Extract text from Arcade ROM images (U2)
To convert U2 Arcade ROMs to another format, you need MAME or other Game software.
To convert other file formats to the "Arcade ROM Image" file type, you need software like MAME or a similar tool.
A .u2 file is a raw read-only memory (ROM) data file extracted directly from arcade cabinet hardware. These files contain compiled machine code, graphics, or audio data specifically associated with the Capcom CPS-3 arcade system. They are primarily used by arcade emulators like MAME to preserve and play classic arcade titles on modern computers.
Users often struggle with .u2 files because they are not standalone games or standard executables. They are highly specific, proprietary binary dumps. You cannot double-click to open them, and they cannot be played without a compatible emulator. Furthermore, a single .u2 file is usually useless on its own; emulators require a complete set of ROM files (like .U1, .U3, etc.) packed into a single ZIP archive with a very specific filename to boot the game.
Direct conversion of .u2 files to playable formats like EXE or standard media files like MP4 or PNG is impossible. The only practical 'target' format is a compressed ZIP or 7Z archive recognized by the emulator's auditing system.
This file format is exceptionally difficult to open or convert because it contains raw binary data specific to custom 1990s arcade hardware. Often, only the original hardware or a highly accurate emulator can properly read or execute the data. Standard online converters fail to process it. While full conversion is unlikely, we can still identify the file format, inspect the file, and show text or internal hex content to help you verify the ROM's integrity.
Convert.Guru analyzes your U2 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted CHD, SMC and JPG files.
If you want to convert U2 file to , you can use MAME or similar software from the "Arcade Game ROM Data" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to U2, try MAME or another comparable tool in the "Arcade Game ROM Data" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our U2 converter.