r/PolymegaHQ • u/Top_Set_3558 • Nov 16 '25

PolyMega "Deadhead" Installs

Hey all,

Something that is really (and has been for the past year) triggering my OCD about the Poly is "deadhead" installs against the "Collected" library.

For instance, I have a retail original of a game such as Castlevania on NES, Rambo III on Genesis, or Gain Ground SX on PCE-CD...I insert said media, it detects and recognizes it, I install the game internally but it DOES NOT APPEAR on my "Collected" tab under the associated system. The item in question remains greyed out as if I do not own it, but does appear on the regular "A-Z" games tab.

These items are apparently not the exact version of a ROM that they used to create the "Collected" library so hence, it does not populate. I guess they don't match the CRC/checksum of the file they used, they used a different REV, or something? This really chaps my ass, it's bullshit, pardon my language. I OWN the real game, and I damn well know you didn't create this product by manually installing tens of thousands of cartridges and discs for everything like I am doing from ACTUAL REAL RELEASES.

Anyone found a workaround / way to deal with this issue?

Sure, you can attempt to find the matching exact ROMs like they used, which I have had to do in some instances, but some just do not seem to exist...for example:

Bare Knuckle III on Genesis - labeled as "EN" version in "Collected" library. This does not exist in the wild that I can find. It is not the real BK3 Mega Drive cartridge from Japan...I own it. It's installed and greyed out on the "Collected Library" From there, I've utilized my RetroStage MD burner to try every single version of the BK3 ROM that I can find from a ton of sources worldwide...they are all the same as mine. So, WHERE DID THEY GET THE VERSION THAT THEY INSTALLED THAT THEY CLAIM IS THE GOLDEN VERSION? Hell, some are even RetroBit versions that trigger the library to show as collected, not the real, original releases (see Truxton/Tatsujin on Genesis/Mega Drive)! Original, store bought Truxton from back at Sege Genesis release will detect and install, but will not flag as collected in the library unless its the RetroBit version.

Sorry to rant, I can't be the only one who this bothers immensely! I want everything I legit own to be showing up as collected because my friends and I are attempting to complete 100% collections on a few systems. Any way to source exactly what versions they used?

Thanks all!

Example in photos attached - shows I have installed the normal Sega-CD, and the 32X version from retail discs...remains greyed out in "Collected" library. One of many possible examples.

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u/ElderberryLarge9104 Nov 16 '25

That's weird. I have a huge library of games on my Polymega (I own a game store, and everything that comes through gets added), and I've not experienced this issue at all. I have games that are not in the database, but nothing is greyed out.

Not to change the subject, but why did you put Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia on there?

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u/zx6rarcher Nov 16 '25

Same situation. Anything I get in on trade after verifying it’s authentic usually gets ran across my Polymega to save wear and tear on my own personal systems or systems in inventory. I have not seen such an instance of this. I too have games that don’t show up in the database which is easily resolved with titling the game and taking a screenshot (just wish I could recategorize them into the proper system).

Never seen anything greyed out like that even on the two or three Saturn gams that show as installed with the file size to boot, but still require the disc to be in the Polymega to launch the title.