diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/SafeArray.inl b/common/include/Utilities/SafeArray.inl
index a381c47422..94fb14c87e 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/SafeArray.inl
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/SafeArray.inl
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ void SafeArray<T>::Dispose()
 template< typename T >
 T* SafeArray<T>::_getPtr( uint i ) const
 {
-	IndexBoundsAssumeDev( Name.c_str(), i, m_size );
+	IndexBoundsAssumeDev( WX_STR(Name), i, m_size );
 	return &m_ptr[i];
 }
 
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ SafeList<T>::SafeList( int initialSize, const wxChar* name )
 template< typename T >
 T* SafeList<T>::_getPtr( uint i ) const
 {
-	IndexBoundsAssumeDev( Name.c_str(), i, m_length );
+	IndexBoundsAssumeDev( WX_STR(Name), i, m_length );
 	return &m_ptr[i];
 }
 
diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/StringHelpers.h b/common/include/Utilities/StringHelpers.h
index 54e26b0f5e..b48bafb018 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/StringHelpers.h
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/StringHelpers.h
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@
 
 #include <wx/tokenzr.h>
 
+// Stupid wx3.0 doesn't support c_str for vararg function
+#if wxMAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+	#define WX_STR(str) (static_cast<const char*>(str.c_str()))
+#else
+	#define WX_STR(str) (str.c_str())
+#endif
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 //  pxToUTF8
@@ -155,7 +161,7 @@ public:
 
 	FastFormatAscii& operator+=(const wxString& s)
 	{
-		Write( "%ls", s.c_str() );
+		Write( "%s", WX_STR(s) );
 		return *this;
 	}
 
@@ -207,7 +213,7 @@ public:
 
 	FastFormatUnicode& operator+=(const wxString& s)
 	{
-		Write( L"%s", s.c_str() );
+		Write( L"%s", WX_STR(s) );
 		return *this;
 	}
 
diff --git a/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h b/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
index eb6ea2625f..16411e29f4 100644
--- a/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
+++ b/common/include/Utilities/Threading.h
@@ -42,13 +42,13 @@ public:
 	ConsoleLogSource_Threading();
 
 	bool Write( const wxString& thrname, const wxChar* msg ) {
-		return _parent::Write( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", thrname.c_str()) + msg );
+		return _parent::Write( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", WX_STR(thrname)) + msg );
 	}
 	bool Warn( const wxString& thrname, const wxChar* msg )	{
-		return _parent::Warn( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", thrname.c_str()) + msg );
+		return _parent::Warn( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", WX_STR(thrname)) + msg );
 	}
 	bool Error( const wxString& thrname, const wxChar* msg ) {
-		return _parent::Error( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", thrname.c_str()) + msg );
+		return _parent::Error( wxsFormat(L"(thread:%s) ", WX_STR(thrname)) + msg );
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/Exceptions.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/Exceptions.cpp
index 55e6c5c1b0..eb6d99dd97 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/Exceptions.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/Exceptions.cpp
@@ -26,11 +26,6 @@
 // for lack of a better place...
 Fnptr_OutOfMemory pxDoOutOfMemory = NULL;
 
-static wxString GetTranslation( const wxChar* msg )
-{
-	return msg ? wxGetTranslation( msg ) : wxEmptyString;
-}
-
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Force DevAssert to *not* inline for devel builds (allows using breakpoints to trap assertions,
 // and force it to inline for release builds (optimizes it out completely since IsDevBuild is a
@@ -57,15 +52,15 @@ wxString DiagnosticOrigin::ToString( const wxChar* msg ) const
 	message.Write( L"%s(%d) : assertion failed:\n", srcfile, line );
 
 	if( function != NULL )
-		message.Write( "    Function:  %s\n", function );
+		message.Write( "    Function:  %S\n", function );
 
-		message.Write(L"    Thread:    %s\n", Threading::pxGetCurrentThreadName().c_str() );
+		message.Write(L"    Thread:    %s\n", WX_STR(Threading::pxGetCurrentThreadName()) );
 
 	if( condition != NULL )
-		message.Write(L"    Condition: %s\n", condition);
+		message.Write(L"    Condition: %S\n", condition);
 
 	if( msg != NULL )
-		message.Write(L"    Message:   %s\n", msg);
+		message.Write(L"    Message:   %S\n", msg);
 
 	return message;
 }
@@ -137,7 +132,7 @@ __fi void pxOnAssert( const DiagnosticOrigin& origin, const char* msg)
 #if wxMAJOR_VERSION >= 3
 __fi void pxOnAssert( const DiagnosticOrigin& origin, const wxString& msg)
 {
-	pxOnAssert( origin, msg.wx_str() ); // wc_str ???
+	pxOnAssert( origin, WX_STR(msg) ); // wc_str ???
 }
 
 __fi void pxOnAssert( const DiagnosticOrigin& origin, const FastFormatUnicode& msg)
@@ -154,7 +149,11 @@ BaseException::~BaseException() throw() {}
 
 BaseException& BaseException::SetBothMsgs( const wxChar* msg_diag )
 {
-	m_message_user = GetTranslation( msg_diag );
+#if wxMAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+	m_message_user = msg_diag ? wxString(wxGetTranslation( msg_diag )) : wxString("");
+#else
+	m_message_user = msg_diag ? wxGetTranslation( msg_diag ) : wxEmptyString;
+#endif
 	return SetDiagMsg( msg_diag );
 }
 
@@ -188,8 +187,8 @@ Exception::RuntimeError::RuntimeError( const std::runtime_error& ex, const wxStr
 	IsSilent = false;
 
 	SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt( L"STL Runtime Error%s: %s",
-		(prefix.IsEmpty() ? prefix.c_str() : pxsFmt(L" (%s)", prefix.c_str()).c_str()),
-		fromUTF8( ex.what() ).c_str()
+		(prefix.IsEmpty() ? L"" : pxsFmt(L" (%s)", WX_STR(prefix)).c_str()),
+		WX_STR(fromUTF8( ex.what() ))
 	) );
 }
 
@@ -198,8 +197,8 @@ Exception::RuntimeError::RuntimeError( const std::exception& ex, const wxString&
 	IsSilent = false;
 
 	SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt( L"STL Exception%s: %s",
-		(prefix.IsEmpty() ? prefix.c_str() : pxsFmt(L" (%s)", prefix.c_str()).c_str()),
-		fromUTF8( ex.what() ).c_str()
+		(prefix.IsEmpty() ? L"" : pxsFmt(L" (%s)", WX_STR(prefix)).c_str()),
+		WX_STR(fromUTF8( ex.what() ))
 	) );
 }
 
@@ -216,10 +215,10 @@ wxString Exception::OutOfMemory::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
 	FastFormatUnicode retmsg;
 	retmsg.Write(L"Out of memory");
 	if (!AllocDescription.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L" while allocating '%s'", AllocDescription.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L" while allocating '%s'", WX_STR(AllocDescription));
 
 	if (!m_message_diag.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L":\n%s", m_message_diag.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L":\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_diag));
 	
 	return retmsg;
 }
@@ -230,7 +229,7 @@ wxString Exception::OutOfMemory::FormatDisplayMessage() const
 	retmsg.Write( L"%s", _("Oh noes! Out of memory!") );
 
 	if (!m_message_user.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L"\n\n%s", m_message_user.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L"\n\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_user));
 
 	return retmsg;
 }
@@ -250,10 +249,10 @@ wxString Exception::VirtualMemoryMapConflict::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
 	FastFormatUnicode retmsg;
 	retmsg.Write(L"Virtual memory map failed");
 	if (!AllocDescription.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L" while reserving '%s'", AllocDescription.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L" while reserving '%s'", WX_STR(AllocDescription));
 
 	if (!m_message_diag.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L":\n%s", m_message_diag.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L":\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_diag));
 		
 	return retmsg;
 }
@@ -267,7 +266,7 @@ wxString Exception::VirtualMemoryMapConflict::FormatDisplayMessage() const
 	);
 
 	if (!m_message_diag.IsEmpty())
-		retmsg.Write(L"\n\n%s", m_message_diag.c_str());
+		retmsg.Write(L"\n\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_diag));
 
 	return retmsg;
 }
@@ -305,24 +304,24 @@ void Exception::BadStream::_formatDiagMsg( FastFormatUnicode& dest ) const
 {
 	dest.Write( L"Path: " );
 	if (!StreamName.IsEmpty())
-		dest.Write( L"%s", StreamName.c_str() );
+		dest.Write( L"%s", WX_STR(StreamName) );
 	else
 		dest.Write( L"[Unnamed or unknown]" );
 
 	if (!m_message_diag.IsEmpty())
-		dest.Write(L"\n%s", m_message_diag.c_str());
+		dest.Write(L"\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_diag));
 }
 
 void Exception::BadStream::_formatUserMsg( FastFormatUnicode& dest ) const
 {
 	dest.Write( _("Path: ") );
 	if (!StreamName.IsEmpty())
-		dest.Write( L"%s", StreamName.c_str() );
+		dest.Write( L"%s", WX_STR(StreamName) );
 	else
 		dest.Write( _("[Unnamed or unknown]") );
 
 	if (!m_message_user.IsEmpty())
-		dest.Write(L"\n%s", m_message_user.c_str());
+		dest.Write(L"\n%s", WX_STR(m_message_user));
 }
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/FastFormatString.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/FastFormatString.cpp
index 58d775b196..95cccfc7ba 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/FastFormatString.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/FastFormatString.cpp
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ FastFormatUnicode& FastFormatUnicode::ToLower()
 
 FastFormatUnicode& FastFormatUnicode::operator+=(const char* psz )
 {
-	Write( L"%s", fromUTF8(psz).c_str() );
+	Write( L"%s", WX_STR(fromUTF8(psz)) );
 	return *this;
 }
 
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/IniInterface.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/IniInterface.cpp
index 3d5607582e..b91dc0b6b2 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/IniInterface.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/IniInterface.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void IniLoader::_EnumEntry( const wxString& var, int& value, const wxChar* const
 	if( enumArray[i] == NULL )
 	{
 		Console.Warning( L"(LoadSettings) Warning: Unrecognized value '%s' on key '%s'\n\tUsing the default setting of '%s'.",
-			retval.c_str(), var.c_str(), enumArray[defvalue]
+			WX_STR(retval), WX_STR(var), enumArray[defvalue]
 		);
 		value = defvalue;
 	}
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ void IniSaver::_EnumEntry( const wxString& var, int& value, const wxChar* const*
 
 	if( value >= cnt )
 	{
-		Console.Warning(  L"(SaveSettings) An illegal enumerated index was detected when saving '%s'", var.c_str() );
+		Console.Warning(  L"(SaveSettings) An illegal enumerated index was detected when saving '%s'", WX_STR(var) );
 		Console.Indent().Warning(
 			L"Illegal Value: %d\n"
 			L"Using Default: %d (%s)\n",
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxHostSys.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxHostSys.cpp
index 7f49e326a8..abaf29f645 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxHostSys.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/Linux/LnxHostSys.cpp
@@ -118,13 +118,13 @@ static bool _memprotect( void* baseaddr, size_t size, const PageProtectionMode&
 	{
 		case EINVAL:
 			pxFailDev(pxsFmt(L"mprotect returned EINVAL @ 0x%08X -> 0x%08X  (mode=%s)",
-				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, mode.ToString().c_str())
+				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, WX_STR(mode.ToString()))
 			);
 		break;
 
 		case EACCES:
 			pxFailDev(pxsFmt(L"mprotect returned EACCES @ 0x%08X -> 0x%08X  (mode=%s)",
-				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, mode.ToString().c_str())
+				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, WX_STR(mode.ToString()))
 			);
 		break;
 
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ void HostSys::MemProtect( void* baseaddr, size_t size, const PageProtectionMode&
 	{
 		throw Exception::OutOfMemory( L"MemProtect" )
 			.SetDiagMsg(pxsFmt( L"mprotect failed @ 0x%08X -> 0x%08X  (mode=%s)",
-				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, mode.ToString().c_str()
+				baseaddr, (uptr)baseaddr+size, WX_STR(mode.ToString())
 			)
 		);
 	}
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
index 01ea10f1b1..e74585d522 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/ThreadTools.cpp
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ bool Threading::pxThread::AffinityAssert_AllowFromSelf( const DiagnosticOrigin&
 	if( IsSelf() ) return true;
 
 	if( IsDevBuild )
-		pxOnAssert( origin, pxsFmt( L"Thread affinity violation: Call allowed from '%s' thread only.", GetName().c_str() ) );
+		pxOnAssert( origin, pxsFmt( L"Thread affinity violation: Call allowed from '%s' thread only.", WX_STR(GetName()) ) );
 
 	return false;
 }
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ bool Threading::pxThread::AffinityAssert_DisallowFromSelf( const DiagnosticOrigi
 	if( !IsSelf() ) return true;
 
 	if( IsDevBuild )
-		pxOnAssert( origin, pxsFmt( L"Thread affinity violation: Call is *not* allowed from '%s' thread.", GetName().c_str() ) );
+		pxOnAssert( origin, pxsFmt( L"Thread affinity violation: Call is *not* allowed from '%s' thread.", WX_STR(GetName()) ) );
 
 	return false;
 }
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ void Threading::pxThread::_selfRunningTest( const wxChar* name ) const
 	{
 		throw Exception::CancelEvent( pxsFmt(
 			L"Blocking thread %s was terminated while another thread was waiting on a %s.",
-			GetName().c_str(), name )
+			WX_STR(GetName()), name )
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -550,14 +550,14 @@ void Threading::pxThread::_try_virtual_invoke( void (pxThread::*method)() )
 	//
 	catch( std::runtime_error& ex )
 	{
-		m_except = new Exception::RuntimeError( ex, GetName().c_str() );
+		m_except = new Exception::RuntimeError( ex, WX_STR(GetName()) );
 	}
 
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 	catch( Exception::RuntimeError& ex )
 	{
 		BaseException* woot = ex.Clone();
-		woot->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt( L"(thread:%s)", GetName().c_str() );
+		woot->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt( L"(thread:%s)", WX_STR(GetName()) );
 		m_except = woot;
 	}
 #ifndef PCSX2_DEVBUILD
@@ -568,13 +568,13 @@ void Threading::pxThread::_try_virtual_invoke( void (pxThread::*method)() )
 	/*catch( std::logic_error& ex )
 	{
 		throw BaseException( pxsFmt( L"STL Logic Error (thread:%s): %s",
-			GetName().c_str(), fromUTF8( ex.what() ).c_str() )
+			WX_STR(GetName()), WX_STR(fromUTF8( ex.what() )) )
 		);
 	}
 	catch( std::exception& ex )
 	{
 		throw BaseException( pxsFmt( L"STL exception (thread:%s): %s",
-			GetName().c_str(), fromUTF8( ex.what() ).c_str() )
+			WX_STR(GetName()), WX_STR(fromUTF8( ex.what() )) )
 		);
 	}*/
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ void Threading::pxThread::_try_virtual_invoke( void (pxThread::*method)() )
 	catch( BaseException& ex )
 	{
 		BaseException* woot = ex.Clone();
-		woot->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt( L"(thread:%s)", GetName().c_str() );
+		woot->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt( L"(thread:%s)", WX_STR(GetName()) );
 		m_except = woot;
 	}
 #endif
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ void* Threading::pxThread::_internal_callback( void* itsme )
 
 void Threading::pxThread::_DoSetThreadName( const wxString& name )
 {
-	_DoSetThreadName( name.ToUTF8() );
+	_DoSetThreadName( static_cast<const char*>(name.ToUTF8()) );
 }
 
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -859,12 +859,14 @@ __fi void* Threading::_AtomicCompareExchangePointer(volatile uptr& target, uptr
 
 wxString Exception::BaseThreadError::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
 {
-    return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, (m_thread==NULL) ? L"Null Thread Object" : m_thread->GetName().c_str());
+	wxString null_str(L"Null Thread Object");
+    return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, (m_thread==NULL) ? WX_STR(null_str) : WX_STR(m_thread->GetName()));
 }
 
 wxString Exception::BaseThreadError::FormatDisplayMessage() const
 {
-    return pxsFmt( m_message_user, (m_thread==NULL) ? L"Null Thread Object" : m_thread->GetName().c_str());
+	wxString null_str(L"Null Thread Object");
+    return pxsFmt( m_message_user, (m_thread==NULL) ? WX_STR(null_str) : WX_STR(m_thread->GetName()));
 }
 
 pxThread& Exception::BaseThreadError::Thread()
diff --git a/common/src/Utilities/VirtualMemory.cpp b/common/src/Utilities/VirtualMemory.cpp
index a0cfb50c41..09d4daa3be 100644
--- a/common/src/Utilities/VirtualMemory.cpp
+++ b/common/src/Utilities/VirtualMemory.cpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ void* VirtualMemoryReserve::Reserve( size_t size, uptr base, uptr upper_bounds )
 	if (!m_baseptr || (upper_bounds != 0 && (((uptr)m_baseptr + reserved_bytes) > upper_bounds)))
 	{
 		DevCon.Warning( L"%s: host memory @ %s -> %s is unavailable; attempting to map elsewhere...",
-			m_name.c_str(), pxsPtr(base), pxsPtr(base + size) );
+			WX_STR(m_name), pxsPtr(base), pxsPtr(base + size) );
 
 		SafeSysMunmap(m_baseptr, reserved_bytes);
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ void* VirtualMemoryReserve::Reserve( size_t size, uptr base, uptr upper_bounds )
 	else
 		mbkb.Write( "[%ukb]", reserved_bytes / 1024 );
 
-	DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %s -> %s %s", m_name.c_str(),
+	DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %s -> %s %s", WX_STR(m_name),
 		pxsPtr(m_baseptr), pxsPtr((uptr)m_baseptr+reserved_bytes), mbkb.c_str());
 
 	return m_baseptr;
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ bool VirtualMemoryReserve::TryResize( uint newsize )
 		uint toReservePages = newPages - m_pages_reserved;
 		uint toReserveBytes = toReservePages * __pagesize;
 
-		DevCon.WriteLn( L"%-32s is being expanded by %u pages.", m_name.c_str(), toReservePages);
+		DevCon.WriteLn( L"%-32s is being expanded by %u pages.", WX_STR(m_name), toReservePages);
 
 		m_baseptr = (void*)HostSys::MmapReserve((uptr)GetPtrEnd(), toReserveBytes);
 
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ bool VirtualMemoryReserve::TryResize( uint newsize )
 			Console.Indent().Warning("(attempted to map memory @ %08p -> %08p)", m_baseptr, (uptr)m_baseptr+toReserveBytes);
 		}
 
-		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %08p -> %08p [%umb]", m_name.c_str(),
+		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %08p -> %08p [%umb]", WX_STR(m_name),
 			m_baseptr, (uptr)m_baseptr+toReserveBytes, toReserveBytes / _1mb);
 	}
 	else if (newPages < m_pages_reserved)
@@ -244,11 +244,11 @@ bool VirtualMemoryReserve::TryResize( uint newsize )
 		uint toRemovePages = m_pages_reserved - newPages;
 		uint toRemoveBytes = toRemovePages * __pagesize;
 
-		DevCon.WriteLn( L"%-32s is being shrunk by %u pages.", m_name.c_str(), toRemovePages);
+		DevCon.WriteLn( L"%-32s is being shrunk by %u pages.", WX_STR(m_name), toRemovePages);
 
 		HostSys::MmapResetPtr(GetPtrEnd(), toRemoveBytes);
 
-		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %08p -> %08p [%umb]", m_name.c_str(),
+		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Gray, L"%-32s @ %08p -> %08p [%umb]", WX_STR(m_name),
 			m_baseptr, (uptr)m_baseptr+toRemoveBytes, toRemoveBytes / _1mb);
 	}
 
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ void BaseVmReserveListener::OnPageFaultEvent(const PageFaultInfo& info, bool& ha
 		pxFailRel( pxsFmt(
 			L"Memory Protection Fault @ %s (%s)\n"
 			L"Modification of this reserve has been disabled (m_allow_writes == false).",
-			pxsPtr(info.addr), m_name.c_str())
+			pxsPtr(info.addr), WX_STR(m_name))
 		);
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
index c071959a34..c5b667059f 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVD.cpp
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ static __fi void _reloadElfInfo(wxString elfpath)
 	ElfCRC = elfptr->getCRC();
 	ElfEntry = elfptr->header.e_entry;
 	ElfTextRange = elfptr->getTextRange();
-	Console.WriteLn( Color_StrongBlue, L"ELF (%s) Game CRC = 0x%08X, EntryPoint = 0x%08X", elfpath.c_str(), ElfCRC, ElfEntry);
+	Console.WriteLn( Color_StrongBlue, L"ELF (%s) Game CRC = 0x%08X, EntryPoint = 0x%08X", WX_STR(elfpath), ElfCRC, ElfEntry);
 
 	// Note: Do not load game database info here.  This code is generic and called from
 	// BIOS key encryption as well as eeloadReplaceOSDSYS.  The first is actually still executing
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
index 88108c3bea..ac3482ba6d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDaccess.cpp
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ bool DoCDVDopen()
 	// Likely Fix: Force new versions of CDVD plugins to expect UTF8 instead.
 
 	int ret = CDVD->open( !m_SourceFilename[m_CurrentSourceType].IsEmpty() ?
-		m_SourceFilename[m_CurrentSourceType].ToUTF8() : (char*)NULL
+		static_cast<const char*>(m_SourceFilename[m_CurrentSourceType].ToUTF8()) : (char*)NULL
 	);
 
 	if( ret == -1 ) return false;	// error! (handled by caller)
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
index 1bd66ff403..7f4095114e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/CDVDisoReader.cpp
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ static void FindLayer1Start()
 	wxFileConfig layerCacheIni( wxEmptyString, wxEmptyString, layerCacheFile, wxEmptyString, wxCONFIG_USE_RELATIVE_PATH );
 
 	FastFormatUnicode cacheKey;
-	cacheKey.Write( L"%X", HashTools::Hash( (s8*)iso.GetFilename().c_str(), iso.GetFilename().Length() * sizeof(wxChar) ) );
+	cacheKey.Write( L"%X", HashTools::Hash( (s8*)iso.GetFilename().wx_str(), iso.GetFilename().Length() * sizeof(wxChar) ) );
 
 	blockresult = layerCacheIni.Read( cacheKey, -1 );
 	if( blockresult != -1 )
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/InputIsoFile.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/InputIsoFile.cpp
index c567e1b359..31cfee40d9 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/InputIsoFile.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/InputIsoFile.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ int InputIsoFile::ReadSync(u8* dst, uint lsn)
 		msg.Write("isoFile error: Block index is past the end of file! (%u > %u).", lsn, m_blocks);
 
 		pxAssertDev(false, msg);
-		Console.Error(msg);
+		Console.Error(msg.c_str());
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ void InputIsoFile::BeginRead2(uint lsn)
 		msg.Write("isoFile error: Block index is past the end of file! (%u > %u).", lsn, m_blocks);
 
 		pxAssertDev(false, msg);
-		Console.Error(msg);
+		Console.Error(msg.c_str());
 
 		// [TODO] : Throw exception?
 		//  Typically an error like this is bad; indicating an invalid dump or corrupted
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ bool InputIsoFile::Open( const wxString& srcfile, bool testOnly )
 
 	m_blocks = m_reader->GetBlockCount();
 
-	Console.WriteLn(Color_StrongBlue, L"isoFile open ok: %s", m_filename.c_str());
+	Console.WriteLn(Color_StrongBlue, L"isoFile open ok: %s", WX_STR(m_filename));
 
 	ConsoleIndentScope indent;
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/CDVD/OutputIsoFile.cpp b/pcsx2/CDVD/OutputIsoFile.cpp
index 7168158bfa..5c5498aa04 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CDVD/OutputIsoFile.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/CDVD/OutputIsoFile.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ void pxStream_OpenCheck( const wxStreamBase& stream, const wxString& fname, cons
 	if (stream.IsOk()) return;
 
 	ScopedExcept ex(Exception::FromErrno(fname, errno));
-	ex->SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt(L"Unable to open the file for %s: %s", mode.c_str(), ex->DiagMsg().c_str()) );
+	ex->SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt(L"Unable to open the file for %s: %s", WX_STR(mode), WX_STR(ex->DiagMsg())) );
 	ex->Rethrow();
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void OutputIsoFile::Create(const wxString& filename, int version)
 	m_outstream = new wxFileOutputStream( m_filename );
 	pxStream_OpenCheck( *m_outstream, m_filename, L"writing" );
 
-	Console.WriteLn("isoFile create ok: %s ", m_filename.c_str());
+	Console.WriteLn("isoFile create ok: %s ", WX_STR(m_filename));
 }
 
 // Generates format header information for blockdumps.
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ void OutputIsoFile::WriteBuffer( const void* src, size_t size )
 			throw Exception::BadStream(m_filename).SetDiagMsg(pxsFmt(L"An error occurred while writing %u bytes to file", size));
 
 		ScopedExcept ex(Exception::FromErrno(m_filename, err));
-		ex->SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt(L"An error occurred while writing %u bytes to file: %s", size, ex->DiagMsg().c_str()) );
+		ex->SetDiagMsg( pxsFmt(L"An error occurred while writing %u bytes to file: %s", size, WX_STR(ex->DiagMsg())) );
 		ex->Rethrow();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pcsx2/FiFo.cpp b/pcsx2/FiFo.cpp
index c393f57749..8c275fb068 100644
--- a/pcsx2/FiFo.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/FiFo.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ void __fastcall ReadFIFO_VIF1(mem128_t* out)
 		}
 	}
 
-	VIF_LOG("ReadFIFO/VIF1 -> %ls", out->ToString().c_str());
+	VIF_LOG("ReadFIFO/VIF1 -> %ls", WX_STR(out->ToString()));
 }
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void __fastcall ReadFIFO_VIF1(mem128_t* out)
 //
 void __fastcall WriteFIFO_VIF0(const mem128_t *value)
 {
-	VIF_LOG("WriteFIFO/VIF0 <- %ls", value->ToString().c_str());
+	VIF_LOG("WriteFIFO/VIF0 <- %ls", WX_STR(value->ToString()));
 
 	vif0ch.qwc += 1;
 	if(vif0.irqoffset.value != 0 && vif0.vifstalled.enabled == true) DevCon.Warning("Offset on VIF0 FIFO start!");
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void __fastcall WriteFIFO_VIF0(const mem128_t *value)
 
 void __fastcall WriteFIFO_VIF1(const mem128_t *value)
 {
-	VIF_LOG("WriteFIFO/VIF1 <- %ls", value->ToString().c_str());
+	VIF_LOG("WriteFIFO/VIF1 <- %ls", WX_STR(value->ToString()));
 
 	if (vif1Regs.stat.FDR) {
 		DevCon.Warning("writing to fifo when fdr is set!");
diff --git a/pcsx2/GameDatabase.h b/pcsx2/GameDatabase.h
index 02894dea46..4238243ba8 100644
--- a/pcsx2/GameDatabase.h
+++ b/pcsx2/GameDatabase.h
@@ -119,11 +119,11 @@ struct Game_Data
 	}
 
 	bool sectionExists(const wxChar* key, const wxString& value) const {
-		return keyExists(wxsFormat(L"[%s%s%s]", key, value.IsEmpty() ? L"" : L" = ", value.c_str()));
+		return keyExists(wxsFormat(L"[%s%s%s]", key, value.IsEmpty() ? L"" : L" = ", WX_STR(value)));
 	}
 
 	wxString getSection(const wxChar* key, const wxString& value) const {
-		return getString(wxsFormat(L"[%s%s%s]", key, value.IsEmpty() ? L"" : L" = ", value.c_str()));
+		return getString(wxsFormat(L"[%s%s%s]", key, value.IsEmpty() ? L"" : L" = ", WX_STR(value)).wx_str());
 	}
 
 	// Gets an integer representation of the 'value' for the given key
@@ -142,23 +142,31 @@ struct Game_Data
 	}
 
 	bool keyExists(const char* key) const {
-		return keyExists(fromUTF8(key));
+		return keyExists(fromUTF8(key).wx_str());
+	}
+
+	bool keyExists(const wxString& key) const {
+		return keyExists(key.wx_str());
 	}
 
 	wxString getString(const char* key) const {
-		return getString(fromUTF8(key));
+		return getString(fromUTF8(key).wx_str());
 	}
 
 	int getInt(const char* key) const {
-		return getInt(fromUTF8(key));
+		return getInt(fromUTF8(key).wx_str());
 	}
 
 	u8 getU8(const char* key) const {
-		return getU8(fromUTF8(key));
+		return getU8(fromUTF8(key).wx_str());
 	}
 
 	bool getBool(const char* key) const {
-		return getBool(fromUTF8(key));
+		return getBool(fromUTF8(key).wx_str());
+	}
+
+	bool getBool(const wxString& key) const {
+		return getBool(key.wx_str());
 	}
 };
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/IPU/IPU_Fifo.cpp b/pcsx2/IPU/IPU_Fifo.cpp
index d27f34a21a..4f2050b6a3 100644
--- a/pcsx2/IPU/IPU_Fifo.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/IPU/IPU_Fifo.cpp
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ void __fastcall ReadFIFO_IPUout(mem128_t* out)
 
 void __fastcall WriteFIFO_IPUin(const mem128_t* value)
 {
-	IPU_LOG( "WriteFIFO/IPUin <- %ls", value->ToString().c_str() );
+	IPU_LOG( "WriteFIFO/IPUin <- %ls", WX_STR(value->ToString()) );
 
 	//committing every 16 bytes
 	if( ipu_fifo.in.write((u32*)value, 1) == 0 )
diff --git a/pcsx2/MultipartFileReader.cpp b/pcsx2/MultipartFileReader.cpp
index 2dc1104440..2d290807af 100644
--- a/pcsx2/MultipartFileReader.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/MultipartFileReader.cpp
@@ -13,231 +13,231 @@
  *  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-#include "PrecompiledHeader.h"
-#include "AsyncFileReader.h"
-
-// Tests for a filename extension in both upper and lower case, if the filesystem happens
-// to be case-sensitive.
-bool pxFileExists_WithExt( const wxFileName& filename, const wxString& ext )
-{
-	wxFileName part1 = filename;
-	part1.SetExt( ext.Lower() );
-
-	if (part1.FileExists()) return true;
-	if (!wxFileName::IsCaseSensitive()) return false;
-
-	part1.SetExt( ext.Upper() );
-	return part1.FileExists();
-}
-
-AsyncFileReader* MultipartFileReader::DetectMultipart(AsyncFileReader* reader)
-{
-	MultipartFileReader* multi = new MultipartFileReader(reader);
-	
-	multi->FindParts();
-	if (multi->m_numparts > 1)
-	{
-		Console.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part ISO detected.  %u parts found.", multi->m_numparts);
-
-		return multi;
-	}
-
-	multi->m_parts[0].reader = NULL;
-	delete multi;
-	return reader;
-}
-
-MultipartFileReader::MultipartFileReader(AsyncFileReader* firstPart)
-{
-	memset(m_parts,0,sizeof(m_parts));
-
-	m_filename = firstPart->GetFilename();
-	
-	m_numparts = 1;
-
-	m_parts[0].reader = firstPart;
-	m_parts[0].end = firstPart->GetBlockCount();
-}
-
-MultipartFileReader::~MultipartFileReader(void)
-{
-	Close();
-}
-
-void MultipartFileReader::FindParts()
-{
-	wxFileName nameparts( m_filename );
-	wxString curext( nameparts.GetExt() );
-	wxChar prefixch = wxTolower(curext[0]);
-
-	// Multi-part rules!
-	//  * The first part can either be the proper extension (ISO, MDF, etc) or the numerical
-	//    extension (I00, I01, M00, M01, etc).
-	//  * Numerical extensions MUST begin at 00 (I00 etc), regardless of if the first part
-	//    is proper or numerical.
-
-	uint i = 0;
-
-	if ((curext.Length() == 3) && (curext[1] == L'0') && (curext[2] == L'0'))
-	{
-		// First file is an OO, so skip 0 in the loop below:
-		i = 1;
-	}
-
-	FastFormatUnicode extbuf;
-
-	extbuf.Write( L"%c%02u", prefixch, i );
-	nameparts.SetExt( extbuf );
-	if (!pxFileExists_WithExt(nameparts, extbuf))
-		return;
-
-	DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part %s detected...", curext.Upper().c_str() );
-	ConsoleIndentScope indent;
-	
-	int bsize = m_parts[0].reader->GetBlockSize();
-	int blocks = m_parts[0].end;
-
-	m_numparts = 1;
-
-	for (; i < MaxParts; ++i)
-	{
-		extbuf.Clear();
-		extbuf.Write( L"%c%02u", prefixch, i );
-		nameparts.SetExt( extbuf );
-		if (!pxFileExists_WithExt(nameparts, extbuf))
-			break;
-
-		Part* thispart = m_parts + m_numparts;
-		AsyncFileReader* thisreader = thispart->reader = new FlatFileReader();
-
-		wxString name = nameparts.GetFullPath();
-
-		thisreader->Open(name);
-		thisreader->SetBlockSize(bsize);
-
-		thispart->start = blocks;
-
-		uint bcount =  thisreader->GetBlockCount();
-		blocks += bcount;
-
-		thispart->end = blocks;
-
-		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Blue, L"\tblocks %u - %u in: %s",
-			thispart->start, thispart->end,
-			nameparts.GetFullPath().c_str()
-		);
-
-		++m_numparts;
-	}
-
-	//Console.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part ISO loaded (%u parts found)", m_numparts );
-}
-
-bool MultipartFileReader::Open(const wxString& fileName)
-{
-	// Cannot open a MultipartFileReader directly,
-	// use DetectMultipart to convert a FlatFileReader
-	return false;
-}
-
-uint MultipartFileReader::GetFirstPart(uint lsn)
-{
-	pxAssertMsg(lsn < GetBlockCount(),	"Invalid lsn passed into MultipartFileReader::GetFirstPart.");
-	pxAssertMsg(m_numparts, "Invalid object state; multi-part iso file needs at least one part!");
-	
-	for (uint i = 0; i < m_numparts; ++i)
-	{
-		if (lsn < m_parts[i].end)
-			return i;
-	}
-
-	// should never get here
-	return 0xBAAAAAAD;
-}
-
-int MultipartFileReader::ReadSync(void* pBuffer, uint sector, uint count)
-{
-	BeginRead(pBuffer,sector,count);
-	return FinishRead();
-}
-
-void MultipartFileReader::BeginRead(void* pBuffer, uint sector, uint count)
-{
-	u8* lBuffer = (u8*)pBuffer;
-
-	for(uint i = GetFirstPart(sector); i < m_numparts; i++)
-	{
-		uint num = min(count, m_parts[i].end - sector);
-
-		m_parts[i].reader->BeginRead(lBuffer, sector - m_parts[i].start, num);
-		m_parts[i].isReading = true;
-		
-		lBuffer += num * m_blocksize;
-		sector += num;
-		count -= num;
-
-		if(count <= 0)
-			break;
-	}
-}
-
-int MultipartFileReader::FinishRead(void)
-{
-	int ret = 0;
-	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
-	{
-		if(m_parts[i].isReading)
-		{
-			ret = min(ret, m_parts[i].reader->FinishRead());
-			m_parts[i].isReading = false;
-
-			if(ret < 0)
-				ret = -1;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return ret;
-}
-
-void MultipartFileReader::CancelRead(void)
-{
-	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
-	{
-		if(m_parts[i].isReading)
-		{
-			m_parts[i].reader->CancelRead();
-			m_parts[i].isReading = false;
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-void MultipartFileReader::Close(void)
-{
-	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
-	{
-		if(m_parts[i].reader)
-		{
-			m_parts[i].reader->Close();
-			delete m_parts[i].reader;
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-uint MultipartFileReader::GetBlockCount(void) const
-{
-	return m_parts[m_numparts-1].end;
-}
-
-void MultipartFileReader::SetBlockSize(uint bytes)
-{
-	uint last_end = 0;
-	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++) 
-	{
-		m_parts[i].reader->SetBlockSize(bytes); 
-		uint count = m_parts[i].reader->GetBlockCount();
-
-		m_parts[i].start = last_end;
-		m_parts[i].end = last_end = m_parts[i].start + count;
-	}
-}
-
+#include "PrecompiledHeader.h"
+#include "AsyncFileReader.h"
+
+// Tests for a filename extension in both upper and lower case, if the filesystem happens
+// to be case-sensitive.
+bool pxFileExists_WithExt( const wxFileName& filename, const wxString& ext )
+{
+	wxFileName part1 = filename;
+	part1.SetExt( ext.Lower() );
+
+	if (part1.FileExists()) return true;
+	if (!wxFileName::IsCaseSensitive()) return false;
+
+	part1.SetExt( ext.Upper() );
+	return part1.FileExists();
+}
+
+AsyncFileReader* MultipartFileReader::DetectMultipart(AsyncFileReader* reader)
+{
+	MultipartFileReader* multi = new MultipartFileReader(reader);
+
+	multi->FindParts();
+	if (multi->m_numparts > 1)
+	{
+		Console.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part ISO detected.  %u parts found.", multi->m_numparts);
+
+		return multi;
+	}
+
+	multi->m_parts[0].reader = NULL;
+	delete multi;
+	return reader;
+}
+
+MultipartFileReader::MultipartFileReader(AsyncFileReader* firstPart)
+{
+	memset(m_parts,0,sizeof(m_parts));
+
+	m_filename = firstPart->GetFilename();
+
+	m_numparts = 1;
+
+	m_parts[0].reader = firstPart;
+	m_parts[0].end = firstPart->GetBlockCount();
+}
+
+MultipartFileReader::~MultipartFileReader(void)
+{
+	Close();
+}
+
+void MultipartFileReader::FindParts()
+{
+	wxFileName nameparts( m_filename );
+	wxString curext( nameparts.GetExt() );
+	wxChar prefixch = wxTolower(curext[0]);
+
+	// Multi-part rules!
+	//  * The first part can either be the proper extension (ISO, MDF, etc) or the numerical
+	//    extension (I00, I01, M00, M01, etc).
+	//  * Numerical extensions MUST begin at 00 (I00 etc), regardless of if the first part
+	//    is proper or numerical.
+
+	uint i = 0;
+
+	if ((curext.Length() == 3) && (curext[1] == L'0') && (curext[2] == L'0'))
+	{
+		// First file is an OO, so skip 0 in the loop below:
+		i = 1;
+	}
+
+	FastFormatUnicode extbuf;
+
+	extbuf.Write( L"%c%02u", prefixch, i );
+	nameparts.SetExt( extbuf );
+	if (!pxFileExists_WithExt(nameparts, extbuf))
+		return;
+
+	DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part %s detected...", WX_STR(curext.Upper()) );
+	ConsoleIndentScope indent;
+
+	int bsize = m_parts[0].reader->GetBlockSize();
+	int blocks = m_parts[0].end;
+
+	m_numparts = 1;
+
+	for (; i < MaxParts; ++i)
+	{
+		extbuf.Clear();
+		extbuf.Write( L"%c%02u", prefixch, i );
+		nameparts.SetExt( extbuf );
+		if (!pxFileExists_WithExt(nameparts, extbuf))
+			break;
+
+		Part* thispart = m_parts + m_numparts;
+		AsyncFileReader* thisreader = thispart->reader = new FlatFileReader();
+
+		wxString name = nameparts.GetFullPath();
+
+		thisreader->Open(name);
+		thisreader->SetBlockSize(bsize);
+
+		thispart->start = blocks;
+
+		uint bcount =  thisreader->GetBlockCount();
+		blocks += bcount;
+
+		thispart->end = blocks;
+
+		DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Blue, L"\tblocks %u - %u in: %s",
+			thispart->start, thispart->end,
+			WX_STR(nameparts.GetFullPath())
+		);
+
+		++m_numparts;
+	}
+
+	//Console.WriteLn( Color_Blue, "isoFile: multi-part ISO loaded (%u parts found)", m_numparts );
+}
+
+bool MultipartFileReader::Open(const wxString& fileName)
+{
+	// Cannot open a MultipartFileReader directly,
+	// use DetectMultipart to convert a FlatFileReader
+	return false;
+}
+
+uint MultipartFileReader::GetFirstPart(uint lsn)
+{
+	pxAssertMsg(lsn < GetBlockCount(),	"Invalid lsn passed into MultipartFileReader::GetFirstPart.");
+	pxAssertMsg(m_numparts, "Invalid object state; multi-part iso file needs at least one part!");
+
+	for (uint i = 0; i < m_numparts; ++i)
+	{
+		if (lsn < m_parts[i].end)
+			return i;
+	}
+
+	// should never get here
+	return 0xBAAAAAAD;
+}
+
+int MultipartFileReader::ReadSync(void* pBuffer, uint sector, uint count)
+{
+	BeginRead(pBuffer,sector,count);
+	return FinishRead();
+}
+
+void MultipartFileReader::BeginRead(void* pBuffer, uint sector, uint count)
+{
+	u8* lBuffer = (u8*)pBuffer;
+
+	for(uint i = GetFirstPart(sector); i < m_numparts; i++)
+	{
+		uint num = min(count, m_parts[i].end - sector);
+
+		m_parts[i].reader->BeginRead(lBuffer, sector - m_parts[i].start, num);
+		m_parts[i].isReading = true;
+
+		lBuffer += num * m_blocksize;
+		sector += num;
+		count -= num;
+
+		if(count <= 0)
+			break;
+	}
+}
+
+int MultipartFileReader::FinishRead(void)
+{
+	int ret = 0;
+	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
+	{
+		if(m_parts[i].isReading)
+		{
+			ret = min(ret, m_parts[i].reader->FinishRead());
+			m_parts[i].isReading = false;
+
+			if(ret < 0)
+				ret = -1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+void MultipartFileReader::CancelRead(void)
+{
+	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
+	{
+		if(m_parts[i].isReading)
+		{
+			m_parts[i].reader->CancelRead();
+			m_parts[i].isReading = false;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+void MultipartFileReader::Close(void)
+{
+	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
+	{
+		if(m_parts[i].reader)
+		{
+			m_parts[i].reader->Close();
+			delete m_parts[i].reader;
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+uint MultipartFileReader::GetBlockCount(void) const
+{
+	return m_parts[m_numparts-1].end;
+}
+
+void MultipartFileReader::SetBlockSize(uint bytes)
+{
+	uint last_end = 0;
+	for(uint i=0;i<m_numparts;i++)
+	{
+		m_parts[i].reader->SetBlockSize(bytes);
+		uint count = m_parts[i].reader->GetBlockCount();
+
+		m_parts[i].start = last_end;
+		m_parts[i].end = last_end = m_parts[i].start + count;
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/pcsx2/Patch.cpp b/pcsx2/Patch.cpp
index c9615fa37f..d662dcdf80 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Patch.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Patch.cpp
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ void ResetCheatsCount()
 static int LoadCheatsFiles(const wxDirName& folderName, wxString& fileSpec, const wxString& friendlyName)
 {
 	if (!folderName.Exists()) {
-		Console.WriteLn(Color_Red, L"The %s folder ('%s') is inaccessible. Skipping...", friendlyName.c_str(), folderName.ToString().c_str());
+		Console.WriteLn(Color_Red, L"The %s folder ('%s') is inaccessible. Skipping...", WX_STR(friendlyName), WX_STR(folderName.ToString()));
 		return 0;
 	}
 	wxDir dir(folderName.ToString());
@@ -194,13 +194,13 @@ static int LoadCheatsFiles(const wxDirName& folderName, wxString& fileSpec, cons
 	bool found = dir.GetFirst(&buffer, L"*", wxDIR_FILES);
 	while (found) {
 		if (buffer.Upper().Matches(fileSpec.Upper())) {
-			Console.WriteLn(Color_Gray, L"Found %s file: '%s'", friendlyName.c_str(), buffer.c_str());
+			Console.WriteLn(Color_Gray, L"Found %s file: '%s'", WX_STR(friendlyName), WX_STR(buffer));
 			int before = cheatnumber;
 			f.Open(Path::Combine(dir.GetName(), buffer));
 			inifile_process(f);
 			f.Close();
 			int loaded = cheatnumber - before;
-			Console.WriteLn((loaded ? Color_Green : Color_Gray), L"Loaded %d %s from '%s'", loaded, friendlyName.c_str(), buffer.c_str());
+			Console.WriteLn((loaded ? Color_Green : Color_Gray), L"Loaded %d %s from '%s'", loaded, WX_STR(friendlyName), WX_STR(buffer));
 		}
 		found = dir.GetNext(&buffer);
 	}
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ int LoadCheatsFromZip(wxString gameCRC, const wxString& cheatsArchiveFilename) {
     name.MakeUpper();
     if (name.Find(gameCRC) == 0 && name.Find(L".PNACH")+6u == name.Length()) {
       Console.WriteLn(Color_Gray, L"Loading patch '%s' from archive '%s'",
-                      entry->GetName().c_str(), cheatsArchiveFilename.c_str());
+                      WX_STR(entry->GetName()), WX_STR(cheatsArchiveFilename));
       wxTextInputStream pnach(zip);
       while (!zip.Eof()) {
         inifile_processString(pnach.ReadLine());
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ int LoadCheats(wxString name, const wxDirName& folderName, const wxString& frien
 	wxString filespec = name + L"*.pnach";
 	loaded += LoadCheatsFiles(folderName, filespec, friendlyName);
 
-	Console.WriteLn((loaded ? Color_Green : Color_Gray), L"Overall %d %s loaded", loaded, friendlyName.c_str());
+	Console.WriteLn((loaded ? Color_Green : Color_Gray), L"Overall %d %s loaded", loaded, WX_STR(friendlyName));
 	return loaded;
 }
 
@@ -320,10 +320,10 @@ namespace PatchFunc
 			iPatch.data			= StrToU64(pieces.WriteValue(), 16);
 
 			if (iPatch.cpu  == 0)
-				throw wxsFormat(L"Unrecognized CPU Target: '%s'", pieces.CpuType().c_str());
+				throw wxsFormat(L"Unrecognized CPU Target: '%s'", WX_STR(pieces.CpuType()));
 
 			if (iPatch.type == 0)
-				throw wxsFormat(L"Unrecognized Operand Size: '%s'", pieces.OperandSize().c_str());
+				throw wxsFormat(L"Unrecognized Operand Size: '%s'", WX_STR(pieces.OperandSize()));
 
 			iPatch.enabled = 1; // omg success!!
 
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ namespace PatchFunc
 		}
 		catch( wxString& exmsg )
 		{
-			Console.Error(L"(Patch) Error Parsing: %s=%s", cmd.c_str(), param.c_str());
+			Console.Error(L"(Patch) Error Parsing: %s=%s", WX_STR(cmd), WX_STR(param));
 			Console.Indent().Error( exmsg );
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp b/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
index dedd9adcff..6a6e719972 100644
--- a/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/PluginManager.cpp
@@ -740,24 +740,24 @@ Exception::PluginLoadError::PluginLoadError( PluginsEnum_t pid )
 
 wxString Exception::PluginLoadError::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
 {
-	return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname().c_str() ) +
+	return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, WX_STR(tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname()) ) +
 		L"\n\n" + StreamName;
 }
 
 wxString Exception::PluginLoadError::FormatDisplayMessage() const
 {
-	return pxsFmt( m_message_user, tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname().c_str() ) +
+	return pxsFmt( m_message_user, WX_STR(tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname()) ) +
 		L"\n\n" + StreamName;
 }
 
 wxString Exception::PluginError::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
 {
-	return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname().c_str() );
+	return pxsFmt( m_message_diag, WX_STR(tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname()) );
 }
 
 wxString Exception::PluginError::FormatDisplayMessage() const
 {
-	return pxsFmt( m_message_user, tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname().c_str() );
+	return pxsFmt( m_message_user, WX_STR(tbl_PluginInfo[PluginId].GetShortname()) );
 }
 
 wxString Exception::FreezePluginFailure::FormatDiagnosticMessage() const
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ void SysCorePlugins::PluginStatus_t::BindCommon( PluginsEnum_t pid )
 		if( *target == NULL )
 		{
 			throw Exception::PluginLoadError( pid ).SetStreamName(Filename)
-				.SetDiagMsg(wxsFormat( L"\nMethod binding failure on: %s\n", current->GetMethodName( pid ).c_str() ))
+				.SetDiagMsg(wxsFormat( L"\nMethod binding failure on: %s\n", WX_STR(current->GetMethodName( pid )) ))
 				.SetUserMsg(_("Configured plugin is not a PCSX2 plugin, or is for an older unsupported version of PCSX2."));
 		}
 
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@ void SysCorePlugins::PluginStatus_t::BindRequired( PluginsEnum_t pid )
 		if( *(current->Dest) == NULL )
 		{
 			throw Exception::PluginLoadError( pid ).SetStreamName(Filename)
-				.SetDiagMsg(wxsFormat( L"\n%s plugin init error; Method binding failed: %s\n", current->GetMethodName().c_str() ))
+				.SetDiagMsg(wxsFormat( L"\n%s plugin init error; Method binding failed: %s\n", WX_STR(current->GetMethodName()) ))
 				.SetUserMsg(_( "Configured %s plugin is not a valid PCSX2 plugin, or is for an older unsupported version of PCSX2."));
 		}
 
@@ -974,7 +974,7 @@ void SysCorePlugins::Load( PluginsEnum_t pid, const wxString& srcfile )
 {
 	ScopedLock lock( m_mtx_PluginStatus );
 	pxAssert( (uint)pid < PluginId_Count );
-	Console.Indent().WriteLn( L"Binding %4s: %s ", tbl_PluginInfo[pid].GetShortname().c_str(), srcfile.c_str() );
+	Console.Indent().WriteLn( L"Binding %4s: %s ", WX_STR(tbl_PluginInfo[pid].GetShortname()), WX_STR(srcfile) );
 	m_info[pid] = new PluginStatus_t( pid, srcfile );
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp b/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
index a79fe88d62..daa9b94ac8 100644
--- a/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/SaveState.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ wxString SaveStateBase::GetFilename( int slot )
 	if (serialName.IsEmpty()) serialName = L"BIOS";
 
 	return (g_Conf->Folders.Savestates +
-		pxsFmt( L"%s (%08X).%02d.p2s", serialName.c_str(), ElfCRC, slot )).GetFullPath();
+		pxsFmt( L"%s (%08X).%02d.p2s", WX_STR(serialName), ElfCRC, slot )).GetFullPath();
 
 	//return (g_Conf->Folders.Savestates +
 	//	pxsFmt( L"%08X.%03d", ElfCRC, slot )).GetFullPath();
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ SaveStateBase& SaveStateBase::FreezeBios()
 		Console.Indent(2).Error(
 			"Current BIOS:   %ls (crc=0x%08x)\n"
 			"Savestate BIOS: %s (crc=0x%08x)\n",
-			BiosDescription.c_str(), BiosChecksum,
+			BiosDescription.wx_str(), BiosChecksum,
 			biosdesc, bioscheck
 		);
 	}
diff --git a/pcsx2/Sio.cpp b/pcsx2/Sio.cpp
index 2c7fa4c9c9..4fddcf26cb 100644
--- a/pcsx2/Sio.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/Sio.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ static const float FORCED_MCD_EJECTION_MAX_MS_AFTER_MIN_TRIES =2800;
 wxString GetTimeMsStr(){
 	wxDateTime unow=wxDateTime::UNow();
 	wxString res;
-	res.Printf(L"%s.%03d", unow.Format(L"%H:%M:%S").c_str(), (int)unow.GetMillisecond() );
+	res.Printf(L"%s.%03d", WX_STR(unow.Format(L"%H:%M:%S")), (int)unow.GetMillisecond() );
 	return res;
 }
 
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ SIO_WRITE memcardInit()
 	if(mcd->ForceEjection_Timeout)
 	{
 		if(mcd->ForceEjection_Timeout == FORCED_MCD_EJECTION_MAX_TRIES && mcd->IsPresent())
-			Console.WriteLn( Color_Green,  L"[%s] Auto-ejecting memcard [port:%d, slot:%d]", GetTimeMsStr().c_str(), sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
+			Console.WriteLn( Color_Green,  L"[%s] Auto-ejecting memcard [port:%d, slot:%d]", WX_STR(GetTimeMsStr()), sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
 
 		mcd->ForceEjection_Timeout--;
 		forceEject = true;
@@ -563,13 +563,13 @@ SIO_WRITE memcardInit()
 			wxTimeSpan delta = wxDateTime::UNow().Subtract(mcd->ForceEjection_Timestamp);
 			if(delta.GetMilliseconds() >= FORCED_MCD_EJECTION_MAX_MS_AFTER_MIN_TRIES)
 			{
-				DevCon.Warning( L"[%s] Auto-eject: Timeout reached after mcd was accessed %d times [port:%d, slot:%d]", GetTimeMsStr().c_str(), numTimesAccessed, sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
+				DevCon.Warning( L"[%s] Auto-eject: Timeout reached after mcd was accessed %d times [port:%d, slot:%d]", WX_STR(GetTimeMsStr()), numTimesAccessed, sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
 				mcd->ForceEjection_Timeout = 0;	//Done. on next sio access the card will be seen as inserted.
 			}
 		}
 
 		if(mcd->ForceEjection_Timeout == 0 && mcd->IsPresent())
-			Console.WriteLn( Color_Green,  L"[%s] Re-inserting auto-ejected memcard [port:%d, slot:%d]", GetTimeMsStr().c_str(), sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
+			Console.WriteLn( Color_Green,  L"[%s] Re-inserting auto-ejected memcard [port:%d, slot:%d]", WX_STR(GetTimeMsStr()), sio.GetPort(), sio.GetSlot());
 	}
 			
 	if(!forceEject && mcd->IsPresent())
diff --git a/pcsx2/System.cpp b/pcsx2/System.cpp
index d28ae6682d..cc40b9a2f9 100644
--- a/pcsx2/System.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/System.cpp
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ void SysLogMachineCaps()
 		L"Operating System =  %s\n"
 		L"Physical RAM     =  %u MB",
 
-		GetOSVersionString().c_str(),
+		WX_STR(GetOSVersionString()),
 		(u32)(GetPhysicalMemory() / _1mb)
 	);
 
@@ -227,11 +227,11 @@ void SysLogMachineCaps()
 		L"x86PType         =  %s\n"
 		L"x86Flags         =  %08x %08x\n"
 		L"x86EFlags        =  %08x",
-			fromUTF8( x86caps.FamilyName ).Trim().Trim(false).c_str(),
-			fromUTF8( x86caps.VendorName ).c_str(), x86caps.StepID,
+			WX_STR(fromUTF8( x86caps.FamilyName ).Trim().Trim(false)),
+			WX_STR(fromUTF8( x86caps.VendorName )), x86caps.StepID,
 			speed / 1000, speed % 1000,
 			x86caps.LogicalCores, (x86caps.LogicalCores==1) ? L"" : L"s",
-			x86caps.GetTypeName().c_str(),
+			WX_STR(x86caps.GetTypeName()),
 			x86caps.Flags, x86caps.Flags2,
 			x86caps.EFlags
 	);
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppAssert.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppAssert.cpp
index d729c1a5b0..b44cb83802 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppAssert.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppAssert.cpp
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ protected:
 			return;
 		}*/
 
-		m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L"[%02d]", frame.GetLevel()-m_skipped));
+		m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L"[%02d]", frame.GetLevel()-m_skipped).c_str());
 		
 		if (!frame.GetName().IsEmpty())
-			m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L" %-44s", frame.GetName().c_str() ));
+			m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L" %-44s", WX_STR(frame.GetName()) ).c_str());
 		else
-			m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L" 0x%-42p", frame.GetAddress() ));
+			m_stackTrace.Write(pxsFmt( L" 0x%-42p", frame.GetAddress() ).c_str());
 
 		if( frame.HasSourceLocation() )
 		{
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ protected:
 			for( int i=0; i<2; ++i )
 				wxfn.RemoveDir(0);
 
-			m_stackTrace.Write( L" %s:%d", wxfn.GetFullPath().c_str(), frame.GetLine() );
+			m_stackTrace.Write( L" %s:%d", WX_STR(wxfn.GetFullPath()), frame.GetLine() );
 		}
 		
 		m_stackTrace.Write(L"\n");
@@ -125,10 +125,10 @@ bool AppDoAssert( const DiagnosticOrigin& origin, const wxChar *msg )
 	wxString trace( pxGetStackTrace(origin.function) );
 	wxString dbgmsg( origin.ToString( msg ) );
 
-	wxMessageOutputDebug().Printf( L"%s", dbgmsg.c_str() );
+	wxMessageOutputDebug().Printf( L"%s", WX_STR(dbgmsg) );
 
-	Console.Error( L"%s", dbgmsg.c_str() );
-	Console.WriteLn( L"%s", trace.c_str() );
+	Console.Error( L"%s", WX_STR(dbgmsg) );
+	Console.WriteLn( L"%s", WX_STR(trace) );
 
 	wxString windowmsg( L"Assertion failed: " );
 	if( msg != NULL )
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppConfig.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppConfig.cpp
index 069b62120c..52092f011b 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppConfig.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppConfig.cpp
@@ -1037,7 +1037,7 @@ void RelocateLogfile()
 
 	if( (emuLog != NULL) && (emuLogName != newlogname) )
 	{
-		Console.WriteLn( L"\nRelocating Logfile...\n\tFrom: %s\n\tTo  : %s\n", emuLogName.c_str(), newlogname.c_str() );
+		Console.WriteLn( L"\nRelocating Logfile...\n\tFrom: %s\n\tTo  : %s\n", WX_STR(emuLogName), WX_STR(newlogname) );
 		wxGetApp().DisableDiskLogging();
 
 		fclose( emuLog );
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppCorePlugins.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppCorePlugins.cpp
index 0facfa36ef..ebcdb0da67 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppCorePlugins.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppCorePlugins.cpp
@@ -434,7 +434,11 @@ int EnumeratePluginsInFolder( const wxDirName& searchpath, wxArrayString* dest )
 	wxString pattern( L"*%s*" );
 #endif
 
+#if wxMAJOR_VERSION >= 3
+	wxDir::GetAllFiles( searchpath.ToString(), realdest, pxsFmt( pattern, WX_STR(wxDynamicLibrary::GetDllExt())), wxDIR_FILES );
+#else
 	wxDir::GetAllFiles( searchpath.ToString(), realdest, pxsFmt( pattern, wxDynamicLibrary::GetDllExt()), wxDIR_FILES );
+#endif
 	
 	// SECURITY ISSUE:  (applies primarily to Windows, but is a good idea on any platform)
 	//   The search folder order for plugins can vary across operating systems, and in some poorly designed
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppGameDatabase.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppGameDatabase.cpp
index 635d526adc..6e0d9aaae9 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppGameDatabase.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppGameDatabase.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ protected:
 };
 
 void DBLoaderHelper::doError(bool doMsg) {
-	if (doMsg) Console.Error("GameDatabase: Bad file data [%s]", m_dest.c_str());
+	if (doMsg) Console.Error("GameDatabase: Bad file data [%s]", WX_STR(m_dest));
 	m_keyPair.Clear();
 }
 
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ AppGameDatabase& AppGameDatabase::LoadFromFile(const wxString& _file, const wxSt
 	
 	if (!wxFileExists(file))
 	{
-		Console.Error(L"(GameDB) Database Not Found! [%s]", file.c_str());
+		Console.Error(L"(GameDB) Database Not Found! [%s]", WX_STR(file));
 		return *this;
 	}
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ AppGameDatabase& AppGameDatabase::LoadFromFile(const wxString& _file, const wxSt
 	if (!reader.IsOk())
 	{
 		//throw Exception::FileNotFound( file );
-		Console.Error(L"(GameDB) Could not access file (permission denied?) [%s]", file.c_str());
+		Console.Error(L"(GameDB) Could not access file (permission denied?) [%s]", WX_STR(file));
 	}
 
 	DBLoaderHelper loader( reader, *this );
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
index 37c993a7d7..6c737303b0 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppInit.cpp
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ void Pcsx2App::OnInitCmdLine( wxCmdLineParser& parser )
 
 	const PluginInfo* pi = tbl_PluginInfo; do {
 		parser.AddOption( wxEmptyString, pi->GetShortname().Lower(),
-			pxsFmt( _("specify the file to use as the %s plugin"), pi->GetShortname().c_str() )
+			pxsFmt( _("specify the file to use as the %s plugin"), WX_STR(pi->GetShortname()) )
 		);
 	} while( ++pi, pi->shortname != NULL );
 
@@ -746,12 +746,12 @@ void Pcsx2App::CleanUp()
 
 __fi wxString AddAppName( const wxChar* fmt )
 {
-	return pxsFmt( fmt, pxGetAppName().c_str() );
+	return pxsFmt( fmt, WX_STR(pxGetAppName()) );
 }
 
 __fi wxString AddAppName( const char* fmt )
 {
-	return pxsFmt( fromUTF8(fmt), pxGetAppName().c_str() );
+	return pxsFmt( fromUTF8(fmt), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()) );
 }
 
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
index 240c7976fe..ddfd83702a 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppMain.cpp
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ void pxMessageOutputMessageBox::Printf(const wxChar* format, ...)
 
 	FastFormatUnicode isoFormatted;
 	isoFormatted.Write( L"[%s]", _("IsoFile") );
-	int pos = out.Find( isoFormatted );
+	int pos = out.Find( isoFormatted.c_str() );
 	
 	if(pos == wxNOT_FOUND)
 	{
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ __fi bool SysHasValidState()
 void SysStatus( const wxString& text )
 {
 	// mirror output to the console!
-	Console.WriteLn( text.c_str() );
+	Console.WriteLn( WX_STR(text) );
 	sMainFrame.SetStatusText( text );
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/AppUserMode.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/AppUserMode.cpp
index 283796b3b7..90e4c9ec3e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/AppUserMode.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/AppUserMode.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ wxConfigBase* Pcsx2App::TestForPortableInstall()
 		if (Startup.PortableMode)
 			Console.WriteLn( L"(UserMode) Portable mode requested via commandline switch!" );
 		else
-			Console.WriteLn( L"(UserMode) Found portable install ini @ %s", FilenameStr.c_str() );
+			Console.WriteLn( L"(UserMode) Found portable install ini @ %s", WX_STR(FilenameStr) );
 
 		// Just because the portable ini file exists doesn't mean we can actually run in portable
 		// mode.  In order to determine our read/write permissions to the PCSX2, we must try to
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/CreateMemoryCardDialog.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/CreateMemoryCardDialog.cpp
index b3c053dfd7..a948860679 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/CreateMemoryCardDialog.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/CreateMemoryCardDialog.cpp
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ bool Dialogs::CreateMemoryCardDialog::CreateIt( const wxString& mcdFile, uint si
 	u8	m_effeffs[528*16];
 	memset8<0xff>( m_effeffs );
 
-	Console.WriteLn( L"(FileMcd) Creating new %uMB memory card: '%s'", sizeInMB, mcdFile.c_str() );
+	Console.WriteLn( L"(FileMcd) Creating new %uMB memory card: '%s'", sizeInMB, WX_STR(mcdFile) );
 
 	wxFFile fp( mcdFile, L"wb" );
 	if( !fp.IsOpened() ) return false;
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/FirstTimeWizard.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/FirstTimeWizard.cpp
index 447b781527..cb1fb5fc6b 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/FirstTimeWizard.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/FirstTimeWizard.cpp
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ Panels::FirstTimeIntroPanel::FirstTimeIntroPanel( wxWindow* parent )
 
 	FastFormatUnicode faqFile;
 	faqFile.Write( L"file:///%s/Docs/PCSX2_FAQ.pdf",
-		InstallFolder.ToString().c_str() );
+		WX_STR(InstallFolder.ToString()) );
 
 	wxStaticBoxSizer& langSel	= *new wxStaticBoxSizer( wxVERTICAL, this, _("Language selector") );
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
index d30ccadb94..8f56886af7 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Dialogs/ImportSettingsDialog.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ Dialogs::ImportSettingsDialog::ImportSettingsDialog( wxWindow* parent )
 
 		/// (%s is the app name, normally PCSX2 -- omitting one or both %s is allowed)
 		pxE( L"Existing %s settings have been found in the configured settings folder.  Would you like to import these settings or overwrite them with %s default values?\n\n(or press Cancel to select a different settings folder)"
-		), pxGetAppName().c_str(), pxGetAppName().c_str()
+		), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()), WX_STR(pxGetAppName())
 	)));
 
 	wxBoxSizer& s_buttons = *new wxBoxSizer( wxHORIZONTAL );
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/ExecutorThread.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/ExecutorThread.cpp
index 4b594bfd30..79d5060212 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/ExecutorThread.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/ExecutorThread.cpp
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ using namespace pxSizerFlags;
 // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 bool ConsoleLogSource_Event::Write( const pxEvtQueue* evtHandler, const SysExecEvent* evt, const wxChar* msg ) {
-	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName().c_str(), evt->GetEventName().c_str()) + msg );
+	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", WX_STR(evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName()), WX_STR(evt->GetEventName())) + msg );
 }
 bool ConsoleLogSource_Event::Warn( const pxEvtQueue* evtHandler, const SysExecEvent* evt, const wxChar* msg )	{
-	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName().c_str(), evt->GetEventName().c_str()) + msg );
+	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", WX_STR(evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName()), WX_STR(evt->GetEventName())) + msg );
 }
 bool ConsoleLogSource_Event::Error( const pxEvtQueue* evtHandler, const SysExecEvent* evt, const wxChar* msg ) {
-	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName().c_str(), evt->GetEventName().c_str()) + msg );
+	return _parent::Write( pxsFmt(L"(%s:%s) ", WX_STR(evtHandler->GetEventHandlerName()), WX_STR(evt->GetEventName())) + msg );
 }
 
 ConsoleLogSource_Event::ConsoleLogSource_Event()
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ void SysExecEvent::SetException( BaseException* ex )
 {
 	if( !ex ) return;
 
-	ex->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt(L"(%s) ", GetEventName().c_str());
+	ex->DiagMsg() += pxsFmt(L"(%s) ", WX_STR(GetEventName()));
 	//ex->UserMsg() = prefix + ex->UserMsg();
 
 	if( m_sync )
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp
index 9c220b0a12..7af9de908b 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/FrameForGS.cpp
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ void GSFrame::OnUpdateTitle( wxTimerEvent& evt )
 	const u64& smode2 = *(u64*)PS2GS_BASE(GS_SMODE2);
 
 	SetTitle( pxsFmt( L"%s | %s (%s) | Limiter: %s | fps: %6.02f%s | State %d",
-		fromUTF8(gsDest).c_str(),
+		WX_STR(fromUTF8(gsDest)),
 		(smode2 & 1) ? L"Interlaced" : L"Progressive",
 		(smode2 & 2) ? L"frame" : L"field",
 		limiterStr, fps, cpuUsage.c_str(), States_GetCurrentSlot() )
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/GlobalCommands.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/GlobalCommands.cpp
index 28adc033b4..aaa5343727 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/GlobalCommands.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/GlobalCommands.cpp
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ namespace Implementations
 			default: break;
 		}
 
-		Console.WriteLn(L"(GSwindow) Aspect ratio: %s.", arts.c_str());
+		Console.WriteLn(L"(GSwindow) Aspect ratio: %s.", WX_STR(arts));
 		UpdateImagePosition();
 	}
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ namespace Implementations
 			if( !!part2 )
 				name += L"_" + part2;
 
-			gsText.Printf( L"%s.%d.gs", name.c_str(), StatesC );
+			gsText.Printf( L"%s.%d.gs", WX_STR(name), StatesC );
 			Text = Path::Combine( g_Conf->Folders.Savestates, gsText );
 		}
 		else
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ void AcceleratorDictionary::Map( const KeyAcceleratorCode& _acode, const char *s
 			//ini file contains alternative parsable key combination for current 'searchfor'.
 			acode = codeParser;
 			Console.WriteLn(Color_StrongGreen, L"Overriding '%s': assigning %s (instead of %s)",
-				fromUTF8( searchfor ).c_str(), acode.ToString().c_str(), _acode.ToString().c_str());
+				WX_STR(fromUTF8( searchfor )), WX_STR(acode.ToString()), WX_STR(_acode.ToString()));
 		}
 	}
 	// End of overrides section
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ void AcceleratorDictionary::Map( const KeyAcceleratorCode& _acode, const char *s
 		Console.Warning(
 			L"Kbd Accelerator '%s' is mapped multiple times.\n"
 			L"\t'Command %s' is being replaced by '%s'",
-			acode.ToString().c_str(), fromUTF8( result->Id ).c_str(), fromUTF8( searchfor ).c_str()
+			WX_STR(acode.ToString()), WX_STR(fromUTF8( result->Id )), WX_STR(fromUTF8( searchfor ))
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ void AcceleratorDictionary::Map( const KeyAcceleratorCode& _acode, const char *s
 	if( result == NULL )
 	{
 		Console.Warning( L"Kbd Accelerator '%s' is mapped to unknown command '%s'",
-			acode.ToString().c_str(), fromUTF8( searchfor ).c_str()
+			WX_STR(acode.ToString()), WX_STR(fromUTF8( searchfor ))
 		);
 	}
 	else
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/MainMenuClicks.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/MainMenuClicks.cpp
index 56f99e0562..83dd1dc2ce 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/MainMenuClicks.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/MainMenuClicks.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ void MainEmuFrame::Menu_ResetAllSettings_Click(wxCommandEvent &event)
 		ScopedCoreThreadPopup suspender;
 		if( !Msgbox::OkCancel( pxsFmt(
 			pxE( L"This command clears %s settings and allows you to re-run the First-Time Wizard.  You will need to manually restart %s after this operation.\n\nWARNING!!  Click OK to delete *ALL* settings for %s and force-close the app, losing any current emulation progress.  Are you absolutely sure?\n\n(note: settings for plugins are unaffected)"
-			), pxGetAppName().c_str(), pxGetAppName().c_str(), pxGetAppName().c_str() ),
+			), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()) ),
 			_("Reset all settings?") ) )
 		{
 			suspender.AllowResume();
@@ -255,10 +255,10 @@ bool MainEmuFrame::_DoSelectIsoBrowser( wxString& result )
 	
 	wxArrayString isoFilterTypes;
 
-	isoFilterTypes.Add(pxsFmt(_("All Supported (%s)"), (isoSupportedLabel + L" .dump" + L" .gz").c_str()));
+	isoFilterTypes.Add(pxsFmt(_("All Supported (%s)"), WX_STR((isoSupportedLabel + L" .dump" + L" .gz"))));
 	isoFilterTypes.Add(isoSupportedList + L";*.dump" + L";*.gz");
 
-	isoFilterTypes.Add(pxsFmt(_("Disc Images (%s)"), isoSupportedLabel.c_str() ));
+	isoFilterTypes.Add(pxsFmt(_("Disc Images (%s)"), WX_STR(isoSupportedLabel) ));
 	isoFilterTypes.Add(isoSupportedList);
 
 	isoFilterTypes.Add(pxsFmt(_("Blockdumps (%s)"), L".dump" ));
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/MemoryCardListPanel.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/MemoryCardListPanel.cpp
index 728285abf7..09cd6aec65 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/MemoryCardListPanel.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/MemoryCardListPanel.cpp
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::Apply()
 		if( g_Conf->Mcd[slot].Enabled )
 		{
 			used++;
-			Console.WriteLn( L"slot[%d]='%s'", slot, g_Conf->Mcd[slot].Filename.GetFullName().c_str() );
+			Console.WriteLn( L"slot[%d]='%s'", slot, WX_STR(g_Conf->Mcd[slot].Filename.GetFullName()) );
 		}
 	}
 	if( !used )
@@ -619,13 +619,13 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::AppStatusEvent_OnSettingsApplied()
 			if (isValidNewFilename(m_Cards[slot].Filename.GetFullName(), GetMcdPath(), errMsg, 5))
 			{
 				if ( !Dialogs::CreateMemoryCardDialog::CreateIt(targetFile, 8) )
-					Console.Error( L"Automatic createion of MCD '%s' failed. Hope for the best...", targetFile.c_str() );
+					Console.Error( L"Automatic createion of MCD '%s' failed. Hope for the best...", WX_STR(targetFile) );
 				else
-					Console.WriteLn( L"memcard created: '%s'.", targetFile.c_str() );
+					Console.WriteLn( L"memcard created: '%s'.", WX_STR(targetFile) );
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				Console.Error( L"memcard was enabled but had an invalid file name. Aborting automatic creation. Hope for the best... (%s)", errMsg.c_str() );
+				Console.Error( L"memcard was enabled but had an invalid file name. Aborting automatic creation. Hope for the best... (%s)", WX_STR(errMsg) );
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -706,9 +706,9 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiCreateNewCard( McdSlotItem& card )
 		card.Filename  = dialog.result_createdMcdFilename;
 		card.IsPresent = true;
 		if ( card.Slot >= 0)
-			Console.WriteLn(L"setting new card to slot %u: '%s'", card.Slot, card.Filename.GetFullName().c_str());
+			Console.WriteLn(L"setting new card to slot %u: '%s'", card.Slot, WX_STR(card.Filename.GetFullName()));
 		else
-			Console.WriteLn(L"Created a new unassigned card file: '%s'", card.Filename.GetFullName().c_str() );
+			Console.WriteLn(L"Created a new unassigned card file: '%s'", WX_STR(card.Filename.GetFullName()) );
 	}
 	else
 		card.IsEnabled=false;
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiDeleteCard( McdSlotItem& card )
 		wxString content;
 		content.Printf(
 			pxE( L"You are about to delete the formatted memory card '%s'. All data on this card will be lost!  Are you absolutely and quite positively sure?"
-				), card.Filename.GetFullName().c_str()
+				), WX_STR(card.Filename.GetFullName())
 		);
 
 		result = Msgbox::YesNo( content, _("Delete memory file?") );
@@ -791,7 +791,7 @@ bool Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiDuplicateCard(McdSlotItem& src, McdSl
 			if( !isValidNewFilename( newFilename, basepath, errMsg, 5 ) )
 			{
 				wxString message;
-				message.Printf(_("Failed: %s"), errMsg.c_str());
+				message.Printf(_("Failed: %s"), WX_STR(errMsg));
 				Msgbox::Alert( message, _("Duplicate memory card") );
 				continue;
 			}
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ bool Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiDuplicateCard(McdSlotItem& src, McdSl
 		{
 			wxString heading;
 			heading.Printf( pxE( L"Failed: Destination memory card '%s' is in use." ),
-				dest.Filename.GetFullName().c_str(), dest.Slot
+				WX_STR(dest.Filename.GetFullName()), dest.Slot
 			);
 
 			wxString content;
@@ -825,8 +825,8 @@ bool Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiDuplicateCard(McdSlotItem& src, McdSl
 		// Destination memcard isEnabled state is the same now as the source's
 		wxString success;
 		success.Printf(_("Memory card '%s' duplicated to '%s'."),
-			src.Filename.GetFullName().c_str(),
-			dest.Filename.GetFullName().c_str()
+			WX_STR(src.Filename.GetFullName()),
+			WX_STR(dest.Filename.GetFullName())
 			);
 		Msgbox::Alert(success, _("Success"));
 		dest.IsPresent=true;
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiRenameCard( McdSlotItem& card )
 	while (1){
 		wxString title;
 		title.Printf(_("Select a new name for the memory card '%s'\n( '.ps2' will be added automatically)"),
-						card.Filename.GetFullName().c_str()
+						WX_STR(card.Filename.GetFullName())
 						);
 		newFilename = wxGetTextFromUser(title, _("Rename memory card"));
 		if( newFilename==L"" )
@@ -863,7 +863,7 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiRenameCard( McdSlotItem& card )
 		if( !isValidNewFilename( newFilename, basepath, errMsg, 5 ) )
 		{
 			wxString message;
-			message.Printf(_("Error (%s)"), errMsg.c_str());
+			message.Printf(_("Error (%s)"), WX_STR(errMsg));
 			Msgbox::Alert( message, _("Rename memory card") );
 			continue;
 		}
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::UiAssignUnassignFile(McdSlotItem &card)
 			selections.Add(sel);
 		}
 		wxString title;
-		title.Printf(_("Select a target port for '%s'"), card.Filename.GetFullName().c_str());
+		title.Printf(_("Select a target port for '%s'"), WX_STR(card.Filename.GetFullName()));
 		int res=wxGetSingleChoiceIndex(title, _("Insert card"), selections, this);
 		if( res<0 )
 			return;
@@ -1108,10 +1108,10 @@ void Panels::MemoryCardListPanel_Simple::ReadFilesAtMcdFolder(){
 			currentCardFile.Slot		= -1;
 			currentCardFile.IsEnabled	= false;
 			m_allFilesystemCards.push_back(currentCardFile);
-			//DevCon.WriteLn(L"Enumerated file: '%s'", currentCardFile.Filename.GetFullName().c_str() );
+			//DevCon.WriteLn(L"Enumerated file: '%s'", WX_STR(currentCardFile.Filename.GetFullName()) );
 		}
 		/*else
-			DevCon.WriteLn(L"MCD folder card file skipped: '%s'", memcardList[i].c_str() );*/
+			DevCon.WriteLn(L"MCD folder card file skipped: '%s'", WX_STR(memcardList[i]) );*/
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PluginSelectorPanel.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PluginSelectorPanel.cpp
index fb850d99f7..d3786cf68e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PluginSelectorPanel.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/PluginSelectorPanel.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ public:
 			if ( ((version >> 16)&0xff) == tbl_PluginInfo[pluginTypeIndex].version )
 				return true;
 
-			Console.Warning("%s Plugin %s:  Version %x != %x", info.shortname, m_plugpath.c_str(), 0xff&(version >> 16), info.version);
+			Console.Warning("%s Plugin %s:  Version %x != %x", info.shortname, WX_STR(m_plugpath), 0xff&(version >> 16), info.version);
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ void Panels::PluginSelectorPanel::AppStatusEvent_OnSettingsApplied()
 static wxString GetApplyFailedMsg()
 {
 	return pxsFmt( pxE( L"All plugins must have valid selections for %s to run.  If you are unable to make a valid selection due to missing plugins or an incomplete install of %s, then press Cancel to close the Configuration panel."
-	), pxGetAppName().c_str(), pxGetAppName().c_str() );
+	), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()), WX_STR(pxGetAppName()) );
 }
 
 void Panels::PluginSelectorPanel::Apply()
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ void Panels::PluginSelectorPanel::Apply()
 			wxString plugname( pi->GetShortname() );
 
 			throw Exception::CannotApplySettings( this )
-				.SetDiagMsg(pxsFmt( L"PluginSelectorPanel: Invalid or missing selection for the %s plugin.", plugname.c_str()) )
-				.SetUserMsg(pxsFmt( _("Please select a valid plugin for the %s."), plugname.c_str() ) + L"\n\n" + GetApplyFailedMsg() );
+				.SetDiagMsg(pxsFmt( L"PluginSelectorPanel: Invalid or missing selection for the %s plugin.", WX_STR(plugname)) )
+				.SetUserMsg(pxsFmt( _("Please select a valid plugin for the %s."), WX_STR(plugname) ) + L"\n\n" + GetApplyFailedMsg() );
 		}
 
 		g_Conf->BaseFilenames.Plugins[pid] = GetFilename((int)m_ComponentBoxes->Get(pid).GetClientData(sel));
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ void Panels::PluginSelectorPanel::Apply()
 			.SetDiagMsg(ex.FormatDiagnosticMessage())
 			.SetUserMsg(pxsFmt(
 				_("The selected %s plugin failed to load.\n\nReason: %s\n\n"),
-				plugname.c_str(), ex.FormatDisplayMessage().c_str()
+				WX_STR(plugname), WX_STR(ex.FormatDisplayMessage())
 			) + GetApplyFailedMsg());
 	}
 }
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ void Panels::PluginSelectorPanel::OnProgress( wxCommandEvent& evt )
 			if( result.PassedTest & pi->typemask )
 			{
 				int sel = m_ComponentBoxes->Get(pid).Append( wxsFormat( L"%s %s [%s]",
-					result.Name.c_str(), result.Version[pid].c_str(), Path::GetFilenameWithoutExt( (*m_FileList)[evtidx] ).c_str() ),
+					WX_STR(result.Name), WX_STR(result.Version[pid]), WX_STR(Path::GetFilenameWithoutExt( (*m_FileList)[evtidx] )) ),
 					(void*)evtidx
 				);
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/VideoPanel.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/VideoPanel.cpp
index 2f13d62926..f7d6df5286 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/Panels/VideoPanel.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/Panels/VideoPanel.cpp
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ void Panels::FramelimiterPanel::Apply()
 		throw Exception::CannotApplySettings( this )
 			.SetDiagMsg(pxsFmt(
 				L"Error while parsing either NTSC or PAL framerate settings.\n\tNTSC Input = %s\n\tPAL Input  = %s",
-				m_text_BaseNtsc->GetValue().c_str(), m_text_BasePal->GetValue().c_str()
+				WX_STR(m_text_BaseNtsc->GetValue()), WX_STR(m_text_BasePal->GetValue())
 			) )
 			.SetUserMsg(_t("Error while parsing either NTSC or PAL framerate settings.  Settings must be valid floating point numerics."));
 	}
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/SysState.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/SysState.cpp
index 4e6f137aa8..2c43fed888 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/SysState.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/SysState.cpp
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ void MemorySavestateEntry::FreezeIn( pxInputStream& reader ) const
 	if (entrySize < expectedSize)
 	{
 		Console.WriteLn( Color_Yellow, " '%s' is incomplete (expected 0x%x bytes, loading only 0x%x bytes)",
-			GetFilename().c_str(), expectedSize, entrySize );
+			WX_STR(GetFilename()), expectedSize, entrySize );
 	}
 
 	uint copylen = std::min(entrySize, expectedSize);
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ protected:
 			{
 				if (entry->GetName().CmpNoCase(SavestateEntries[i]->GetFilename()) == 0)
 				{
-					DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Green, L" ... found '%s'", SavestateEntries[i]->GetFilename().c_str() );
+					DevCon.WriteLn( Color_Green, L" ... found '%s'", WX_STR(SavestateEntries[i]->GetFilename()) );
 					foundEntry[i] = entry.DetachPtr();
 					break;
 				}
@@ -588,7 +588,7 @@ protected:
 			if (SavestateEntries[i]->IsRequired())
 			{
 				throwIt = true;
-				Console.WriteLn( Color_Red, " ... not found '%s'!", SavestateEntries[i]->GetFilename().c_str() );
+				Console.WriteLn( Color_Red, " ... not found '%s'!", WX_STR(SavestateEntries[i]->GetFilename()) );
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ void StateCopy_SaveToSlot( uint num )
 	}
 
 	Console.WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, "Saving savestate to slot %d...", num );
-	Console.Indent().WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"filename: %s", file.c_str() );
+	Console.Indent().WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"filename: %s", WX_STR(file) );
 
 	StateCopy_SaveToFile( file );
 }
@@ -680,8 +680,8 @@ void StateCopy_LoadFromSlot( uint slot, bool isFromBackup )
 		return;
 	}
 
-	Console.WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"Loading savestate from slot %d...%s", slot, wxString( isFromBackup?L" (backup)":L"" ).c_str() );
-	Console.Indent().WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"filename: %s", file.c_str() );
+	Console.WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"Loading savestate from slot %d...%s", slot, WX_STR(wxString( isFromBackup?L" (backup)":L"" )) );
+	Console.Indent().WriteLn( Color_StrongGreen, L"filename: %s", WX_STR(file) );
 
 	StateCopy_LoadFromFile( file );
 }
diff --git a/pcsx2/gui/i18n.cpp b/pcsx2/gui/i18n.cpp
index 1701bedac1..6f58d4bb9d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/gui/i18n.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/gui/i18n.cpp
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ bool i18n_SetLanguage( wxLanguage wxLangId, const wxString& langCode )
 		{
 			info = wxLocale::FindLanguageInfo(langCode);
 			if (!info)
-				Console.Warning( "Unrecognized language canonical name '%ls'", langCode.c_str() );
+				Console.Warning( "Unrecognized language canonical name '%ls'", WX_STR(langCode) );
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ bool i18n_SetLanguage( wxLanguage wxLangId, const wxString& langCode )
 	if( !locale->IsOk() )
 	{
 		Console.Warning( L"SetLanguage: '%s' [%s] is not supported by the operating system",
-			i18n_GetBetterLanguageName(info).c_str(), locale->GetCanonicalName().c_str()
+			WX_STR(i18n_GetBetterLanguageName(info)), WX_STR(locale->GetCanonicalName())
 		);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ bool i18n_SetLanguage( wxLanguage wxLangId, const wxString& langCode )
 	}
 	
 	Console.WriteLn( L"Loading language translation databases for '%s' [%s]",
-		i18n_GetBetterLanguageName(info).c_str(), locale->GetCanonicalName().c_str()
+		WX_STR(i18n_GetBetterLanguageName(info)), WX_STR(locale->GetCanonicalName())
 	);
 
 	static const wxChar* dictFiles[] =
diff --git a/pcsx2/ps2/BiosTools.cpp b/pcsx2/ps2/BiosTools.cpp
index fff4b984ab..126b530b8c 100644
--- a/pcsx2/ps2/BiosTools.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/ps2/BiosTools.cpp
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ static void LoadExtraRom( const wxChar* ext, u8 (&dest)[_size] )
 
 	// Try first a basic extension concatenation (normally results in something like name.bin.rom1)
 	const wxString Bios( g_Conf->FullpathToBios() );
-	Bios1.Printf( L"%s.%s", Bios.c_str(), ext);
+	Bios1.Printf( L"%s.%s", WX_STR(Bios), ext);
 
 	try
 	{
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ static void LoadExtraRom( const wxChar* ext, u8 (&dest)[_size] )
 		// still work fine.
 
 		Console.Warning(L"BIOS Warning: %s could not be read (permission denied?)", ext);
-		Console.Indent().WriteLn(L"Details: %s", ex.FormatDiagnosticMessage().c_str());
+		Console.Indent().WriteLn(L"Details: %s", WX_STR(ex.FormatDiagnosticMessage()));
 		Console.Indent().WriteLn(L"File size: %llu", filesize);
 	}
 }
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ void LoadBIOS()
 		LoadBiosVersion( memfp, BiosVersion, BiosDescription, biosZone );
 		
 		Console.SetTitle( pxsFmt( L"Running BIOS (%s v%u.%u)",
-			biosZone.c_str(), BiosVersion >> 8, BiosVersion & 0xff
+			WX_STR(biosZone), BiosVersion >> 8, BiosVersion & 0xff
 		));
 
 		//injectIRX("host.irx");	//not fully tested; still buggy