If you update your MAME executable to 0.186 or newer but continue to use an older ROM set that does not include dl-1425.bin , MAME will report the file as missing.

dl-1425.bin is specifically a —it contains executable code for the main CPU. Without it, the game cannot boot. The CPU would have no instructions to read, resulting in a black screen or garbage data.

: Ensure the zip file is placed directly in your roms directory and not nested inside another folder. Compatibility and Versions Reddit·r/MAME

Ensure you have a recent version of the QSound device ROM (often named qsound_hle.zip or qsound.zip ) in your MAME roms folder.

MAME is an open-source emulator, but the code inside the BIOS chips is copyrighted intellectual property . Although Dragon's Lair is decades old, the rights to the game (and the firmware inside the player) are actively owned by companies (formerly Leland Corp, now protected by various rights holders like Digital Leisure).

The ZIP file containing dl-1425.bin must be placed directly into your default mame/roms/ folder alongside your standard game ZIP files. Legal and Safety Considerations