Download Chdman.exe

chdman.exe createcd -i "image.cue" -o "image.chd"

Open Command Prompt (or PowerShell) and type:

chdman -help

You should see a list of commands and options, confirming that Windows can locate the executable.

chdman createcd -i "game.cue" -o "game.chd"

If you already use RetroArch, you might have CHDMAN without knowing it. download chdman.exe

Step 1: Open RetroArch. Step 2: Go to Main Menu → Online Updater → Update CHD Tools. Step 3: RetroArch will automatically download and place chdman.exe in your RetroArch\system directory.

This is the easiest GUI-based method for non-coders. chdman

chdman.exe is a self-contained binary. It does not generally require an installation wizard. However, it relies on Windows system libraries. Ensure you have the latest Visual C++ Redistributable packages installed if the tool fails to launch.

Assume you have a raw ISO called game.iso in C:\Games\Raw. Convert it to CHD with: Open Command Prompt (or PowerShell) and type: chdman

chdman createcd -i "C:\Games\Raw\game.iso" -o "C:\Games\CHD\game.chd"

The process will display a progress bar and finish with something like:

Creating CHD v5...
Compression: 78%
Finished. Output written to C:\Games\CHD\game.chd

Now you have a compressed, MAME‑ready file ready for use in any front‑end.

Before you click “download,” keep these points in mind: