Just a quick checklist:
NOTE: Make sure you have WinRAR of 7-Zip installed so you can unpack Dolphin or the texture pack.
1) Download the latest Development Build of Dolphin at https://dolphin-emu.org/download/. Not the Stable 5.0 build.
2a) Download the latest texture pack found in this thread, which should be V2.4 as of now.
2b) Either pick the DDS BC7 or PNG pack. I recommend using the DDS BC7 pack which loads considerable faster, has less lag and requires less RAM to preload. The PNG won't be available with each update either.
3) Start Dolphin at least once.
4) Within Dolphin open Config and go to Path. Add your folder where your discs and games for the Wii and GameCube are located on your HDD or SSD.
5a) Within Dolphin, go to Graphics -> Advanced and check Load Custom Textures.
5b) If you got the RAM to spare you can enable Prefetch Custom Textures as well. 16 GB is recommended, but with the DDS BC7 pack you don't need as much.
6a) Unpack the texture pack you downloaded. Put it into the Dolphin settings texture folder which is by default in: My Documents/Dolphin/Load/Textures. The unpacked file should contain the folder PZL which you need to put in the mentioned path.
6b) If you are using the Collector's Edition disc the name is already correct for the texture pack. If you are using the Master Quest disc rename it to D43, if you are using the Ocarina of Time VC version rename it NAC or if you are using the Majora's Mask VC version rename it NAR. The region does not matter.
7) Set your settings for Dolphin, your preferences and such. By default the default settings should suffice for now. You might want to check out a different graphics backend which lets you pick OpenGL, Vulkan or DirectX11 (Windows). You might want to increase the Internal Resolution too within the Enhancements tab. Try 3x Native for 1080p monitors or even 6x Native for 4K monitors. You can enable some other effects as well such as Anisotropic Filtering or Anti-Aliasing. Be wary these effects require more of your GPU.
8) Setup your controller. Go to Controllers. Enable Port 1 for the GameCube Controllers as a Standard Controller and start configurating it for your own controller. Xbox One Controller all the way here. But... You can use other controllers as well, or your keyboard, mouse or any combination.
ADVANCED STUFF: I seriously recommend getting used to Dolphin first. Try it out a while, and then continue once you feel familiar.
9) Open Config and check Activate Cheats, you need that if you want to use the enhancement codes.
10) Still in Config, go to Advanced and enable the CPU Clock Override and set it to at least 250%. This part is tricky. Normally I would not recommend doing this. It can break stuff. But for the Zelda 64 games it does wonders and kills all the lag. It also is a must-have for the enhancement codes. Be warned, you require more of your CPU power. If you do not have the CPU power to spare, leave it disabled!
11) Time for the sweet codes. Go to the codes thread I mentioned and start adding them. Right click your game, select Properties and go to the AR Codes and Gecko Codes tab. Add the codes you might find useful and enable them. Be sure to add them correct. AR Codes goes into AR Codes and Gecko Codes goes into Gecko Codes. Be sure to restart your game normally and don't load a previous save state. If you find a bug or a crash, be sure to check if the codes are being properly added and enable. The major 1 reason for issues here.
12) You want to have more control of your save files as individually files. Try using GCI Map which you can change in Config -> GameCube. Don't worry if you already had a save file in a different format. Dolphin can convert between it's own formats. Just go to GameCube Memorycard Management within Tools on the menu bar.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.
Be warned that system requirements for Dolphin might be higher than with Project64.
NOTE: Make sure you have WinRAR of 7-Zip installed so you can unpack Dolphin or the texture pack.
1) Download the latest Development Build of Dolphin at https://dolphin-emu.org/download/. Not the Stable 5.0 build.
2a) Download the latest texture pack found in this thread, which should be V2.4 as of now.
2b) Either pick the DDS BC7 or PNG pack. I recommend using the DDS BC7 pack which loads considerable faster, has less lag and requires less RAM to preload. The PNG won't be available with each update either.
3) Start Dolphin at least once.
4) Within Dolphin open Config and go to Path. Add your folder where your discs and games for the Wii and GameCube are located on your HDD or SSD.
5a) Within Dolphin, go to Graphics -> Advanced and check Load Custom Textures.
5b) If you got the RAM to spare you can enable Prefetch Custom Textures as well. 16 GB is recommended, but with the DDS BC7 pack you don't need as much.
6a) Unpack the texture pack you downloaded. Put it into the Dolphin settings texture folder which is by default in: My Documents/Dolphin/Load/Textures. The unpacked file should contain the folder PZL which you need to put in the mentioned path.
6b) If you are using the Collector's Edition disc the name is already correct for the texture pack. If you are using the Master Quest disc rename it to D43, if you are using the Ocarina of Time VC version rename it NAC or if you are using the Majora's Mask VC version rename it NAR. The region does not matter.
7) Set your settings for Dolphin, your preferences and such. By default the default settings should suffice for now. You might want to check out a different graphics backend which lets you pick OpenGL, Vulkan or DirectX11 (Windows). You might want to increase the Internal Resolution too within the Enhancements tab. Try 3x Native for 1080p monitors or even 6x Native for 4K monitors. You can enable some other effects as well such as Anisotropic Filtering or Anti-Aliasing. Be wary these effects require more of your GPU.
8) Setup your controller. Go to Controllers. Enable Port 1 for the GameCube Controllers as a Standard Controller and start configurating it for your own controller. Xbox One Controller all the way here. But... You can use other controllers as well, or your keyboard, mouse or any combination.
ADVANCED STUFF: I seriously recommend getting used to Dolphin first. Try it out a while, and then continue once you feel familiar.
9) Open Config and check Activate Cheats, you need that if you want to use the enhancement codes.
10) Still in Config, go to Advanced and enable the CPU Clock Override and set it to at least 250%. This part is tricky. Normally I would not recommend doing this. It can break stuff. But for the Zelda 64 games it does wonders and kills all the lag. It also is a must-have for the enhancement codes. Be warned, you require more of your CPU power. If you do not have the CPU power to spare, leave it disabled!
11) Time for the sweet codes. Go to the codes thread I mentioned and start adding them. Right click your game, select Properties and go to the AR Codes and Gecko Codes tab. Add the codes you might find useful and enable them. Be sure to add them correct. AR Codes goes into AR Codes and Gecko Codes goes into Gecko Codes. Be sure to restart your game normally and don't load a previous save state. If you find a bug or a crash, be sure to check if the codes are being properly added and enable. The major 1 reason for issues here.
12) You want to have more control of your save files as individually files. Try using GCI Map which you can change in Config -> GameCube. Don't worry if you already had a save file in a different format. Dolphin can convert between it's own formats. Just go to GameCube Memorycard Management within Tools on the menu bar.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask.
Be warned that system requirements for Dolphin might be higher than with Project64.