***PCUAE Walkthrough, Updated for THEA500***

I have updated the Dummy Walkthrough Guide below.. Updated... 01/01/2024.

If you want to run PCUAE on all models(THEC64, THEVIC20 and THEA500) so only use one USB Drive and switch between them by taking the USB Drive out one model and then putting it in another then download the PCUAE – AIO64 version from the website but you might need both versions of PCUAE - AIO64 for THEC64 and THEA500 and install them both on the same USB Drive then its will be a complete PCUAE All In One Setup for all Models.

Added How too Install a Mode and how to run it.

Download PCUAE from here too: projectcarouselusb.eu new info on how to below now.


PCUAE Dummy Walkthrough

1. How to install PCUAE Manager, Modes, PCUAE Website
=======================================

You can install PCUAE in three ways: PCUAE Manager, From GITHUB, The PCUAE Website

1. PCUAE Manager can be downloaded from HERE. To Install it double click the Left Mouse Button on its exe file you downloaded and then press the Accept Button then press the Install Button so it installs it to your PC then to start it click on the PCUAE Manager icon on the Desktop.
You can use it to download PCUAE(THEC64/THEVIC20/THEA500) in parts and export the games(views) to TheCarousel(THEC64/THEVIC20), if you have downloaded PCUAE Manager then do not click on this link.

You can install PCUAE to use in THEA500 Mini with PCUAE Manager but TheCarousel in THEA500 Mini can only show the games from its firmware and has not been hacked to be able to add any to it, to install other Modes that are not in PCUAE Manager for THEA500 you have to download them from GitHub manually from HERE 

When installing PCUAE from PCUAE Manager it will load a Menu so you can select what version of PCUAE you want to install, PCUAE CBM Edition for RGL Commodore Machines or PCUAE Atari Edition for THE400 Mini, Atari 2600 Plus and Atari Gamestation Pro Machines.

MAKE SURE you select PCUAE CBM Edition for AMIGA (THEA500), it will then download it and run it then you can install it on the PCUAE USB Drive.

If you want everything included in PCUAE then download PCUAE AIO - PCUAE All In One from the PCUAE Website and click on the Support link on the Home Page(You will need to register on the website to get access to the Support Page) and then select your machine from the `Downloads Home` page from Here then click on the PCUAE link to download PCUAE AIO.

If you want everything included in PCUAE then download PCUAE AIO - PCUAE All In One from the PCUAE WEBSITE and click on the Download link on the Home Page(You will need to register on the website to be able to download) and then select your machine from the `Downloads Home` page from Here then click on the PCUAE link to download PCUAE AIO.

About THEA500 Modes on GitHub
======================

The Modes for THEA500 I have marked with `-not-in-pcuae-manager` if they are not in PCUAE Manager on GitHub:
I never made PCUAE Manager so can not add other Modes into it for THEA500, that can only be done by Lantzelot because he created it, if I could I would add them to make it easier to install THEA500 Modes, PCUAE Manager needs THEC64 Modes and THEA500 Modes tabs in it.

If a Mode on GitHub works on all machines including THEA500 Mini then it will have `thec64` and `thea500` in its name so you know it works with THEA500 too.

2. About USB Stick
==============
Please check your USB Stick and If you have not already formatted your USB Stick, format it in FAT32 and make sure its formatted with MBR Master Boot Record.

Now plug it in to your machine and see if you can see it in the carousel, you will see a USB Icon appear in the Carousel of Games or if you have used the same USB stick to update your machine then it should work with PCUAE and you can go to `Now we can continue.... `, if it does then you can go ahead and install PCUAE, if not then you will have to try another stick or format it with Rufus, look at the topic below `Problems with USB Stick and Its Not Working With PCUAE` if you need to fix the USB Stick to get it to work with PCUAE, if the USB Stick works ok then move on to `Now we can continue....` 

===============================================================================================================================

Problems with USB Stick and Its Not Working With PCUAE or the machine

1. Only read this if your having a problem with your USB Stick and not been able to format it or your machine can not see it or if PCUAE is not loading properly on it, if not then just continue to `Now we can continue....`

You can format it this way too if you wish so its using MBR and FAT32 .

2. If you have installed PCUAE before and it works fine on your USB Stick then go a head and install it and continue the walkthrough below, if you have not installed PCUAE before then please check your USB Stick first before installing PCUAE, cause the carousel can be funny with some of them and PCUAE will not work on them, so make sure the USB Stick works with your machine first and you can see and load the files from it in Classic Mode first, then you can go thought the walkthrough with no problems.

3. If you have a problem with PCUAE not booting, it could be the USB Stick your using, you might need to try a different one, RGL recommend using a 32GB USB Stick with MBR boot sector, it does not work with GPT, a 64GB USB Stick is not recommended but does work but might not with PCUAE, PCUAE can be funny with some USB Sticks, but it cause of the way the Firmware reads the USB Sticks so it not really PCUAE thats doing it, its the carousel and the machine's firmware that has a problem with your USB Stick.

If you have not already format your USB Stick, then format it in Fat32 and make sure its formatted with MBR Master Boot Record.

THEC64 Mini/Maxi and THEVIC20 does not like:

a) GPT - GUID Partition Table, it only works on a normal MBR - Master Boot Record
b) Bootable USB Sticks - It does not work on them, if at any time you have used the USB Stick as a Bootable Drive like in Rufus to boot the setup for Windows or Linux then it will not work with PCUAE, look below to fix it.

FOR Mac OS Users:

Mac OS X - If you copy the files manually with MAC OS X then it will not work, Mac OS X adds it own files (.DS files) and damages PCUAE and stops it booting properly.
Use Blue Harvest - www.zeroonetwenty.com/blueharvest/ to remove all the files that MacOS adds to the USB Stick that mess up PCUAE then it will work in your machine.

Rufus
You can use Rufus to fix your USB Stick if THEC64 Mini/THEC64 Maxi/THEVIC20 can not read it or not read it properly or you have used it as a Bootable Drive.

Look below on how to fix it, thanks jj0...

There are two things that you need to get right for THEC64 to recognise the USB drive:

1. It needs to use the partitioning scheme MBR.
2. The filesystem needs to be FAT32.

To do this:

On a Mac:

Use these instructions.

On a Windows PC:

You can look on the How To Geeks website on How to Format a USB Drive in FAT32 in Windows 10/11 its link is HERE.

or use Rufus below.

You can then delete the extra files that are on the USB drive and use it in PCUAE.

Look at this picture below for the settings in Rufus, you can name the USB drive `PCUAE USB Drive`.


===============================================================================================================================

Now we can continue.... 

===============================================================================================================================

When PCUAE gets updated it will be updated in PCUAE Manager or on the website projectcarouselusb.eu or as smaller updates using the PCUAE Network Updater inside PCUAE, to use that you need PCUAE Network Mode working and need a compatible Ethernet Adapter.

3. How to install PCUAE

====================

You can install PCUAE Main, Main can be installed from PCUAE Manager, its a version of PCUAE thats in parts, it so if you do not want everything you can download only the parts you want to use, click on the PCUAE Tab inside PCUAE Manager and it will download PCUAE for you and then take you through installing PCUAE.
or Install PCUAIO(PCUAE All In One) from the website, if you want everything in PCUAE, all Modes and that.

1. How to install PCUAE in Parts from PCUAE Manager

Open PCUAE Manager by double clicking on its icon of the PC desktop, it will ask:

PCUAE main setup vX.X.X is available.


Do you want to download this version now?

You can install it to a USB drive later from the PCUAE menu

Click on Yes Button and it will start downloading the latest version, it will not take long, then it will ask do you want to install PCUAE, click on Yes button again to start the PCUAE Install Setup so you can install PCUAE.


You can manually download PCUAE too by clicking on the PCUAE Tab and you will see `PCUAE Install to a USB drive` to install PCUAE click on that item.
PCUAE Manager will then ask:

PCUAE vX.X.X is available.


(Current install file: pcuae-X.X.X-main-4all-no-modes-no-games-standalone-setup.exe).

Do you want to download and install the new version?

Click on Yes Button and it will start downloading the latest version, it will not take long, then it will ask do you want to install PCUAE, click on Yes button again to start the PCUAE Install Setup so you can install PCUAE.

2. Change drive letter to your PCUAE USB Stick, Mine is Z letter, `USB Drive (Z:)`(2.2.2), now click on Browse button(2.1.2) to find your USB Drive or PCUAE USB Drive, if you need too, click on your USB drive(2.2.2) then press OK button(2.2.2).
Or If you know what drive letter your USB Drive is on already then you can highlight the letter(K:\) in the long box next to the browser button and change it to your USB drive letter... like: from K:\ to Z:\ then click on OK button and then press the Install button to install PCUAE on to your USB Drive (Z:).

This might show older pictures but PCUAE Set up has not really changed that much.

2.1. Change USB Drive Letter and then click on OK button

2.2. USB Drive and OK button

3. Now click on Install button(3.1.3) to copy PCUAE to your USB Drive... now wait for it to complete, it may take a little while, depends on how fast your USB Stick is and if its PCUAE Main or PCUAE All In One, I recommend using a USB 3.0 or higher, then it will transfer the files quicker, you can even use a SD Card and SD Card reader if you want too, I use a SD Card with mine, it is a ANKER SD Card Reader.
You can use a SATA SSD Drive too just make sure its formatted in MBR and FAT32.

3.1. Click on Install Button and it will start copying PCUAE to your USB Stick

3.2. Copying Files over now


Once its closes the setup, its finished, PCUAE is now installed on your USB Stick.


5.How to Install a Mode Pack in PCUAE
=========================

1. To install a Mode Pack, its very easy, you can download them from PCUAE Manager, or from the Website - projectcarouselusb.eu/ or GitHub and then install them to the PCUAE USB Drive.

If you want to add the Modes Packs then install them the same way as How to install PCUAE.

Download the Mode From PCUAE Manager:
Download the Mode From GitHub:NOW To Install The Mode:

2. Change drive letter to the PCUAEUSB Drive so pick your drive or click on Browse button to find it so like G:/.

Now click on install button to copy the Mode to PCUAEUSB Drive, now wait for it to complete the install and copy over to the USB Drive, once it closes the install setup its finished.

3. Now EJECT the PCUAEUSB Drive first before you remove it from your PC, now take out the PCUAEUSB Drive from the PC and plug it into your THEA500 and turn it on, and wait for PCUAE to boot up,

4. NOW... How to Run The Mode:
Once it finished booting up PCUAE then you should be able to press and Hold CTRL Key then F5 key or Hold Menu button then X Button on THEGamepad or Hold Menu button then TR(Triangle Right) button on THEC64 Joystick to load the Mode Changer and then see the Mode you just installed is installed in PCUAE and then pick it from the list in the PCUAE Mode Changer Menu.

The Modes for THEA500 I have marked with `-not-in-pcuae-manager` if they are not in PCUAE Manager on GitHub:

I never made PCUAE Manager so can not add other Modes into it for THEA500, that can only be done by Lantzelot because he created it, if I could I would add them to make it easier to install THEA500 Modes, PCUAE Manager needs THEC64 Modes and THEA500 Modes tabs in it.



If a Mode on PCUAE Manager and GitHub works on all machines including THEA500 Mini then it will have `thec64` and `thea500` in its name so you know it works with THEA500 too.


REMEMBER if you want more Modes for PCUAE THEA500 go to GitHub to download them above.


6. Running PCUAE for the first Time
==========================

1. Remember to eject the USB Stick first before you remove it from your PC, now take out the USB Stick from the PC and plug it into your machine and turn it on, you can do this before you add the Mode Packs to make sure PCUAE is working... turn on the machine  and you should see the firmware load up now and the carousel screen, you need to run a LHA file from inside THEA500 Carousel Media Access Menu thats on the USB Stick that part of PCUAE install, just like if you was going to load a Amiga Game.  
2. To run PCUAE for the first time, you need to run a a LHA file from inside THEA500 Media Access Menu from within the Carousel that in PCUAE.


3. Highlight `USB Icon`(USB Stick) then press A button.


5. Then go into folder `START PCUAE-FOR THEA500 Only/`.



6. And to Boot PCUAE Highlight `PCUAE_Autoboot_Mode_Setup(v1.1.0)`or `PCUAE_Autoboot_Mode_Setup(v1.1.1) if you have updated to v1.2.1 in THEA500 Firmware then use v1.1.1(v1.2.1 has now replaced v1.1.1 in PCUAE).



7. Now Press the `A Button` then press the `Home Button ONLY` DO NOT PRESS MENU BUTTION and it then will start PCUAE booting.
 and after about 30 seconds a blue screen will come up and say:



and it should check if the autoboot startup script is installed on the firmware and if it not then copy it to the firmware to activate Autoboot Mode so PCUAE can boot by itself.

and then do a reboot so it can boot from Autoboot Mode and then load up PCUAE Mode.

PCUAE should be working now, enjoy...  I hope this helps..


To Load The Mode Changer Menu, to change the Mode PCUAE is running
===============================================

When the Carousel has loaded so your in PCUAE Mode, press and hold the Menu button then press and hold X button on THEGamepad(or CTRL and F5 on the Keyboard) for 2 seconds then it will start loading The Mode Changer.


You will see the PCUAE logo on the screen and see it checking what Modes are installed so you know what is available, then the Mode Change Menu will appear, its will show all the Modes on the Menu so highlight the Mode you have installed to load it from boot up and it then will load that Mode for you, the Mode might have info on the Mode your loading so just press A button too skip it, if it included a Menu then pick a option you want to load inside the Mode then it will continue to load that Mode and the option you picked with it too so like `Enable Amiga Mode` and option `Workbench 1.3`, so PCUAE will load up Amiga Mode and load Workbench 1.3 in Amiga Mode too.

Here is a picture of The Mode Changer Menu



Shortcut Keys and Buttons are below.

5. You should see it loading the Mode now and see it on the screen now... All Done.

Spannernick.

End of Walkthrough.

Some Tips and the shortcut keys

Press and hold down the main key/button down and then press the other key/button down and hold BOTH down for 2 seconds.


Main keys and Buttons in PCUAE:

PCUAE Mode
=========

CTRL+F1 - Quick Load Amiberry GUI
CTRL-F2 -  Quick Switch - Faster - Amiberry v3/v5, Switch Between Versions in TheCarousel
CTRL-F3 - The Carousel Changer
CTRL-F5 - The Mode Changer
CTRL-F7 - The PCUAE System Menu
CTRL-END - Reset THE A500
CTRL-ARROW-UP - Volume up 10%
CTRL-ARROW-DOWN - Volume down 10%
CTRL-W - Switch WHDLoad Versions
CTRL-LEFT ALT-DEL - Shutdown THEA500


Press and hold down MENU BUTTON and then press the other button down for 2 seconds.


THEGamepad(THEA500)
================

Menu+A - PCUAE System Menu.
Menu+B - Switch between amiberry v3/5.
Menu+X - The Mode Changer.
Menu+Y - The Carousel Version Changer.
Menu+Home - Quick Reset/Restart THEA500/Carousel or Close Amiberry to go back to the Carousel.
Menu+RSB - Quick Restart - PCUAE Mode.
Menu+LSB - Shutdown THEA500


While your in a Mode:
==============

Menu+A - PCUAE System Menu.

Menu+B - None
Menu+X - The Mode Changer.
Menu+Y - Back to PCUAE Mode.
Menu+RSB - Quick Restart - A Mode.
Menu+LSB - Shutdown THEA500

More info in the PCUAE System Menu about the PCUAE Shortcut Keys/buttons.