Switch on XP and simple front-end

[jimmer]

Please give me ideas for the simplest/neatest solution for switching on my simple standalone machine, Dell SX280 with windows XP.

I will have 6 to 10 games only and not at all bothered what the front end looks like, just want to be able to select games using the panel controls. I'd be happy with launching MAME from the XP desktop if that can be done with the joystick/fire button.

The powering on and off is the area I need help with most.

Is XP safe to just switch off using the Dell font panel power switch?

[TopJimmyCooks]

Many dells (and many other machines) have the ability to shut down windows on a momentary press of the power button.  It's set in the power preferences in control panel.  so you can have one button startup/shutdown for the pc.  Many people extend the wiring to that button so the power button is in a convenient location on the outside of the cab. 

To include the display in that the easiest way is to use a display that turns off or goes to standby when no signal is present.  Otherwise, a smart strip power strip can make the display turns on and off with the pc.

you can use a front end and add it to your startup group so it runs automatically after boot.  I recommend Mala if you're keeping it simple/unobtrusive.

[severdhed]

Many dells (and many other machines) have the ability to shut down windows on a momentary press of the power button.  It's set in the power preferences in control panel.  so you can have one button startup/shutdown for the pc.  Many people extend the wiring to that button so the power button is in a convenient location on the outside of the cab. 

To include the display in that the easiest way is to use a display that turns off or goes to standby when no signal is present.  Otherwise, a smart strip power strip can make the display turns on and off with the pc.

you can use a front end and add it to your startup group so it runs automatically after boot.  I recommend Mala if you're keeping it simple/unobtrusive.

+1

[JDFan]

Many dells (and many other machines) have the ability to shut down windows on a momentary press of the power button.  It's set in the power preferences in control panel.  so you can have one button startup/shutdown for the pc.  Many people extend the wiring to that button so the power button is in a convenient location on the outside of the cab. 

To include the display in that the easiest way is to use a display that turns off or goes to standby when no signal is present.  Otherwise, a smart strip power strip can make the display turns on and off with the pc.

you can use a front end and add it to your startup group so it runs automatically after boot.  I recommend Mala if you're keeping it simple/unobtrusive.

This - though IIRC the option to shutdown is under the "ADVANCED" tab so :

In the Windows XP Control Panel click Power Options. Click the Advanced tab. In the Power Buttons section, under “When I press the power button on my computer,” select “Shutdown.” (If this is not visible on your Advanced tab, then your computer does not have the hardware capability to do this job correctly, or the capability is disabled in CMOS.) Click Apply. This sets your computer so that when you press the hardware power button it will first do a proper shutdown of Windows, and then power off the computer.

[ark_ader]

Use DOS.

Load everything on a USB and away you go.

HOW?

A nice start would be: www.plop.at