The file extension ROM can be associated as a Read Only Memory image or it can be related to the N64 Emulator used for the Nintendo 64 game cartridge. Read Only Memory files provide an exact copy of data related to a hardware device to allow updates to be performed on the firmware associated with the hardware device. ROM files used for the N64 emulator are also a read only file type that is used with the emulator to open and play Nintendo games without the use of the console.
ROM files which are considered to be Read Only Memory are a miscellaneous file type that can contain a variety of different content, especially if it is used as a backup tool for hardware devices and firmware updates. Backup ROM files contain an exact copy of the original data to be used at a later date for purposes of restoration. The files can contain data for a specific application, firmware, or an entire partition on your PC’s hard drive.
If the ROM file is related to the N64 Emulator, it is a game file type that contains a copy of the contents for a specific Nintendo game in the form of a ROM image to allow you to use the game with an emulator program. The ROM image replicates the data which is stored on Nintendo video game units.
How to Open ROM Files
Since ROM files are associated with multiple programs and applications, double click on the file to see if it will automatically open in a default program you have installed on your PC. ROM files can consist of different file types, so you may already have a program which will open them.
If the ROM files are classified as a Read Only Memory file and you use Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux, you can open the file using Basilisk II, which is an open source emulator available as a free download on the Emaculation website. Mini vMac is another open source emulator that will open ROM files and is available for download at no cost on the SourceForge website.
If the ROM extension is a game file created with Nintendo, you can open the file using any emulator that supports N64 game files. In Windows you can open this type of ROM file using UltraHLE 2064, which is available as a free download on the Emulator Zone website. You can also use Daedalus, which is an open source N64 emulator available for download at no cost on the SourceForge website.
For Mac OS X, you can use Mupen64, which is a multiplatform plugin available as a free download on the Mupen64 website. It is also compatible with Windows and the Linux operating system.
