Unlike modern computers that load their operating system from a hard drive immediately, the Amiga relied on a chip soldered to its motherboard called the "Kickstart." This chip contained the core operating system (AmigaOS) needed to boot the machine.
For anyone looking to emulate an Amiga today using software like WinUAE, FS-UAE, or Amiberry, acquiring the correct Kickstart ROMs is the first hurdle. amiga rom collection
Without these files, an emulator is an empty shell. They are the digital DNA of the machine. Unlike modern computers that load their operating system
| Filename | Version | Machine | Use Case |
|----------|---------|---------|----------|
| kick12.rom | 1.2 | Amiga 1000 | Early compatibility |
| kick13.rom | 1.3 | Amiga 500/2000 | Most OCS/ECS games |
| kick20.rom | 2.04 | Amiga 500+ / 600 | ECS+ 2.0 games |
| kick30.rom | 3.0 | Amiga 1200 | AGA games |
| kick31.rom | 3.1 | A1200/A4000 | WHDLoad & high-end |
| kick40.rom (3.X) | 3.X | Custom | Modern AmigaOS setups | Without these files, an emulator is an empty shell
Emulation/
└─ Amiga/
├─ ROMs/
│ ├─ Kickstarts/
│ │ ├─ kick13.rom
│ │ ├─ kick20.rom
│ │ ├─ kick31.rom
│ │ ├─ cd32-ext.rom
│ │ └─ cd32-kick.rom
│ └─ Workbench/
│ ├─ WB13.adf
│ ├─ WB31.adf
│ └─ Extras31.adf
└─ Games/
└─ (Your game ADFs and WHDLoad folders)