Using custom operating system ROMs

Each of the original ZX Spectrum models had its own version of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum operating system permanently stored within it on a Read Only Memory (ROM) chip. The Spectrum is similar and has its own highly compatible version of the operating system which is sufficient for most uses, but does lack a few specialist features found in particular on later models of the ZX Spectrum.

Should you find a program that is not compatible with The Spectrum ROM or you require the use of these additional features and you own the original ZX Spectrum ROM chips, you can put the appropriate ROM image files on a USB stick for The Spectrum to use instead of its own operating system.

The ROM image files must be stored in the folder /THESPECTRUM/roms/ on your USB stick. The following table gives the filenames The Spectrum expects the operating system ROM image files to use for each of the ZX Spectrum models: