WinUAE Beginner's Guide
You've downloaded WinUAE and are staring at the configuration panel with 50+ options? Don't panic. This guide takes you in 10 minutes from an empty emulator to a running Amiga Workbench — with everything you need.
Installation
- Download the current version from winuae.net (Windows 64-bit).
- Install — path doesn't matter, default is fine.
- On first start, the Configuration Panel opens. Don't be intimidated.
Obtaining Kickstart ROM
No Amiga runs without Kickstart. Three legal ways:
- Own Amiga available? Dump the ROM from the real machine with a tool like grabkick.
- Buy Amiga Forever (Cloanto) — from €10, includes licensed Kickstart 1.3/2.04/3.1.
- AROS ROM (free) — runs many games, but not 100% compatible. Download via aros.sourceforge.io or integrated in FS-UAE.
The ROM file (e.g. kick13.rom, kick31.rom) goes into a folder
of your choice — e.g. C:\Amiga\ROMs\.
First Configuration: Recreating the Amiga 500
Click on Quickstart on the left in the WinUAE config panel — the fastest setup for beginners:
- Model: A500
- Configuration: 1.3 ROM, OCS, 512 KB Chip + 512 KB Slow (like most A500s)
- Go to Paths → ROMs → Rescan ROMs after you've set the ROM folder.
Insert Disk & Boot
- In the Floppy drives panel → at DF0: click Select file.
- Select an ADF file (e.g. Workbench 1.3 disk, a game, a demo).
- Click Start at the bottom right.
- The black WinUAE window starts, you hear the legendary floppy clicking, and the Amiga boots.
No disk inserted? Then you'll see the Insert Workbench Disk screen. Completely normal — just like on a real A500 without a hard drive.
Set Up Hard Drive (HD)
CD32 games and everything with WHDLoad needs a hard drive. In the panel under Hard drives:
- Add Hardfile — a container (
.hdf) as a virtual Amiga HD. 1 GB is plenty for a long time. - Add Directory — simpler: a Windows folder becomes an Amiga drive. Perfect for file exchange between host and Amiga.
Device name e.g. DH0, mount point C:\Amiga\WB — done.
Save Configuration
Got everything set up? Then click Save config at the bottom of the panel. This way, next time you only need Configurations → Load and your setup starts.
The Most Important Shortcuts
| F12 | Configuration panel mid-operation |
| F11 | Fullscreen toggle |
| SHIFT+F12 | Screenshot to Screenshots folder |
| END | Amiga key (Right A) |
| PAGE UP/DOWN | Change disk in DF0/DF1 |
| CTRL+A+A | Amiga Reset (Warm reset = three keys) |
| SHIFT+PAGE DOWN | Virtual swap disk window |
Common Pitfalls
- "No Kickstart found" → ROM path in Paths not set or filename wrong. Rescan ROMs.
- No Sound → Panel Sound → set Output to DirectSound, Buffer 4-8.
- Games too slow → Panel CPU → enable JIT (faster emulation mode).
- Mouse stuttering → Fullscreen with F11 or check the mouse settings in the Input panel.
- Copy-protected original games won't boot → Use IPF image instead of ADF, install
capsimg.dll(from SPS download).