MAME–The Torrent of Many Files
Lore Context
MAME is a wonderful emulator that emulates anything from old no longer produced computers and software to old time arcade games that could only be played in special businesses back when I was young called simply enough, Arcades. Over the years, it has become an opensource project which maintains a record of long lost software and acts as an emulator that will operate on modern computer hardware. To install and operate MAME, you require a working knowledge of the emulator directory structure, user interface options that must be installed separately, and knowledge of how the emulator itself works. To download MAME and install it or maintain it, you need access to an archive of the project, and if you have a working install you can download merely smaller updates of the software. If you need the complete install, the download is quite large, and it requires a great deal of storage space on your computer system. You also require permission from the original software development company if they are still around to prevent violation of international copyright laws.
When vast archives are summoned — whether games, emulators, or digital libraries — the steward must prepare the vessel (the drive) to receive them. Space must be opened, boundaries respected, and patience applied. The full archive of MAME can be found at:
- Filesystem: NTFS supports multi-terabyte single files, so the steward need not fear file size limits when downloading torrents such as MAME which has a CHD Software List that rings in at 2.7 Terabytes.
- Pre-allocation: Even when this option is checked under Options, qBittorrent may allocate space gradually, especially when dozens of smaller files are packed into one torrent.
- Sparse Behavior: NTFS may mark unused blocks as empty until data arrives. This is normal; the file size grows steadily rather than appearing all at once.
- Safety Margin: Always ensure more free space is present than the torrent requires. Relocate files to another drive to free up space in the volume or use the qBittorrent command "Move Download Location" to move the torrent to a larger volume with sufficient space. For our case, we initially had 1.05 TB of free hard drive space remaining on the volume with 881 GB of the torrent having been downloaded but moved a large collection of files leaving 3.35 TB but required only 2.7 TB. During the process of moving the files we Paused or Stopped the torrent from progressing.
- Progress check: Watch the "Size vs. Size on disk" in file properties to confirm sparse allocation.
- Balance: Keep the drive clear of other large writes during the download to avoid fragmentation or space exhaustion. Be certain your system is set up to automatically defragment drives on a regular basis in the background.
Steward's Reflection
The torrent is not one monolithic burden, but many smaller files woven together. The steward’s role is not to force perfection, but to maintain balance — clearing space, monitoring growth, and trusting the process. What appears confusing at first (pre‑allocation not filling instantly) is simply the filesystem working in harmony with the torrent client.
Codex: Seal of Wisdom
Balance is the key: prepare the vessel, trust the ritual, and let the archive arrive in its time.