Can't run MAME

[RStenberg]

I just downloaded MAME32 for my Windows XP computer. I unzipped the file, and put my galaga ROM folder in the roms folder. Then I double clicked on MAME.exe. When I do this, two windows open, a black window with a title that starts with a C:/ prompt and ends "MAME.exe" and a message titled "M.A.M.E. usage information" instructing me to "consult the documentation for more information" and asking whether I want to display the documentation. This window also informs me that MAME is a console application, and that I should open it from a command prompt. When I click yes or no on the MAME usage information window, the other window disappears. When I try to type "MAME galaga" into the black window, my computer won't let me. When I run mame.exe from a Run prompt, I get the same results that I've already described. Does the message mean something else when it instructs me to run MAME from a command prompt? I've downloaded two different versions of MAME to see if it wasn't just a problem with the version I downloaded, but apparently it isn't. Please help. Thank you.

[RStenberg]

My roommate explained to me that to get a command prompt, I need to type CMD at the Run prompt. I did this, and ran MAME.exe, but it still won't let me run galaga. What am I doing wrong?

[montpics]

That is MAME, not MAME32.

Please make sure that you'd pick the right one.

>CLICK HERE!< -Look for MAME32 0.95 or MAME Plus! 0.91

[PhatPlaya]

Yup, just use MAME with an integrated Frontend
and make sure you have the latest version of what youre trying to play.
That should fix it ..

[hanzmoleman007]

MAME32 is a MUCH easier way to get familiar with the mame emulator, if you are a novice.

[hagbard]

To use standard cmd mame, basically you need to know a couple of thing.
First of all, you have to type "mame -createconfig" , so a mame.ini will be created. Then open it with the notepad, and edit the rompath. If you want to customize it, go to the subfolder "docs" and open the "windows.txt". Most usual command line options are explained there, and are named almost the same as the .ini entries.

[RStenberg]

I ran createconfig, and now have an .ini file. I understand what you're saying about customizing the file, but I don't understand what you mean about editing the rompath. What is this, and why do I have to do it? At this point, I'm getting further to running galaga than I did. Now when I try to run it I get a list of all the files that are in my rom folder with the message NOT FOUND, followed by "ERROR: required files are missing, the game cannot be run." This makes no sense to me since I have both a galaga folder in my rom folder, and copies of the individual files that it says I don't have in the rom folder. Any idea what the problem is?

[hagbard]

The rompath, below it's an example of what I said, the first lines of my mame.ini . Please note that it should match exactlly the name of your mame excutable, so if it's named "mame.exe" the ini should be "mame.ini", but if it's called "mamepp.exe", for example, should be "mamepp.ini". Anyway, if you type createconfig you son't need to worry about

### mamepp.ini ###

### Frontend Related ###
clones                  1

### Windows path and directory options ###
rompath              d:\emu\arcade\mame\roms\;d:\emu\arcade\mame\roms\sega;e:\
samplepath              d:\emu\arcade\mame\samples

Edit the line that reads "rompath" by replacing waht I have thre (or your own ini) qith the full folder path where you have your mame roms. For example, I have some roms on "d:\emu\arcade\mame\roms\" folder, so I type that on the rompath line. I want to add more folders, then I type ";", and another folder: "d:\emu\arcade\mame\roms\sega", and so on.

The error that mame tells you it's probably mame can't find that set, because it's not in your rom path. You don't need to unzip the roms, just leave them in a "galaga.zip" on your rompath. It's also recommend, it's cleaner and easier to manage your roms.

Once you correctly set your rom path, if it's still don't working, try "mame -verifyroms"
It will tell you if some roms are missing or incorrect. Good luck

[Robert]

Also, it sounds like you've unzipped your galaga roms. Put the zip file into the ROMS folder and try again.

[hagbard]

You don't need to unzip the roms, just leave them in a "galaga.zip" on your rompath

Also, it sounds like you've unzipped your galaga roms. Put the zip file into the ROMS folder and try again.