diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
index 40d40b773d..e5a7643086 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
@@ -407,11 +407,11 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			target.SMS_ShowBG = Global.Config.SMSDispBG;
 			target.SMS_ShowOBJ = Global.Config.SMSDispOBJ;
 
-			target.PSX_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, ""); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathPSXFirmwares, "PSX");
+			target.PSX_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathPSXFirmwares, "PSX");
 
-			target.C64_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, ""); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathC64Firmwares, "C64");
+			target.C64_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathC64Firmwares, "C64");
 
-			target.SNES_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, ""); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathSNESFirmwares, "SNES");
+			target.SNES_FirmwaresPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath); // PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathSNESFirmwares, "SNES");
 			target.SNES_ShowBG1_0 = Global.Config.SNES_ShowBG1_0;
 			target.SNES_ShowBG1_1 = Global.Config.SNES_ShowBG1_1;
 			target.SNES_ShowBG2_0 = Global.Config.SNES_ShowBG2_0;
@@ -4119,12 +4119,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 					if (!(Global.Emulator is NullEmulator))
 					{
 						sfd.FileName = PathManager.FilesystemSafeName(Global.Game);
-						sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.AVIPath, "");
+						sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.AVIPath);
 					}
 					else
 					{
 						sfd.FileName = "NULL";
-						sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.AVIPath, "");
+						sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.AVIPath);
 					}
 					sfd.Filter = String.Format("{0} (*.{0})|*.{0}|All Files|*.*", aw.DesiredExtension());
 
@@ -4356,7 +4356,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		void ProcessMovieImport(string fn)
 		{
 			var file = new FileInfo(fn);
-			string d = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "");
+			string d = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath);
 			string errorMsg = "";
 			string warningMsg = "";
 			Movie m = MovieImport.ImportFile(fn, out errorMsg, out warningMsg);
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/PlayMovie.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/PlayMovie.cs
index 93b1bc42d4..c665252c71 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/PlayMovie.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/PlayMovie.cs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void BrowseMovies_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath);
 			string filter = "Movie Files (*." + Global.Config.MovieExtension + ")|*." + Global.Config.MovieExtension + "|Savestates|*.state|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.Filter = filter;
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		{
 			ClearList();
 
-			string d = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "");
+			string d = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath);
 			if (!Directory.Exists(d))
 				Directory.CreateDirectory(d);
 			string extension = "*." + Global.Config.MovieExtension;
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/RecordMovie.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/RecordMovie.cs
index e0059ab6c0..39c7a3d631 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/RecordMovie.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/RecordMovie.cs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			{
 				if (path[0] != '\\')
 					path = path.Insert(0, "\\");
-				path = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "") + path;
+				path = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath) + path;
 
 				if (path[path.Length - 4] != '.') //If no file extension, add movie extension
 					path += "." + Global.Config.MovieExtension;
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		{
 			string filename = "";
 			SaveFileDialog sfd = new SaveFileDialog();
-			sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "");
+			sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath);
 			sfd.DefaultExt = "." + Global.Config.MovieExtension;
 			sfd.FileName = RecordBox.Text;
 			sfd.OverwritePrompt = false;
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathConfig.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathConfig.cs
index 64b355e41e..798698d3a7 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathConfig.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathConfig.cs
@@ -470,7 +470,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		{
 			FolderBrowserDialog f = new FolderBrowserDialog();
 			f.Description = "Set the directory for " + Name;
-			f.SelectedPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(box.Text, "");
+			f.SelectedPath = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(box.Text);
 			DialogResult result = f.ShowDialog();
 			if (result == DialogResult.OK)
 				box.Text = f.SelectedPath;
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin,*.pce)|*.rom;*.bin;*.pce|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void NESBrowseFDSBIOS_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void button3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1122,7 +1122,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void button4_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1141,7 +1141,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void Atari7800BrowseNTSCBIOS_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1155,7 +1155,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void Atari7800BrowsePALBIOS_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
@@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private void Atari7800BrowseHSCBIOS_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
 			OpenFileDialog ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Binary Files (*.rom,*.bin)|*.rom;*.bin|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = false;
 			DialogResult result = ofd.ShowDialog();
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathManager.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathManager.cs
index ec582585c8..b640e86786 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathManager.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/config/PathManager.cs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		/// <summary>
 		/// Makes a path relative to the %exe% dir
 		/// </summary>
-		public static string MakeProgramRelativePath(string path) { return MakeAbsolutePath("%exe%/" + path, ""); }
+		public static string MakeProgramRelativePath(string path) { return MakeAbsolutePath("%exe%/" + path); }
 
 		/// <summary>
 		/// The location of the default INI file
@@ -110,10 +110,10 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 		public static string StandardFirmwareName(string name)
 		{
-			return Path.Combine(MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath, ""), name);
+			return Path.Combine(MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.FirmwaresPath), name);
 		}
 
-		public static string MakeAbsolutePath(string path, string system)
+		public static string MakeAbsolutePath(string path, string system = null)
 		{
 			//This function translates relative path and special identifiers in absolute paths
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 			if (path[0] == '.')
 			{
-				if (system.Length > 0)
+				if (!String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(system))
 				{
 
 					path = path.Remove(0, 1);
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 		public static string GetLuaPath()
 		{
-			return MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LuaPath, "");
+			return MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LuaPath);
 		}
 
 		public static string GetRomsPath(string sysID)
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 					path = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.PathCOLROMs, "Coleco");
 					break;
 				default:
-					path = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.BaseROMPath, "");
+					path = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.BaseROMPath);
 					break;
 			}
 
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamSearch.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamSearch.cs
index 770daf5712..c94629de5d 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamSearch.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamSearch.cs
@@ -1886,7 +1886,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			var ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
 			if (currentFile.Length > 0)
 				ofd.FileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(currentFile);
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Watch Files (*.wch)|*.wch|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = true;
 			if (currentFile.Length > 0)
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamWatch.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamWatch.cs
index 38deeeefa8..a354e77f0d 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamWatch.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/RamWatch.cs
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			var ofd = new OpenFileDialog();
 			if (currentFile.Length > 0)
 				ofd.FileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(currentFile);
-			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath, "");
+			ofd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath);
 			ofd.Filter = "Watch Files (*.wch)|*.wch|All Files|*.*";
 			ofd.RestoreDirectory = true;
 
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TAStudio.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TAStudio.cs
index b7a1c4921e..d65c4c5e29 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TAStudio.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TAStudio.cs
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 		private static string SaveRecordingAs()
 		{
 			SaveFileDialog sfd = new SaveFileDialog();
-			sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath, "");
+			sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.MoviesPath);
 			sfd.DefaultExt = "." + Global.Config.MovieExtension;
 			sfd.FileName = Global.MovieSession.Movie.Filename;
 			string filter = "Movie Files (*." + Global.Config.MovieExtension + ")|*." + Global.Config.MovieExtension + "|Savestates|*.state|All Files|*.*";
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TraceLogger.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TraceLogger.cs
index 2f482b2014..04becba9ff 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TraceLogger.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/TraceLogger.cs
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 				FileBox.Visible = true;
 				BrowseBox.Visible = true;
 				string name = PathManager.FilesystemSafeName(Global.Game);
-				string filename = Path.Combine(PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath, ""), name) + ".txt";
+				string filename = Path.Combine(PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath), name) + ".txt";
 				LogFile = new FileInfo(filename);
 				if (!LogFile.Directory.Exists)
 				{
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			{
 				string name = PathManager.FilesystemSafeName(Global.Game);
 				sfd.FileName = name + ".txt";
-				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath, "");
+				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath);
 			}
 			else if (!String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(LogFile.FullName))
 			{
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			else
 			{
 				sfd.FileName = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(LogFile.FullName);
-				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath, "");
+				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.LogPath);
 			}
 
 			sfd.Filter = "Text Files (*.txt)|*.txt|Log Files (*.log)|*.log|All Files|*.*";
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/WatchCommon.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/WatchCommon.cs
index 8d28a15d7d..c050e16896 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/WatchCommon.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/tools/WatchCommon.cs
@@ -196,12 +196,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 			else if (!(Global.Emulator is NullEmulator))
 			{
 				sfd.FileName = PathManager.FilesystemSafeName(Global.Game);
-				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath, "");
+				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath);
 			}
 			else
 			{
 				sfd.FileName = "NULL";
-				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath, "");
+				sfd.InitialDirectory = PathManager.MakeAbsolutePath(Global.Config.WatchPath);
 			}
 			sfd.Filter = "Watch Files (*.wch)|*.wch|All Files|*.*";
 			sfd.RestoreDirectory = true;