WHEN SOMETHING FAILS
Find the first failing stage
Keep the first error, identify the stage and change one thing at a time. A conversion failure, an OS loader error and a runtime crash need different investigations.
Start with this decision table
| First observation | Start here |
|---|---|
| The relinker rejects the input | Input type, module location and the version’s usage syntax |
| Windows loader rejects a library | Target format and the host library folder |
| A PRX exists but a dependency is missing | The complete dependency set beside that library |
| An error names an unsupported function | The exact build and upstream implementation status |
| A window appears, then rendering fails | The first graphics error and a matching title report |
This table routes an investigation; it does not diagnose every error with the same symptom. Preserve the full message before applying a suggestion from another report.
Windows error 193: check library format
Upstream documents error 193 when an original PS5 module is put in the host libs folder. Check that folder’s role against the runtime layout. Do not assume every error 193 has that cause.
Before replacing anything, make a list of the files and where they came from. Restore one coherent setup rather than adding more files from unrelated packages.
Windows error 126: check dependencies
The technical-debt notes list nearby libgcc_s_seh-1.dll, libstdc++-6.dll and libwinpthread-1.dll for Windows PRX libraries. A loader failure can involve a dependency even when the named PRX exists.
Use dependencies from the toolchain or matching project package. Avoid random DLL download sites. Keep the original failure text so you can compare it after correcting the folder.
Unsupported behavior needs a precise report
The project README describes explicit failures for unsupported states. Our recommendation is to copy the function name or exception exactly, then look for an upstream report with that name.
- Include the release or commit and any local patches.
- Include the title identifier, host details and the stage reached.
- Describe what changed between the last working and first failing attempt.
- Share text logs with private paths and personal information removed; do not attach game files.
When to stop guessing
If you cannot reproduce the symptom consistently, collect a second run before changing more settings. If it is consistent, compare one hypothesis at a time. A smaller, well-described problem is easier to investigate than a folder containing several mixed versions.
Use the upstream usage document for version-specific flags. A debugging switch found in a discussion is not automatically a general repair.
Common questions
Should I change every setting after a crash?
No. Keep the baseline, change one relevant variable and repeat the same test.
Sources & context
Documentation reviewed 2026-10-14. Main-branch documents can change.