[Return to the index](./00_index.md)
## Initial Setup of an SD Card

### First steps
Insert the (Micro) SD card to your PC and ensure it is properly formatted to be compatible with your flashcart.


#### Preparations for SC64

> [!TIP]
> Most (Micro) SD cards are factory formatted to FAT32 or EXFAT and don't require re-formatting.

- Download the latest `sc64menu.n64` file from the [releases](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) page, then put it in the root directory of your Micro SD card.
- Place your ROM files on the Micro SD card, **in any folder except the root directory `menu` folder**.
- Remove the Micro SD Card from your computer and insert it into the SC64. 

#### Preparations for OTHER supported flashcarts
- It is recommended to format the SD Card to FAT32 with the default cluster size.
- Download the latest [menu](https://github.com/Polprzewodnikowy/N64FlashcartMenu/releases/) file specific for your flashcart and place it in the expected location.
- Remove the Micro SD Card from your computer and insert it into the flashcart.


### Advanced Steps
Advanced steps are optional, which adds additional capabilities.

#### Add Emulator support
See the [Emulators](./18_emulators.md) page.

#### Add 64DD Disk support
See the [64DD](./17_64dd.md) page.

### So what could the layout of the SD card look like?
```plaintext
SD:\
│
├── sc64menu.n64
│
│
├── menu\
│   │
│   │
│   ├── 64ddipl\
│   │    ├── NDDE0.n64
│   │    ├── NDDJ2.n64
│   │    └── NDXJ0.n64
│   │    
│   └── emulators\
│        ├── neon64bu.rom
│        ├── sodium64.z64
│        ├── gb.v64
│        ├── gbc.v64
│        ├── smsPlus64.z64
│        └── Press-F.z64
│
├── (a rom).z64
├── (a rom).n64
├── (some folder with ROMs)\
        │   └── (some folder with ROMs)\
        |       └── (some supported ROM files)
        │
        ├── (some supported ROM files)
        |
        └── (some folder with 64DD disk images)\
            └── (some 64DD disk images)
```


## Save Files
All save files (whether `FlashRam`, `SRAM` or `EEPROM`) will be read from a `/saves` folder located **in the same directory as the ROM** 
and they must share the same file name, but use the `.sav` extension. `.sav` files will be created and modified whenever a ROM file saves to 
the "cartridge save memory".

```plaintext
├── (some folder with ROMs)\
    ├── a_rom.z64
    ├── b_rom_whatever.n64
    └── saves\
        ├── a_rom.sav
        └── b_rom_whatever.sav
```

### Transferring saves from an ED64
If you are transferring a file from a different flashcart, such as the ED64, you must change the file extension to `sav`. 
For example, a save file called `Glover (USA).eep` should have its extension changed to `Glover (USA).sav` to work with N64FlashcartMenu.

You may also need to pad/trim the files to their original size:
- For EEPROM 4Kbit games, remove the padding.
- For others, use a tool such as [Ninjiteu's N64SaveConverter](https://github.com/Ninjiteu/N64SaveConverter).

> [!CAUTION]
> Saves created with certain emulator versions, or created for a different ROM version (as in revisions of the same game), or region (as in between NTSC and PAL versions of a same game) may be incompatible.