool cemuLog_log(LogType type, const T* format, TArgs&&... args)
 	return cemuLog_log(type, format_str, std::forward<TArgs>(args)...);
 }
 
-// same as cemuLog_log, but only outputs in debug/release mode
+// same as cemuLog_log, but only outputs in debug mode
 template<typename TFmt, typename ... TArgs>
 bool cemuLog_logDebug(LogType type, TFmt format, TArgs&&... args)
 {
@@ -161,7 +162,6 @@ void cemuLog_force(TFmt format, TArgs&&... args)
 
 // these are deprecated. Superseded by cemuLog_log(type, ...)
 #define forceLog_printf(...)		cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_FORCE, __VA_ARGS__);
-#define forceLog_printfW(...)		cafeLog_logW(LOG_TYPE_FORCE, __VA_ARGS__);
 #define gx2Log_printf(...)			if( cafeLog_isLoggingFlagEnabled(LOG_TYPE_GX2) ) cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_GX2, __VA_ARGS__);
 #define coreinitMemLog_printf(...)	if( cafeLog_isLoggingFlagEnabled(LOG_TYPE_COREINIT_MEM) ) cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_COREINIT_MEM, __VA_ARGS__);
 #define sndApiLog_printf(...)		if( cafeLog_isLoggingFlagEnabled(LOG_TYPE_SNDAPI) ) cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_SNDAPI, __VA_ARGS__);
@@ -172,11 +172,9 @@ void cemuLog_force(TFmt format, TArgs&&... args)
 
 #ifdef CEMU_DEBUG_ASSERT
 #define forceLogDebug_printf(...)		cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_FORCE, __VA_ARGS__);
-#define forceLogDebug_printfW(...)		cafeLog_logW(LOG_TYPE_FORCE, __VA_ARGS__);
 
  // use this for temporary debug logging. Will trigger compilation error in release builds
 #define forceLogRemoveMe_printf(...)	cafeLog_log(LOG_TYPE_FORCE, __VA_ARGS__);
 #else
 #define forceLogDebug_printf(...)	;
-#define forceLogDebug_printfW(...)	;
 #endif
diff --git a/src/Common/CMakeLists.txt b/src/Common/CMakeLists.txt
index f07150c5..ea132087 100644
--- a/src/Common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/Common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ add_library(CemuCommon
   SysAllocator.cpp
   SysAllocator.h
   version.h
-  zstring_view.h
 )
 
 set_property(TARGET CemuCommon PROPERTY MSVC_RUNTIME_LIBRARY "MultiThreaded$<$<CONFIG:Debug>:Debug>")
diff --git a/src/Common/MemPtr.h b/src/Common/MemPtr.h
index 7ad5b76f..7fa0ff18 100644
--- a/src/Common/MemPtr.h
+++ b/src/Common/MemPtr.h
@@ -2,6 +2,13 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 #include "betype.h"
 
+using MPTR = uint32; // generic address in PowerPC memory space
+
+#define MPTR_NULL	(0)
+
+using VAddr = uint32; // virtual address
+using PAddr = uint32; // physical address
+
 extern uint8* memory_base;
 extern uint8* PPCInterpreterGetStackPointer();
 extern uint8* PPCInterpreterGetAndModifyStackPointer(sint32 offset);
diff --git a/src/Common/precompiled.h b/src/Common/precompiled.h
index 641eabb4..6183b852 100644
--- a/src/Common/precompiled.h
+++ b/src/Common/precompiled.h
@@ -85,7 +85,6 @@
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
 #include "enumFlags.h"
-#include "zstring_view.h"
 
 // base types
 using uint64 = uint64_t;
@@ -98,11 +97,6 @@ using sint32 = int32_t;
 using sint16 = int16_t;
 using sint8 = int8_t;
 
-using MPTR = uint32;
-using MPTR_UINT8 = uint32;
-using MPTR_UINT16 = uint32;
-using MPTR_UINT32 = uint32;
-
 // types with explicit big endian order
 #include "betype.h"
 
@@ -289,8 +283,6 @@ inline unsigned char _addcarry_u64(unsigned char carry, unsigned long long a, un
 // MEMPTR
 #include "Common/MemPtr.h"
 
-#define MPTR_NULL	(0)
-
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
 constexpr bool HAS_FLAG(T1 flags, T2 test_flag) { return (flags & (T1)test_flag) == (T1)test_flag; }
 template <typename T1, typename T2>
diff --git a/src/Common/zstring_view.h b/src/Common/zstring_view.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 2afd605c..00000000
--- a/src/Common/zstring_view.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef ASZ_ZSTRING_VIEW_HPP
-#define ASZ_ZSTRING_VIEW_HPP
-
-// https://github.com/Aszarsha/zstring_view/blob/master/zstring_view.hpp
-
-#include <string_view>
-
-// Copy interface from cppreference's std::basic_string_view page
-//  http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/string/basic_string_view
-// and add conversion from zstring_view to basic_string_view and CharT const*
-
-template< class CharT
-	, class Traits = std::char_traits< CharT >
->
-class basic_zstring_view
-	: private std::basic_string_view< CharT, Traits > {
-private:
-	using string_view_base = std::basic_string_view< CharT, Traits >;
-
-public:   /// Types ///
-	using typename string_view_base::traits_type;
-	using typename string_view_base::value_type;
-	using typename string_view_base::pointer;
-	using typename string_view_base::const_pointer;
-	using typename string_view_base::reference;
-	using typename string_view_base::const_reference;
-	using typename string_view_base::iterator;
-	using typename string_view_base::const_iterator;
-	using typename string_view_base::reverse_iterator;
-	using typename string_view_base::const_reverse_iterator;
-	using typename string_view_base::size_type;
-	using typename string_view_base::difference_type;
-
-public:   /// Static members ///
-	using string_view_base::npos;
-
-public:   /// Special member functions ///
-	constexpr basic_zstring_view() noexcept = default;
-
-	constexpr basic_zstring_view(basic_zstring_view const&) noexcept = default;
-	constexpr basic_zstring_view& operator=(basic_zstring_view const&) noexcept = default;
-
-	constexpr basic_zstring_view(basic_zstring_view&&) noexcept = default;
-	constexpr basic_zstring_view& operator=(basic_zstring_view&&) noexcept = default;
-
-	basic_zstring_view(CharT const* s) : string_view_base{ s } {   }
-	basic_zstring_view(CharT const* s, size_type sz) : string_view_base{ s, sz } {   }
-
-	// Explicitly no convertion from string_view, since null-termination is not guaranteed
-	basic_zstring_view(std::basic_string<CharT, std::char_traits<CharT>, std::allocator<CharT>> const& s) : string_view_base{ s } {   }
-
-public:   /// Member functions ///
-	//== Iterators ==//
-	using string_view_base::begin;
-	using string_view_base::cbegin;
-
-	using string_view_base::end;
-	using string_view_base::cend;
-
-	using string_view_base::rbegin;
-	using string_view_base::crbegin;
-
-	using string_view_base::rend;
-	using string_view_base::crend;
-
-	//== Element access ==//
-	using string_view_base::operator[];
-
-	using string_view_base::at;
-
-	using string_view_base::front;
-
-	using string_view_base::back;
-
-	using string_view_base::data;
-
-	//== Capacity ==//
-	using string_view_base::size;
-	using string_view_base::length;
-
-	using string_view_base::max_size;
-
-	using string_view_base::empty;
-
-	//== Modifiers ==//
-	using string_view_base::remove_prefix;
-
-	//Explicitly NOT
-	//using string_view_base::remove_suffix;
-
-	using string_view_base::swap;
-
-	//== Operations ==//
-	using string_view_base::copy;
-
-	//Explicitly NOT
-	//using::string_view_base::substr;
-
-	using string_view_base::compare;
-
-	// C++20
-	//using string_view_base::starts_with;
-
-	// C++20
-	//using string_view_base::ends_with;
-
-	using string_view_base::find;
-
-	using string_view_base::rfind;
-
-	using string_view_base::find_first_of;
-
-	using string_view_base::find_last_of;
-
-	using string_view_base::find_first_not_of;
-
-	using string_view_base::find_last_not_of;
-
-public:   /// Convertions ///
-	constexpr operator const_pointer() const noexcept {
-		return data();
-	}
-
-	// Ideally operator string_view_base()
-	// but by language definition (C++17) will never be used:
-	// From [class.conv.fct]: A conversion function is never used to convert a (possibly cv-qualified) object to the (possibly cv-qualified) same object type (or a reference to it), to a (possibly cv-qualified) base class of that type (or a reference to it), or to (possibly cv-qualified) void.
-	constexpr string_view_base to_string_view() const noexcept {
-		return { data(), size() };
-	}
-
-public:   /// Misc ///
-	friend inline std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& o, basic_zstring_view v) {
-		o << v.data();
-		return o;
-	}
-};
-
-using zstring_view = basic_zstring_view< char >;
-using wzstring_view = basic_zstring_view< wchar_t >;
-using u16zstring_view = basic_zstring_view< char16_t >;
-using u32zstring_view = basic_zstring_view< char32_t >;
-
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp b/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
index f469c5e3..af5cdb2f 100644
--- a/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ActiveSettings.cpp
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ fs::path ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath()
 		return launch_mlc.value();
 
 	if(const auto config_mlc = GetConfig().mlc_path.GetValue(); !config_mlc.empty())
-		return config_mlc;
+		return _utf8ToPath(config_mlc);
 
 	return GetDefaultMLCPath();
 }
diff --git a/src/config/CemuConfig.cpp b/src/config/CemuConfig.cpp
index feb3ac14..1feb641b 100644
--- a/src/config/CemuConfig.cpp
+++ b/src/config/CemuConfig.cpp
@@ -10,19 +10,19 @@
 
 XMLCemuConfig_t g_config(L"settings.xml");
 
-void CemuConfig::SetMLCPath(std::wstring_view path, bool save)
+void CemuConfig::SetMLCPath(fs::path path, bool save)
 {
-	mlc_path.SetValue(path);
+	mlc_path.SetValue(_pathToUtf8(path));
 	if(save)
 		g_config.Save();
 
 	// if custom mlc path has been selected, store it in permanent config
-	if (!boost::starts_with(path, ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath().generic_wstring()))
+	if (path != ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath())
 	{
 		try
 		{
 			auto pconfig = PermanentConfig::Load();
-			pconfig.custom_mlc_path = boost::nowide::narrow(path.data(), path.size());
+			pconfig.custom_mlc_path = _pathToUtf8(path);
 			pconfig.Store();
 		}
 		catch (const PSDisabledException&) {}
@@ -46,14 +46,7 @@ void CemuConfig::Load(XMLConfigParser& parser)
 	advanced_ppc_logging = parser.get("advanced_ppc_logging", advanced_ppc_logging.GetInitValue());
 
 	const char* mlc = parser.get("mlc_path", "");
-	try
-	{
-		mlc_path = boost::nowide::widen(mlc);
-	}
-	catch (const std::exception&)
-	{
-		forceLog_printf("config load error: can't load mlc path: %s", mlc);
-	}
+	mlc_path = mlc;
 
 	permanent_storage = parser.get("permanent_storage", permanent_storage);
 	
@@ -357,7 +350,7 @@ void CemuConfig::Save(XMLConfigParser& parser)
 	// general settings
 	config.set("logflag", log_flag.GetValue());
 	config.set("advanced_ppc_logging", advanced_ppc_logging.GetValue());
-	config.set("mlc_path", boost::nowide::narrow(mlc_path.GetValue()).c_str());
+	config.set("mlc_path", mlc_path.GetValue().c_str());
 	config.set<bool>("permanent_storage", permanent_storage);
 	config.set<sint32>("language", language);
 	config.set<bool>("use_discord_presence", use_discord_presence);
diff --git a/src/config/CemuConfig.h b/src/config/CemuConfig.h
index f3469374..f8a30a82 100644
--- a/src/config/CemuConfig.h
+++ b/src/config/CemuConfig.h
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ struct CemuConfig
 	//
 
 	// sets mlc path, updates permanent config value, saves config
-	void SetMLCPath(std::wstring_view path, bool save = true);
+	void SetMLCPath(fs::path path, bool save = true);
 
 	ConfigValue<uint64> log_flag{ 0 };
 	ConfigValue<bool> advanced_ppc_logging{ false };
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ struct CemuConfig
 	
 	ConfigValue<sint32> language{ wxLANGUAGE_DEFAULT };
 	ConfigValue<bool> use_discord_presence{ true };
-	ConfigValue<std::wstring> mlc_path {};
+	ConfigValue<std::string> mlc_path {};
 	ConfigValue<bool> fullscreen_menubar{ false };
 	ConfigValue<bool> fullscreen{ false };
 	ConfigValue<std::string> proxy_server{};
diff --git a/src/config/XMLConfig.h b/src/config/XMLConfig.h
index c2cba527..3932e2f0 100644
--- a/src/config/XMLConfig.h
+++ b/src/config/XMLConfig.h
@@ -344,10 +344,9 @@ public:
 		if (L == nullptr)
 			return false;
 		FileStream* fs = FileStream::openFile(filename.c_str());
-
-		if (fs == nullptr)
+		if (!fs)
 		{
-			forceLogDebug_printfW(L"XMLConfig::Load > failed \"%s\" with error %d", filename.c_str(), errno);
+			cemuLog_logDebug(LogType::Force, "XMLConfig::Load > failed \"{}\" with error {}", boost::nowide::narrow(filename), errno);
 			return false;
 		}
 		std::vector<uint8> xmlData;
@@ -360,7 +359,7 @@ public:
 		const bool success = error == tinyxml2::XML_SUCCESS;
 		if (error != 0)
 		{
-			forceLogDebug_printf("XMLConfig::Load > LoadFile %d", error);
+			cemuLog_logDebug(LogType::Force, "XMLConfig::Load > LoadFile {}", error);
 		}
 		if (success)
 		{
@@ -401,9 +400,9 @@ public:
 #else
 		file = fopen(boost::nowide::narrow(tmp_name).c_str(), "wb");
 #endif
-        if (file == nullptr)
+        if (!file)
         {
-            forceLogDebug_printfW(L"XMLConfig::Save > failed \"%s\" with error %d", filename.c_str(), errno);
+			cemuLog_logDebug(LogType::Force, "XMLConfig::Save > failed \"{}\" with error {}", boost::nowide::narrow(filename), errno);
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -417,7 +416,7 @@ public:
 		const tinyxml2::XMLError error = doc.SaveFile(file);
 		const bool success = error == tinyxml2::XML_SUCCESS;
 		if(error != 0)
-			forceLogDebug_printfW(L"XMLConfig::Save > SaveFile %d", error);
+			cemuLog_logDebug(LogType::Force, "XMLConfig::Save > SaveFile {}", error);
 
 		fflush(file);
 		fclose(file);
@@ -425,7 +424,7 @@ public:
 		fs::rename(tmp_name, filename, err);
 		if(err)
 		{
-			forceLog_printf("can't save settings to file: %s", err.message().c_str());
+			cemuLog_log(LogType::Force, "Unable to save settings to file: {}", err.message().c_str());
 			fs::remove(tmp_name, err);
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp b/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
index 4a5974e5..a19981b0 100644
--- a/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/CemuApp.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <wx/image.h>
 #include <wx/filename.h>
 #include <wx/stdpaths.h>
+#include "wxHelper.h"
 
 #include "Cafe/TitleList/TitleList.h"
 #include "Cafe/TitleList/SaveList.h"
@@ -276,12 +277,12 @@ std::vector<const wxLanguageInfo*> CemuApp::GetAvailableLanguages()
 
 void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 {
-	std::wstring mlc = GetMLCPath().ToStdWstring();
+	fs::path mlc = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath();
 
 	// check for mlc01 folder missing if custom path has been set
 	if (!fs::exists(mlc) && !first_start)
 	{
-		const std::wstring message = fmt::format(fmt::runtime(_(L"Your mlc01 folder seems to be missing.\n\nThis is where Cemu stores save files, game updates and other Wii U files.\n\nThe expected path is:\n{}\n\nDo you want to create the folder at the expected path?").ToStdWstring()), mlc);
+		const std::wstring message = fmt::format(fmt::runtime(_(L"Your mlc01 folder seems to be missing.\n\nThis is where Cemu stores save files, game updates and other Wii U files.\n\nThe expected path is:\n{}\n\nDo you want to create the folder at the expected path?").ToStdWstring()), mlc.wstring());
 		
 		wxMessageDialog dialog(nullptr, message, "Error", wxCENTRE | wxYES_NO | wxCANCEL| wxICON_WARNING);
 		dialog.SetYesNoCancelLabels(_("Yes"), _("No"), _("Select a custom path"));
@@ -292,12 +293,11 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 		{
 			if (!SelectMLCPath())
 				return;
-
-			mlc = GetMLCPath();
+			mlc = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath();
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			GetConfig().mlc_path = L"";
+			GetConfig().mlc_path = "";
 			g_config.Save();
 		}
 	}
@@ -305,22 +305,22 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 	// create sys/usr folder in mlc01
 	try
 	{
-		const auto sysFolder = fs::path(mlc).append(L"sys");
+		const auto sysFolder = fs::path(mlc).append("sys");
 		fs::create_directories(sysFolder);
 
-		const auto usrFolder = fs::path(mlc).append(L"usr");
+		const auto usrFolder = fs::path(mlc).append("usr");
 		fs::create_directories(usrFolder);
 		fs::create_directories(fs::path(usrFolder).append("title/00050000")); // base
 		fs::create_directories(fs::path(usrFolder).append("title/0005000c")); // dlc
 		fs::create_directories(fs::path(usrFolder).append("title/0005000e")); // update
 
 		// Mii Maker save folders {0x500101004A000, 0x500101004A100, 0x500101004A200},
-		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append(L"usr/save/00050010/1004a000/user/common/db"));
-		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append(L"usr/save/00050010/1004a100/user/common/db"));
-		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append(L"usr/save/00050010/1004a200/user/common/db"));
+		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append("usr/save/00050010/1004a000/user/common/db"));
+		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append("usr/save/00050010/1004a100/user/common/db"));
+		fs::create_directories(fs::path(mlc).append("usr/save/00050010/1004a200/user/common/db"));
 
 		// lang files
-		auto langDir = fs::path(mlc).append(L"sys/title/0005001b/1005c000/content");
+		const auto langDir = fs::path(mlc).append("sys/title/0005001b/1005c000/content");
 		fs::create_directories(langDir);
 
 		auto langFile = fs::path(langDir).append("language.txt");
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 	catch (const std::exception& ex)
 	{
 		std::stringstream errorMsg;
-		errorMsg << fmt::format(fmt::runtime(_("Couldn't create a required mlc01 subfolder or file!\n\nError: {0}\nTarget path:\n{1}").ToStdString()), ex.what(), boost::nowide::narrow(mlc));
+		errorMsg << fmt::format(fmt::runtime(_("Couldn't create a required mlc01 subfolder or file!\n\nError: {0}\nTarget path:\n{1}").ToStdString()), ex.what(), _pathToUtf8(mlc));
 
 #if BOOST_OS_WINDOWS
 		const DWORD lastError = GetLastError();
@@ -372,11 +372,11 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 	// cemu directories
 	try
 	{
-		const auto controllerProfileFolder = GetConfigPath(L"controllerProfiles").ToStdWstring();
+		const auto controllerProfileFolder = ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath("controllerProfiles");
 		if (!fs::exists(controllerProfileFolder))
 			fs::create_directories(controllerProfileFolder);
 
-		const auto memorySearcherFolder = GetUserDataPath(L"memorySearcher").ToStdWstring();
+		const auto memorySearcherFolder = ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath("memorySearcher");
 		if (!fs::exists(memorySearcherFolder))
 			fs::create_directories(memorySearcherFolder);
 	}
@@ -398,12 +398,12 @@ void CemuApp::CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start)
 }
 
 
-bool CemuApp::TrySelectMLCPath(std::wstring path)
+bool CemuApp::TrySelectMLCPath(fs::path path)
 {
 	if (path.empty())
-		path = ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath().wstring();
+		path = ActiveSettings::GetDefaultMLCPath();
 
-	if (!TestWriteAccess(fs::path{ path }))
+	if (!TestWriteAccess(path))
 		return false;
 
 	GetConfig().SetMLCPath(path);
@@ -421,14 +421,14 @@ bool CemuApp::SelectMLCPath(wxWindow* parent)
 {
 	auto& config = GetConfig();
 	
-	std::wstring default_path;
-	if (fs::exists(config.mlc_path.GetValue()))
-		default_path = config.mlc_path.GetValue();
+	fs::path default_path;
+	if (fs::exists(_utf8ToPath(config.mlc_path.GetValue())))
+		default_path = _utf8ToPath(config.mlc_path.GetValue());
 
 	// try until users selects a valid path or aborts
 	while(true)
 	{
-		wxDirDialog path_dialog(parent, _("Select a mlc directory"), default_path, wxDD_DEFAULT_STYLE | wxDD_DIR_MUST_EXIST);
+		wxDirDialog path_dialog(parent, _("Select a mlc directory"), wxHelper::FromPath(default_path), wxDD_DEFAULT_STYLE | wxDD_DIR_MUST_EXIST);
 		if (path_dialog.ShowModal() != wxID_OK || path_dialog.GetPath().empty())
 			return false;
 
@@ -449,37 +449,6 @@ bool CemuApp::SelectMLCPath(wxWindow* parent)
 	return false;
 }
 
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetMLCPath()
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath().generic_wstring();
-}
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetMLCPath(const wxString& cat)
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath(cat.ToStdString()).generic_wstring();
-}
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetConfigPath()
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath().generic_wstring();
-};
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetConfigPath(const wxString& cat)
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetConfigPath(cat.ToStdString()).generic_wstring();
-};
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetUserDataPath()
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath().generic_wstring();
-};
-
-wxString CemuApp::GetUserDataPath(const wxString& cat)
-{
-	return ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath(cat.ToStdString()).generic_wstring();
-};
-
 void CemuApp::ActivateApp(wxActivateEvent& event)
 {
 	g_window_info.app_active = event.GetActive();
diff --git a/src/gui/CemuApp.h b/src/gui/CemuApp.h
index f462ec39..1dac29f1 100644
--- a/src/gui/CemuApp.h
+++ b/src/gui/CemuApp.h
@@ -17,17 +17,9 @@ public:
 	static std::vector<const wxLanguageInfo*> GetAvailableLanguages();
 
 	static void CreateDefaultFiles(bool first_start = false);
-	static bool TrySelectMLCPath(std::wstring path);
+	static bool TrySelectMLCPath(fs::path path);
 	static bool SelectMLCPath(wxWindow* parent = nullptr);
 
-	static wxString GetConfigPath();
-	static wxString GetConfigPath(const wxString& cat);
-
-	static wxString GetUserDataPath();
-	static wxString GetUserDataPath(const wxString& cat);
-
-	static wxString GetMLCPath();
-	static wxString GetMLCPath(const wxString& cat);
 private:
 	void ActivateApp(wxActivateEvent& event);
 
diff --git a/src/gui/GeneralSettings2.cpp b/src/gui/GeneralSettings2.cpp
index 08d020f9..ac1d3f3b 100644
--- a/src/gui/GeneralSettings2.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/GeneralSettings2.cpp
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ void GeneralSettings2::StoreConfig()
 	}
 
 	if (!LaunchSettings::GetMLCPath().has_value())
-		config.SetMLCPath(m_mlc_path->GetValue().ToStdWstring(), false);
+		config.SetMLCPath(wxHelper::MakeFSPath(m_mlc_path->GetValue()), false);
 	
 	// -1 is default wx widget value -> set to dummy 0 so mainwindow and padwindow will update it
 	config.window_position = m_save_window_position_size->IsChecked() ? Vector2i{ 0,0 } : Vector2i{-1,-1};
@@ -1464,9 +1464,9 @@ void GeneralSettings2::ApplyConfig()
 	auto& config = GetConfig();
 
 	if (LaunchSettings::GetMLCPath().has_value())
-		m_mlc_path->SetValue(wxString{ LaunchSettings::GetMLCPath().value().generic_wstring() });
+		m_mlc_path->SetValue(wxHelper::FromPath(LaunchSettings::GetMLCPath().value()));
 	else
-		m_mlc_path->SetValue(config.mlc_path.GetValue());
+		m_mlc_path->SetValue(wxHelper::FromUtf8(config.mlc_path.GetValue()));
 
 	m_save_window_position_size->SetValue(config.window_position != Vector2i{-1,-1});
 	m_save_padwindow_position_size->SetValue(config.pad_position != Vector2i{-1,-1});
@@ -1910,7 +1910,7 @@ void GeneralSettings2::OnMLCPathSelect(wxCommandEvent& event)
 	if (!CemuApp::SelectMLCPath(this))
 		return;
 	
-	m_mlc_path->SetValue(ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath().generic_string());
+	m_mlc_path->SetValue(wxHelper::FromPath(ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath()));
 	m_reload_gamelist = true;
 	m_mlc_modified = true;
 }
@@ -1922,16 +1922,16 @@ void GeneralSettings2::OnMLCPathChar(wxKeyEvent& event)
 
 	if(event.GetKeyCode() == WXK_DELETE || event.GetKeyCode() == WXK_BACK)
 	{
-		std::wstring newPath = L"";
+		fs::path newPath = "";
 		if(!CemuApp::TrySelectMLCPath(newPath))
 		{
 			const auto res = wxMessageBox(_("The default MLC path is inaccessible.\nDo you want to select a different path?"), _("Error"), wxYES_NO | wxCENTRE | wxICON_ERROR);
 			if (res == wxYES && CemuApp::SelectMLCPath(this))
-				newPath = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath().wstring();
+				newPath = ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath();
 			else
 				return;
 		}
-		m_mlc_path->SetValue(newPath);
+		m_mlc_path->SetValue(wxHelper::FromPath(newPath));
 		m_reload_gamelist = true;
 		m_mlc_modified = true;
 	}
diff --git a/src/gui/GettingStartedDialog.cpp b/src/gui/GettingStartedDialog.cpp
index 30e5e557..c84582b8 100644
--- a/src/gui/GettingStartedDialog.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/GettingStartedDialog.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ void GettingStartedDialog::OnClose(wxCloseEvent& event)
     const fs::path mlcPath = wxHelper::MakeFSPath(m_mlc_folder->GetPath());
 	if(config.mlc_path.GetValue() != mlcPath && (mlcPath.empty() || fs::exists(mlcPath)))
 	{
-		config.SetMLCPath(mlcPath.generic_wstring(), false);
+		config.SetMLCPath(mlcPath, false);
 		m_mlc_changed = true;
 	}
 	
diff --git a/src/gui/GraphicPacksWindow2.cpp b/src/gui/GraphicPacksWindow2.cpp
index e718605a..0dbb85fd 100644
--- a/src/gui/GraphicPacksWindow2.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/GraphicPacksWindow2.cpp
@@ -495,15 +495,14 @@ void GraphicPacksWindow2::OnTreeChoiceChanged(wxTreeEvent& event)
 	auto& graphic_pack = data->GetGraphicPack();
 	graphic_pack->SetEnabled(state);
 
-	bool has_texture_rules = false;
-	if (CafeSystem::IsTitleRunning() && graphic_pack->ContainsTitleId(CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId()))
+	bool requiresRestart = graphic_pack->RequiresRestart(true, false);
+	bool isRunning = CafeSystem::IsTitleRunning() && graphic_pack->ContainsTitleId(CafeSystem::GetForegroundTitleId());
+	if (isRunning)
 	{
  		if (state)
 		{
 			GraphicPack2::ActivateGraphicPack(graphic_pack);
-			has_texture_rules = !graphic_pack->GetTextureRules().empty();
-
-			if (!has_texture_rules)
+			if (!requiresRestart)
 			{
 				ReloadPack(graphic_pack);
 				m_graphic_pack_tree->SetItemTextColour(item, 0x009900);
@@ -511,19 +510,16 @@ void GraphicPacksWindow2::OnTreeChoiceChanged(wxTreeEvent& event)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			has_texture_rules = !graphic_pack->GetTextureRules().empty();
-
-			if (!has_texture_rules)
+			if (!requiresRestart)
 			{
 				DeleteShadersFromRuntimeCache(graphic_pack);
 				m_graphic_pack_tree->SetItemTextColour(item, *wxBLACK);
 			}
-
 			GraphicPack2::DeactivateGraphicPack(graphic_pack);
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!m_info_bar->IsShown() && has_texture_rules)
+	if (!m_info_bar->IsShown() && (isRunning && requiresRestart))
 		m_info_bar->ShowMessage(_("Restart of Cemu required for changes to take effect"));
 
 	// also change selection to activated gp
@@ -583,7 +579,7 @@ void GraphicPacksWindow2::OnActivePresetChanged(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		m_right_panel->Layout();
 	}
 
-	if (m_shown_graphic_pack->GetTextureRules().empty())
+	if (!m_shown_graphic_pack->RequiresRestart(false, true))
 		ReloadPack(m_shown_graphic_pack);
 	else if (!m_info_bar->IsShown())
 		m_info_bar->ShowMessage(_("Restart of Cemu required for changes to take effect"));		
diff --git a/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp b/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
index e95b0e68..4e82ad5d 100644
--- a/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ void MainWindow::OnFileMenu(wxCommandEvent& event)
 
 void MainWindow::OnOpenCemuFolder(wxCommandEvent& event)
 {
-	wxLaunchDefaultApplication(ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath().wstring());
+	wxLaunchDefaultApplication(wxHelper::FromPath(ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath()));
 }
 
 void MainWindow::OnInstallUpdate(wxCommandEvent& event)
@@ -1004,7 +1004,7 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugSetting(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		{
 			try
 			{
-				const fs::path path(CemuApp::GetUserDataPath().ToStdString());
+				const fs::path path(ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath());
 				fs::create_directories(path / "dump" / "curl");
 			}
 			catch (const std::exception& ex)
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugDumpUsedTextures(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		try
 		{
 			// create directory
-			const fs::path path(CemuApp::GetUserDataPath().ToStdString());
+			const fs::path path(ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath());
 			fs::create_directories(path / "dump" / "textures");
 		}
 		catch (const std::exception& ex)
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ void MainWindow::OnDebugDumpUsedShaders(wxCommandEvent& event)
 		try
 		{
 			// create directory
-			const fs::path path(CemuApp::GetUserDataPath().ToStdString());
+			const fs::path path(ActiveSettings::GetUserDataPath());
 			fs::create_directories(path / "dump" / "shaders");
 		}
 		catch (const std::exception & ex)
diff --git a/src/gui/wxHelper.h b/src/gui/wxHelper.h
index 41b13f5d..ac959755 100644
--- a/src/gui/wxHelper.h
+++ b/src/gui/wxHelper.h
@@ -17,10 +17,16 @@ namespace wxHelper
         return fs::path(sv);
     }
 
-    inline wxString FromUtf8(std::string_view str)
-    {
-        return wxString::FromUTF8(str.data(), str.size());
-    }
+	inline wxString FromUtf8(std::string_view str)
+	{
+		return wxString::FromUTF8(str.data(), str.size());
+	}
+
+	inline wxString FromPath(const fs::path& path)
+	{
+		std::string str = _pathToUtf8(path);
+		return wxString::FromUTF8(str.data(), str.size());
+	}
 
 	inline wxColour CalculateAccentColour(const wxColour& bgColour)
 	{
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 80e30855..33b1b0a3 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void infoLog_cemuStartup()
 {
 	cemuLog_force("------- Init {} -------", BUILD_VERSION_WITH_NAME_STRING);
 	cemuLog_force("Init Wii U memory space (base: 0x{:016x})", (size_t)memory_base);
-	cemuLog_force(u8"mlc01 path: {}", ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath().generic_u8string());
+	cemuLog_force("mlc01 path: {}", _pathToUtf8(ActiveSettings::GetMlcPath()));
 	// check for wine version
 	checkForWine();
 	// CPU and RAM info