How can I safely set up GBA emulation on Windows with physical carts?

[AmeliaYC]

I recently dug out my old collection of Game Boy Advance cartridges and I want to play them on my modern laptop, but I'm completely new to retro game emulation. I've downloaded a couple of different emulators, but I'm confused about BIOS files and ROM legality. I own the physical games, but I'm not sure if dumping my own ROMs is worth the hassle compared to finding them online. I'm also worried about malware from shady sites. Can anyone recommend a safe, straightforward setup for GBA emulation on Windows? I'm not looking for fancy upscaling, just a reliable way to play my old favorites like Advance Wars and Metroid Fusion.

[RichardJ]

Best starting point for a safe, reliable GBA setup on Windows is a modern emulator like mGBA or VBA-M. Use ROMs you own by dumping your own cartridges; avoid downloading ROMs unless you legally own and dumped them yourself. Don’t rely on BIOS files from shady sites—dump your own BIOS if you own a GBA. Keep it simple: map controls, save states, and disable online features.

[TimothyYP]

If you're new to dumping, start with one or two games you own and test before expanding.

[Robert.W]

Consider using RetroArch as a frontend to manage mGBA and VBA-M in one place; keeps your settings portable.

[James.T]

Legality varies; in many regions owning the physical cartridge allows personal use dumping, but avoid downloading ROMs.

[Mia.P]

To minimize malware risk, download emulators from the official site, verify mirrors/signatures where available, and scan ROMs you own before use.