diff --git a/ISSUES.md b/ISSUES.md
index 3179caa3..5626ded3 100644
--- a/ISSUES.md
+++ b/ISSUES.md
@@ -557,8 +557,8 @@ fringe on them.
 Tooling: `tools/crop_launcher_assets.ps1` (crop + knockout),
 `tools/gen_launcher_assets.ps1` (procedural check/verdict icons),
 `tools/shot_launcher.ps1` (screenshot the GL launcher window). Mockup
-source: `C:\Users\Matthew\Desktop\ef772e04-a7db-4ecd-98bb-eb75a01de0a6.png`
-(1448×1086). Pure-cosmetic; does not block Phase 4/5 wiring.
+source: a local mockup PNG (1448×1086). Pure-cosmetic; does not block
+Phase 4/5 wiring.
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ae73204c..3752f00d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ Known follow-up work:
 For the current game milestone, build and run the sibling TombaRecomp project:
 
 ```sh
-cd F:/Projects/TombaRecomp
+cd ../TombaRecomp
 cmake --build build -j16
 ./build/psx-runtime.exe --game game.toml
 ```
diff --git a/WIDESCREEN.md b/WIDESCREEN.md
index f87b9b91..c8eca015 100644
--- a/WIDESCREEN.md
+++ b/WIDESCREEN.md
@@ -219,12 +219,12 @@ Runtime-only changes (everything except `sprite_tag_funcs` / cull-widen) just
 need a rebuild:
 ```
 PATH=/c/msys64/mingw64/bin:$PATH
-cmake --build F:/Projects/psxrecomp/TombaRecomp/build-stable --target psx-runtime -j16
+cmake --build ../TombaRecomp/build-stable --target psx-runtime -j16
 ```
 Changes that emit into generated C (`sprite_tag_funcs`, future cull-widen) need
 a regen first (see `memory/regen_build_recipe.md`):
 ```
-F:/Projects/psxrecomp/psxrecomp/recompiler/build/psxrecomp-game.exe --config game.toml
+recompiler/build/psxrecomp-game.exe --config game.toml
 ```
 `build-stable` is RelWithDebInfo + debug tools (TCP port 4470) + launcher ON.
 Always `taskkill /F /IM psx-runtime.exe` before relaunching.
diff --git a/accuracy/axis5_mdec.md b/accuracy/axis5_mdec.md
index de637551..e7ad4b21 100644
--- a/accuracy/axis5_mdec.md
+++ b/accuracy/axis5_mdec.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Axis 5 — MDEC (Motion Decoder / FMV) accuracy cross-reference
 
 Scope: `runtime/src/mdec.c` (our impl) vs the in-tree Beetle/Mednafen oracle
-`F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp\beetle-psx\mednafen\psx\mdec.cpp`, plus nocash
+`beetle-psx/mednafen/psx/mdec.cpp`, plus nocash
 psx-spx "Macroblock Decoder (MDEC)". READ-ONLY analysis; no source/build touched.
 
 References below cite `mdec.c:NN` for ours and `mdec.cpp:NN` for Beetle.
diff --git a/accuracy/axis5_sio_controller.md b/accuracy/axis5_sio_controller.md
index 5372cca4..2263f5f6 100644
--- a/accuracy/axis5_sio_controller.md
+++ b/accuracy/axis5_sio_controller.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 Cross-reference of `runtime/src/sio.c` (+ `main.cpp` pad driver, `memcard.c`)
 against the in-tree Beetle/Mednafen oracle
-(`F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp\beetle-psx\mednafen\psx\`:
+(`beetle-psx/mednafen/psx/`:
 `frontio.cpp`, `input/dualshock.cpp`, `input/gamepad.cpp`, `input/memcard.cpp`)
 and nocash psx-spx "Controllers and Memory Cards".
 
diff --git a/accuracy/axis5_spu.md b/accuracy/axis5_spu.md
index 8cf61db2..9810e140 100644
--- a/accuracy/axis5_spu.md
+++ b/accuracy/axis5_spu.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ oracle and nocash psx-spx.
 
 - **Our impl:** `runtime/src/spu.c` (799 LOC) + `runtime/src/spu_shadow.c` (float
   resample shadow, opt-in, verify-only — irrelevant to hardware accuracy).
-- **Oracle:** `F:/Projects/psxrecomp/psxrecomp/beetle-psx/mednafen/psx/spu.cpp`
+- **Oracle:** `beetle-psx/mednafen/psx/spu.cpp`
   (1664 LOC, `PS_SPU`).
 - **Spec:** nocash psx-spx "Sound Processing Unit (SPU)".
 
diff --git a/docs/RECURSION_BUG.md b/docs/RECURSION_BUG.md
index 455657fa..a084d4fa 100644
--- a/docs/RECURSION_BUG.md
+++ b/docs/RECURSION_BUG.md
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ No stubs, no HLE, never edit generated C; the fix is in the recompiler/runtime.
 ## 6. Build & run (this project)
 
 ```
-cd /f/Projects/psxrecomp/TombaRecomp
+cd ../TombaRecomp
 export PATH=/c/msys64/mingw64/bin:$PATH TMP=/c/msys64/tmp TEMP=/c/msys64/tmp
 # regen tools + BIOS + game (generated/ is gitignored; off master tip):
 cmake --build ../psxrecomp/recompiler/build --target psxrecomp-game psxrecomp-bios -j8
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ idles indefinitely, **USER-CONFIRMED** — and tips the per-frame loop
 SYMPTOM; the time-based divergence is the ROOT. Every soak so far was **us-vs-us**; we
 have never diffed against real hardware over the idle window.
 
-**NEXT = the oracle.** psxref (`F:\Projects\psxref`, Beetle PSX, TCP **4380**, shares
+**NEXT = the oracle.** psxref (`<psxref>`, Beetle PSX, TCP **4380**, shares
 `card1.mcd`; see [[psxref_oracle]] / `memory/psxref_oracle.md`). Run BOTH our recomp
 and psxref idle (**turbo** if possible, to reach ~frame 50k in well under 14 min wall
 clock) and find the **FIRST** state / control-flow divergence around frame ~50k — that
diff --git a/docs/SHADOW_ENHANCEMENTS.md b/docs/SHADOW_ENHANCEMENTS.md
index 2d2c3ae5..7f37272f 100644
--- a/docs/SHADOW_ENHANCEMENTS.md
+++ b/docs/SHADOW_ENHANCEMENTS.md
@@ -2,15 +2,15 @@
 
 Backport of the gbarecomp "verified-enhancement" QoL layer to psxrecomp.
 All work lives on the `feat/shadow-enhancements` branch / `_shadow_psxrecomp`
-worktree (sibling of the core repo `F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp`, branched
+worktree (sibling of the core repo `psxrecomp`, branched
 off `master`). It does not touch the in-flight `feat/gl-renderer`,
 `feat/mmx6-input`, `dev/ape-escape`, or any other branch/worktree.
 
 ## Which PSX core / language / build
 
-- **Core chosen:** `F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp` — the real git repo
+- **Core chosen:** `psxrecomp` — the real git repo
   (`origin git@github.com:mstan/psxrecomp.git`, default branch `master`, current
-  to 2026-06-10). `F:\Projects\psxrecomp-v4` is a stale stub (symlink to
+  to 2026-06-10). `<psxrecomp-v4>` is a stale stub (symlink to
   `psxrecomp/duckstation` + an empty `recompiler/build`), NOT a maintained core.
 - **Language:** runtime is **C99** (`spu.c`, `gpu.c`, …) with a little C++17
   (`main.cpp`, `gte.cpp`). All shadow code is written in **C** to match the
diff --git a/docs/config_schema.md b/docs/config_schema.md
index 0588ee30..22f85529 100644
--- a/docs/config_schema.md
+++ b/docs/config_schema.md
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ Consumed by:
 
 Examples:
 - `bios/SCPH1001.toml` — BIOS-only config (no game; psx-runtime targets this)
-- `F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/game.toml` — game config (tomba-runtime targets this)
+- `../TombaRecomp/game.toml` — game config (tomba-runtime targets this)
 
 ## How configs combine
 
diff --git a/tools/_parse_crash.py b/tools/_parse_crash.py
index e55047d2..32c39964 100644
--- a/tools/_parse_crash.py
+++ b/tools/_parse_crash.py
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 dispatch_ring entries, last 5 unknown_dispatch entries, last 30
 dirty_block_log entries. Highlight the relevant ones for the
 0xBFC09790 caller investigation."""
-import json
-with open(r'F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psx_last_run_report.json') as f:
+import sys, json
+with open(sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'psx_last_run_report.json') as f:
     r = json.load(f)
 
 print(f"reason: {r.get('reason')}")
diff --git a/tools/_psx_header_dump.py b/tools/_psx_header_dump.py
index 9edd822a..552a08f5 100644
--- a/tools/_psx_header_dump.py
+++ b/tools/_psx_header_dump.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import struct, os, sys
-p = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36'
+p = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else '../TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36'
 with open(p, 'rb') as f:
     h = f.read(0x800)
 magic = h[:8]
diff --git a/tools/_tomba_bios_thunks.py b/tools/_tomba_bios_thunks.py
index 3bbc3d46..af82c627 100644
--- a/tools/_tomba_bios_thunks.py
+++ b/tools/_tomba_bios_thunks.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ with a trailing pad/nop, but we accept either stride.
 import struct, sys, os
 
 BIOS_BASE = 0x80010000
-PATH = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else 'F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36_no_header'
+PATH = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else '../TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36_no_header'
 
 # Standard PSX BIOS function names. Source: docs/psx_bios_disasm.txt + nocash.
 A0 = {
@@ -150,12 +150,12 @@ for a0, kind in seen_sc:
     print(f"  syscall a0=0x{a0:X}  {kind:30s}  ({cnt} sites)")
 
 # Persist to seeds dir for later use by the audit
-out_dir = 'F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/seeds'
+out_dir = '../TombaRecomp/seeds'
 os.makedirs(out_dir, exist_ok=True)
 out = os.path.join(out_dir, 'tomba_bios_thunks.txt')
 with open(out, 'w') as f:
     f.write(f"# Tomba PSX BIOS thunk inventory\n")
-    f.write(f"# Source: F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36_no_header\n")
+    f.write(f"# Source: ../TombaRecomp/tomba/SCUS_942.36_no_header\n")
     f.write(f"# Pattern: li t2, 0x{{A0|B0|C0}}; jr t2; li t1, FN  (PSY-Q libapi/libetc style)\n")
     f.write(f"# Total thunks: {len(results)}\n\n")
     for vec in ('A', 'B', 'C'):
diff --git a/tools/cosim.py b/tools/cosim.py
index e742188b..882e92e5 100644
--- a/tools/cosim.py
+++ b/tools/cosim.py
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ import socket, subprocess, os, sys, time, argparse
 # build (e.g. a Tomba regression) without editing this file. Defaults = MMX6.
 #   COSIM_EXE  = path to that game's build-cosim/psx-cosim.exe
 #   COSIM_GAME = path to that game's game.toml
-EXE = os.environ.get("COSIM_EXE", r"F:\Projects\psxrecomp\MegaManX6Recomp\build-cosim\psx-cosim.exe")
+EXE = os.environ.get("COSIM_EXE", r"../MegaManX6Recomp\build-cosim\psx-cosim.exe")
 CWD = os.environ.get("COSIM_CWD", os.path.dirname(EXE))
-GAME = os.environ.get("COSIM_GAME", r"F:\Projects\psxrecomp\MegaManX6Recomp\game.toml")
+GAME = os.environ.get("COSIM_GAME", r"../MegaManX6Recomp\game.toml")
 LOGDIR = os.path.join(CWD, "cosim-logs")
 
 def tail_file(path, max_bytes=8192):
diff --git a/tools/crop_launcher_assets.ps1 b/tools/crop_launcher_assets.ps1
index 9f146b06..5ed50c6c 100644
--- a/tools/crop_launcher_assets.ps1
+++ b/tools/crop_launcher_assets.ps1
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 # interior dark details (disc PlayStation logo, controller buttons, the centre
 # hole) are preserved. Logo: simple global luminance key (thin bright glyphs).
 Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
-$src = "C:\Users\Matthew\Desktop\ef772e04-a7db-4ecd-98bb-eb75a01de0a6.png"
-$out = "F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp\runtime\launcher\assets\img"
+$src = "<desktop>/ef772e04-a7db-4ecd-98bb-eb75a01de0a6.png"
+$out = "runtime\launcher\assets\img"
 $mock = [System.Drawing.Bitmap]::FromFile($src)
 
 function Get-Crop($x,$y,$w,$h) {
diff --git a/tools/duckstation/README.md b/tools/duckstation/README.md
index 23f28abb..697dd041 100644
--- a/tools/duckstation/README.md
+++ b/tools/duckstation/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ PSXRecomp v4 uses a patched build of [stenzek/duckstation](https://github.com/st
 ## First-time setup
 
 ```bash
-cd /f/Projects/psxrecomp-v4
+cd <psxrecomp-v4>
 bash tools/duckstation/setup.sh     # ~5 min: clone submodule + fetch/extract deps + apply patch
 bash tools/duckstation/build.sh     # ~15-30 min: compile duckstation-qt Release x64
 ```
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ The pinned base SHA lives in one place only: `UPSTREAM_BASE` at the top of `tool
 
 - Keeps the upstream source untracked in v4's git history — no 2.1GB of upstream code in our blame.
 - Keeps *our* 1200-line patch reviewable as a single text diff in `tools/duckstation/` — in-tree, versioned, diffable across sessions.
-- Matches the nestopia setup in sibling project `F:\Projects\nesrecomp\runner\nestopia_cmake.cmake` + `runner/nestopia_oracle.patch`. Same mental model: submodule upstream, patch on top, auto-apply at setup time.
+- Matches the nestopia setup in sibling project `<nesrecomp>/runner\nestopia_cmake.cmake` + `runner/nestopia_oracle.patch`. Same mental model: submodule upstream, patch on top, auto-apply at setup time.
 - No private/public GitHub fork to maintain or keep in sync.
 
 ## Protocol parity with native runtime
diff --git a/tools/gen_launcher_assets.ps1 b/tools/gen_launcher_assets.ps1
index 24030c3b..e6b9d83c 100644
--- a/tools/gen_launcher_assets.ps1
+++ b/tools/gen_launcher_assets.ps1
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # logo, verification icons). Swap with real renders later — the <img>/decorator
 # pipeline (stb_image PNG loader) is the same either way.
 Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Drawing
-$out = "F:\Projects\psxrecomp\psxrecomp\runtime\launcher\assets\img"
+$out = "runtime\launcher\assets\img"
 if (-not (Test-Path $out)) { New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force $out | Out-Null }
 
 function New-Canvas($w, $h) {
diff --git a/tools/scan_f2_sites.py b/tools/scan_f2_sites.py
index 103a07ea..397aba22 100644
--- a/tools/scan_f2_sites.py
+++ b/tools/scan_f2_sites.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
 import sys
-rom = open('F:/Projects/psxrecomp/bios/SCPH1001.BIN','rb').read()
+rom = open('../bios/SCPH1001.BIN','rb').read()
 
 matches = []
 for rt in range(32):
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ for addr, rt, op, rs, rt_out, imm, nw, offset in matches:
 # Read dispatch.c:
 print("\n--- Functions containing 0xF2000003 sites ---")
 import re
-dispatch = open('F:/Projects/psxrecomp/generated/SCPH1001_dispatch.c').read()
+dispatch = open('../generated/SCPH1001_dispatch.c').read()
 entries = re.findall(r'\{\s*0x([0-9A-F]+)u,\s*func_([0-9A-F]+)\s*\}', dispatch)
 # Only keep those in code range (phys 0x1FC00000+)
 fn_list = sorted([(int(a,16), name) for a,name in entries])
diff --git a/tools/shot_launcher.ps1 b/tools/shot_launcher.ps1
index 3622a8f4..2834f9bd 100644
--- a/tools/shot_launcher.ps1
+++ b/tools/shot_launcher.ps1
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-param([string]$Out = "F:\Projects\psxrecomp\TombaRecomp\build-clean\launcher_shot.png")
+param([string]$Out = "../TombaRecomp\build-clean\launcher_shot.png")
 $p = Get-Process psx-runtime -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Where-Object { $_.MainWindowHandle -ne 0 } | Select-Object -First 1
 if (-not $p) { Write-Output "no window"; exit 1 }
 Write-Output ("hwnd=" + $p.MainWindowHandle + " title=" + $p.MainWindowTitle)
diff --git a/tools/tomba_loadtest.py b/tools/tomba_loadtest.py
index cd7755ad..2010d41f 100644
--- a/tools/tomba_loadtest.py
+++ b/tools/tomba_loadtest.py
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ Usage: python tomba_loadtest.py <exe> <game.toml> [port]
 """
 import sys, time, subprocess, socket, json
 
-EXE  = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv)>1 else r"F:/Projects/psxrecomp/TombaRecomp/build-codex-ape-fw/psx-runtime.exe"
+EXE  = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv)>1 else r"../TombaRecomp/build-codex-ape-fw/psx-runtime.exe"
 TOML = sys.argv[2] if len(sys.argv)>2 else "game-loadtest.toml"
 PORT = int(sys.argv[3]) if len(sys.argv)>3 else 4470
-BIOS = r"F:/Projects/psxrecomp/psxrecomp/bios/SCPH1001.BIN"
-CWD  = r"F:/Projects/psxrecomp/TombaRecomp"
+BIOS = r"bios/SCPH1001.BIN"
+CWD  = r"../TombaRecomp"
 NONE,RIGHT,CROSS,START = 0xFFFF,0xFFDF,0xBFFF,0xFFF7
 
 def q(cmd, **kw):
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def nonblack():
     return nz/tot if tot else 0
 
 def shot(name):
-    b=f"F:/Projects/psxrecomp/_scratch/{name}.bmp"; q("screenshot_file",path=b)
+    b=f"../_scratch/{name}.bmp"; q("screenshot_file",path=b)
     try:
         from PIL import Image; Image.open(b).save(b.replace(".bmp",".png"))
     except Exception: pass
diff --git a/tools/verify_audit_schema.py b/tools/verify_audit_schema.py
index b64aa18f..1cf8739e 100644
--- a/tools/verify_audit_schema.py
+++ b/tools/verify_audit_schema.py
@@ -64,5 +64,5 @@ def validate(path, expect_remaps):
     return cfg
 
 bios = validate(ROOT / "bios" / "SCPH1001.toml", expect_remaps=2)
-tomba = validate(Path("F:/Projects/TombaRecomp/game.toml"), expect_remaps=0)
+tomba = validate(Path("../TombaRecomp/game.toml"), expect_remaps=0)
 print("\nOK: both configs parse and validate.")