# Quick Start

This walkthrough gets you from a fresh install to a running game.

## 1. Launch kat5200

Start the emulator. With no ROM or BIOS configured yet, it opens in the GUI. The
main menu offers:

- **Load ROM from file** — pick a ROM with the file browser and launch it immediately.
- **Load ROM from Launcher** — open the [ROM Launcher](launcher/index.md).
- **Options** — open the tabbed configuration window ([System, Graphics, Sound,
  Input, Misc](options/index.md)).
- **Reset** — reset the emulated machine.
- **Load State / Save State** — quick-save slots and named state files.
- **Exit** — quit kat5200.

## 2. Set up BIOS and ROMs

Open **Options → Misc → [Setup](options/misc.md#setup)** and use the scan actions
to find your files:

- **Scan for 5200 BIOS** / **Scan for 8-bit BIOS** — locates BIOS/OS images and assigns
  the best match per machine.
- **Scan for 5200 ROMs** / **Scan for 8-bit ROMs** — adds game images to the Launcher
  database.

Point each scan at a directory, then finish with **Scan & Save**. See
[Misc → Setup](options/misc.md#setup) for details.

!!! warning "BIOS required"
    The 5200 needs a 5200 BIOS image, and the 8-bit computers need an OS ROM. Without
    them you will get an *"Error Loading BIOS image"* message. See
    [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md).

## 3. Configure your controller

Open **Options → Input**. The quickest path:

1. Select the player view (Player 1–Player 4) you want to set up.
2. Click the control you want to bind (a stick direction or a button).
3. Choose **Change**, then *provide the input* on your device in the **Input
   Capture** dialog and release it. Use **Add Entry** to bind a second input to
   the same control.

For the 5200's analog games, the [Setup](options/misc.md#setup) window's game
presets are the fastest start; see also the
[analog tuning options](options/input.md#analog-tuning-5200-stick-8-bit-paddles).

## 4. Launch a game

Either:

- **Load ROM from file** for a one-off, or
- **Load ROM from Launcher**, select a title, and press ++enter++ or double-click it.

The selected machine cold-starts with the image attached.

## 5. In-emulation keys

| Action | Keyboard default | Gamepad default |
|--------|------------------|-----------------|
| Return to the GUI | ++esc++ | Back + Start |
| Toggle fullscreen | ++alt+enter++ | Back + Left Shoulder |
| Take a screenshot | ++alt+s++ | Back + Right Shoulder |
| Enter the debugger | ++f1++ | None |
| Load state from slot 1 | ++alt+1++ | Right Trigger + Left Shoulder |
| Load state from slots 2-9 | ++alt+2++ ... ++alt+9++ | None |
| Save state to slot 1 | ++shift+1++ | Left Trigger + Right Shoulder |
| Save state to slots 2-9 | ++shift+2++ ... ++shift+9++ | None |
| Exit kat5200 | ++alt+f4++ | Back + Right Stick Button |

!!! note
    These are the defaults; keyboard bindings and gamepad combos can be changed
    under the **UI Input** view in [Options -> Input](options/input.md).
    Screenshots are saved as `.bmp` files in the
    [configuration directory](troubleshooting.md#where-are-my-settings-logs-and-screenshots).

## 6. Save your progress

| Action | Keyboard default | Gamepad default |
|--------|------------------|-----------------|
| Save a named state file | **Save State** -> **To File** | Use the GUI menu |
| Load a named state file | **Load State** -> **From File** | Use the GUI menu |
| Save quick state slot 1 | ++shift+1++ | Left Trigger + Right Shoulder |
| Save quick state slots 2-9 | ++shift+2++ ... ++shift+9++ | None |
| Load quick state slot 1 | ++alt+1++ | Right Trigger + Left Shoulder |
| Load quick state slots 2-9 | ++alt+2++ ... ++alt+9++ | None |

Quick slots are convenient for moment-to-moment progress. Named state files are
better when you want a save you can identify later.
