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Modified guide to not just be for Windows
If someone linked you here, they probably thought you were being a dummy. So go ahead, take your time, and start from the top.
==Downloading RetroArch==
Download the latest stable version of RetroArch here: [http://buildbot.libretro.com/stable/1.2/win-x64/RetroArch_1.2_R2.7z 1.2 Stable(Windows x64)] (if you're reading this in 2016, download the latest build from [http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/win-x86_64here (pick your OS/ heresystem from the list)])
Open the .7z file with [http://www.7-zip.org/download.html 7zip] or WinRAR, or other archiver of your choice and extract the files to where you want to install RetroArch, or if on console/phone, install it using the standard method for that system.
==Downloading Cores==
RetroArch doesn't come with emulation cores, so you have to download them yourself. However, RetroArch does have a built in updater. So to download up to date cores, scroll down to ''Online Updater'', and select ''Core Updater''. RetroArch will download a list of available cores to download, and you can individually download them. To see what core does what, see [[Libretro#Cores|this list.]]
If for what ever reason RetroArch can't download cores, or wont display a list of available cores for download, you can get them from the buildbot [http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/win-x86_64/latest/ here.]
==Running a Game==
==BIOS and System files==
Some emulation cores require special system files, or BIOSes. These can be downloaded [[Emulator_Files#Multi-System|here.]] Extract the ''system'' folder in that archive to where you installed RetroArch (the folder where ''the retroarch program is. retroarch.exe'' ison Windows).
==Core Options, Core Specific Settings==
==Saves and Saving Settings==
By default RetroArch will save settings when it closes, and will do so unless you put RetroArch in a directory that needs elevated privileges without running as administrator/root. ''Save New Config'' will save a ''new'', different, config that wont be loaded the next time RetroArch starts.
It's probably a good idea to enable ''SaveRAM Autosave Internal'' (under ''Save Settings'') so game saves will be written to your harddrive while RetroArch is running.
==Cheats==
Not all cores support cheats, you can check the [http://wiki.libretro.com/index.php?title=Main_Page#Core_Software_Library Libretro wiki] for which cores do. By default RetroArch comes with a fairly large cheat database, so to make a new cheat file, you can find files in the ''cheats'' folder of RetroArch's install directory for reference.To enable cheats, load the game, toggle RetroArch's menu, load a cheat file in the ''Core Cheat Options'' and you'll get a list of cheats available which you can toggle. After setting your cheats, hit ''Apply Cheat Changes''. Some cheats may require you to ''Restart Content'' to take effect.
