***WARNING - @$%&ING LONG POST!***
After reading PacMans replay to my query, I went into my Docs&Settings folder and found the Kymaera log. This is what I found:
******************
500 : Log System initted
500 : registering PNG
510 : registering JPG
510 : registering GIF
640 : registering CD
650 : registering JOYSTICK
670 : setting app path
670 : Calling startup
670 : Current working directory is C:\Documents and Settings\Richard\
670 : sound start
670 : Loading kymaera.kfg
670 : Looking for file C:\Documents and Settings\Richard\config\kymaera.kfg
670 : Kymaera.kfg file not found, Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
670 : Kymaera not configured, run Kymaera Config
3825 : error starting up
3835 : shutting down
Because it was looking for the konfig file in the current working directory I copied the config folder across, tried again, and recieved this log file:
******************
300 : Log System initted
300 : registering PNG
300 : registering JPG
300 : registering GIF
400 : registering CD
410 : registering JOYSTICK
410 : setting app path
410 : Calling startup
410 : Current working directory is C:\Documents and Settings\Richard\
410 : sound start
410 : Loading kymaera.kfg
410 : files skins\custom\matrix.skn not found
410 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Fighters.xml
410 : load gamelist lists\Fighters.xml 1
410 : load gamelist 9
410 : Unable to load game list lists\Fighters.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
410 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Shooters.xml
410 : load gamelist lists\Shooters.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Shooters.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Puzzle.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Puzzle.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Puzzle.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Platform.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Platform.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Platform.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Driving.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Driving.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Driving.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Ball & Paddle.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Ball & Paddle.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Ball & Paddle.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Breakout.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Breakout.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Breakout.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Casino.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Casino.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Casino.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Climbing.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Climbing.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Climbing.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Maze.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Maze.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Maze.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Mini-Games.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Mini-Games.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Mini-Games.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Misc.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Misc.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Misc.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Multiplay.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Multiplay.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Multiplay.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Pinball.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Pinball.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Pinball.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Quiz.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Quiz.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Quiz.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Rythm.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Rythm.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Rythm.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Sports.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Sports.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Sports.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Tabletop.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Tabletop.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Tabletop.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
420 : EMU load 16 gamelist lists\Wrestling.xml
420 : load gamelist lists\Wrestling.xml 1
420 : load gamelist 9
420 : Unable to load game list lists\Wrestling.xml
Please Run KymaeraConfig to configure.
430 : exit startup
430 : Initializing fonts
430 : Initializing Input
430 : Initializing Timer
I decided that I would play it safe and placed all of the Kymaera folders into the root of Docs&Settings, and finally, SUCCESS! In my case this was C:\Documents and Settings\Richard.
Example: the config folder's address is now: 'C:\Documents and Settings\Richard\config'
This seems to make it work fine.
Does anybody know of a registry hack that would change this so that the program will run in its original folder? My HDD is partitioned into two, with all my MAME stuff (ALL OF IT!) on the D: drive for safety. I tried changing a registry entry called HOMEROOT, I think it was, but this didn't seem to do anything. I know it's just a small quibble, but it's annoying the hell out of me! If there's any interest in it, I could pen a guide to getting this and a lot of other FE's running in shell, completely hiding Windows XP. The only thing that actually gives it away that the machine's a PC is the BIOS screen. Handy for those running a VGA.
Now all he has to do is get the exit&shutdown working!
BTW Peale, nice avatar!