What is the BEST and FASTEST way to upgrade Mame while keeping all settings

[eds1275]

Hi!

I moved in September. My spinal tap arcade did not survive, the computer anyways. I replaced it with something fancy and expensive and something I couldn't really afford :/

Anyways the new one has Win 10 on it, and windows 10 is only offering me one choice for "older programs" in terms of controls. So I have all my track ball stuff working, but only player 1 joystick because it won't allow any more than that.

I have tried a bunch of things, and am totally up for any suggestions, but I am stumped and want to game with friends again. I have a lot of games on it, and the front end was designed meticulously with all the extras, and controls are all mapped. And I mean all - and I have a strange layout for buttons so I'd prefer to not do a blanket fix.

Is there a way to upgrade Mame and keep all that jazz? I have mame .128 I believe.

[Wzrd0803]

If you copy the new Mame over the old one in the same directory, it should save all the settings.

Hi!

I moved in September. My spinal tap arcade did not survive, the computer anyways. I replaced it with something fancy and expensive and something I couldn't really afford :/

Anyways the new one has Win 10 on it, and windows 10 is only offering me one choice for "older programs" in terms of controls. So I have all my track ball stuff working, but only player 1 joystick because it won't allow any more than that.

I have tried a bunch of things, and am totally up for any suggestions, but I am stumped and want to game with friends again. I have a lot of games on it, and the front end was designed meticulously with all the extras, and controls are all mapped. And I mean all - and I have a strange layout for buttons so I'd prefer to not do a blanket fix.

Is there a way to upgrade Mame and keep all that jazz? I have mame .128 I believe.

[eds1275]

If you copy the new Mame over the old one in the same directory, it should save all the settings.

But won't I need a new romset, and don't they have different files? Will that not be an issue?

[keilmillerjr]

If you copy the new Mame over the old one in the same directory, it should save all the settings.

But won't I need a new romset, and don't they have different files? Will that not be an issue?

Correct. That was poor advice.

[Hoopz]

Were or are you able to recover any files from the hard drive of the other PC?

[eds1275]

Yes the hard drive was intact. I have all the files. It was the motherboard that died, and it was ancient so I didn't want to source another old one.

[Hoopz]

You can move the Mame folder from the old hard drive to the new one.  If you keep the directories and paths the same, you should be able to get the software side of stuff running without too much effort.

[Ond]

For actual upgrading of MAME CLRMamePro is the tool to manage differences in romsets CHDs etc.  A bit of a learning curve but well worth it.

[EwJ]

You can move the Mame folder from the old hard drive to the new one.  If you keep the directories and paths the same, you should be able to get the software side of stuff running without too much effort.

To quote saint in Hoopz's Signature "First off, Hoopz is right.".

If you were happy with how things were working, there's no need to go through the headache of upgrading/updating (unless there was a significant improvement to one of your favorite games or something in more recent versions).

[eds1275]

If you were happy with how things were working, there's no need to go through the headache of upgrading/updating (unless there was a significant improvement to one of your favorite games or something in more recent versions).

Hoopz was not right. My problem is that windows 10 sets my old version of mame as an "older program" and only allows one joystick to be associated with it.

[Hoopz]

I'm sure there's a work around for the joystick issue. What encoder are you using to connect your joysticks?

[Ond]

If you were happy with how things were working, there's no need to go through the headache of upgrading/updating (unless there was a significant improvement to one of your favorite games or something in more recent versions).

Hoopz was not right. My problem is that windows 10 sets my old version of mame as an "older program" and only allows one joystick to be associated with it.

Bummer.  Before anything else right click on the Mame exe and choose compatibility options.  If that doesn't work you may need to upgrade to a more recent version of Mame.  I can help you with this some of which will be better via email.  You got my email or just PM me.  OND will fix.  Trust.   

[EwJ]

If you were happy with how things were working, there's no need to go through the headache of upgrading/updating (unless there was a significant improvement to one of your favorite games or something in more recent versions).

Hoopz was not right. My problem is that windows 10 sets my old version of mame as an "older program" and only allows one joystick to be associated with it.

I had a look at your build post. Awesome Build BTW, and theme (Spinal Tap).
You have 2 U360's as your encoders?  Have you checked if Win10 or Mame.ini are now seeing them both as separate encoders (like #1 and #2)?
Have you tried launching/installing Mame under compatibility modes for Win7 or WinXP?
Checked mame.ini for what is enabled or not enabled?

I'm sure that experienced members here can help if they get all of the details. 
Don't give up, arcade bro.

[eds1275]

Yes to it all!

You have 2 U360's as your encoders?  Have you checked if Win10 or Mame.ini are now seeing them both as separate encoders (like #1 and #2)?
Have you tried launching/installing Mame under compatibility modes for Win7 or WinXP?
Checked mame.ini for what is enabled or not enabled?

I really have been working through this hard and trying al the usual crap and a bunch of unusual things as well. I have posts up on the microsoft forums as well, but nothing is fixing my issues I really love this machine, and will not give up on it. It was just so much work getting the controls and everything mapped out beautifully. I have some free time coming up with this damn COVID thing causing issues so I hope to try this clrmame thing. While keeping a backup, of course... but it's really hit my damn finances hard (which sucks, because these last few years have been BRUTAL ON ME) so I can't pour any cash into it.

[Ond]

I sent you a PM, I'm happy to help if you want it.