ROMs

The C64 system requires three ROM files: Kernal, Basic, and Character generator (Chargen).

Important

You may need a license from Commodore/Cloanto (or own a real C64) to use C64 ROM files.

Where to get them

The ROM files can be downloaded from zimmers.net:

ROM	File	Direct link
Kernal	kernal.901227-03.bin	download
Basic	basic.901226-01.bin	download
Chargen	characters.901225-01.bin	download

The Avalonia Browser, Avalonia Desktop, and SadConsole apps also offer an in-app auto-download option (with a license notice).

Where to put them

By default, desktop hosts look for C64 ROMs in the shared user content directory:

• macOS/Linux: ~/Documents/Highbyte/DotNet6502/roms/C64
• Windows: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Highbyte\DotNet6502\roms\C64

The directory and filenames can be changed in app settings. User changes saved by the apps are written to the host-specific appsettings.user.json overlay under the OS local application data directory, not beside the shipped executable. A shipped appsettings.json can still provide packaged defaults:

"Highbyte.DotNet6502.C64.Headless": {
  "SystemConfig": {
    "ROMDirectory": "",
    "ROMs": [
      { "Name": "basic",   "File": "basic.901226-01.bin" },
      { "Name": "kernal",  "File": "kernal.901227-03.bin" },
      { "Name": "chargen", "File": "characters.901225-01.bin" }
    ]
  }
}

The browser-based apps store ROM files in browser local storage after upload (or after auto-download).