Installing Worms (PC DOS) on Recalbox with CD Audio tracks

This guide explains how to rip and install the original CD-ROM version of Worms sold by Sold Out on Recalbox, while preserving the audio tracks (background music) that are often lost during a standard copy.

Worms Sold Out game box

1. Prerequisites (On Fedora Linux 43)#

You need to install the command-line tools to handle mixed-mode CDs (Data + Audio).

sudo dnf install cdrdao gcdmaster

2. Ripping the CD (Binary image)#

The Worms CD is a “mixed-mode” disc: track 1 contains the game data, and the following tracks contain the music. For the music to play correctly on Linux/Recalbox, the byte order must be reversed (Byte Swap).

Insert the CD (do not mount the disc) and run this command to create a raw image:

cdrdao read-cd --read-raw --datafile Worms.bin --device /dev/sr0 --driver generic-mmc-raw:0x20000 Worms.toc

Explanation of the options:

--read-raw: Copies the disc bit by bit (useful for copy protections).
generic-mmc-raw:0x20000: The crucial option. The :0x20000 suffix forces the audio bytes to be swapped (Byte Swap). This fixes the “Little Endian” vs “Big Endian” reading issue that would otherwise turn the music into white noise (crackling).

3. Converting the structure file (.cue)#

Recalbox uses the .cue format. You need to convert the .toc file generated by cdrdao.

toc2cue Worms.toc Worms.cue

Checking the .cue file#

Open the Worms.cue file with a text editor. Check the first line:

It must contain a relative path: FILE "Worms.bin" BINARY
If it contains an absolute path (e.g. /home/user/...), remove the path so that only the file name remains.

4. Installing on the Recalbox#

Connect to your Recalbox over the network.
Go to the share/roms/dos/ folder.
Create a directory named Worms.pc.
Copy the Worms.bin and Worms.cue files into it.

5. Configuration and Launch#

Create a dosbox.bat file inside the Worms.pc folder.

Phase A: First installation (Setup)#

On the first launch, you need to install the game onto the virtual hard drive to configure the sound. Use this temporary content for dosbox.bat:

@echo off
keyb fr
imgmount D "Worms.cue" -t iso
D:
SETUP.EXE

Launch the game, run the installation (Sound Blaster 16), then quit.

Phase B: Final game script#

Once installed, edit the dosbox.bat file with the final script:

@echo off
keyb fr
imgmount D "Worms.cue" -t iso
C:
cd WORMS
WORMS.EXE

Tips#

Mouse via gamepad - Not tested yet: On Recalbox (DosBox Pure), you can enable the virtual mouse by pressing L3 (left stick click) or via the configuration menu (L3+R3 > Controller Mapping).
Saves: The WORMS folder created during the installation holds your teams and progress. It is stored directly in your Worms.pc folder.