Help Out A Newbie

[theblt]

Well, I started out my cabinet last year with my grandfather.  He's good with woodworking so I thought it'd be fun.  We got the cabinet to to where I could start painting and adding hardware.  Then school came along and I kinda stopped.  But now I've gotten back into it again.  Lots has happend since then I guess with all the keyboard encoders and hacks.  I guess what I'm asking is, where is a good website for complete newbies to start with everything from the software end of the job to the hardware installation.  I'd like to know how I could start the arcade machine to automatically start up a menu or something in DOS but still be able to go into Windows98 and upload games via CD-R or something.  Also, I'd like to know how keyboard encoders work and what kind of keyboard I need.  I tore apart two old crappy keyboards and they were both the newer kinds with the two contact membrane thingys.  So I'm not sure how the whole soldering process would work with that.  So where are some good sites?  I've looked all over BYOAC and read the tuts and will do it again, but what about the win98 thing?  Cuz I know roms work better under a DOS environment.  So if ya can help, thanks a bunch.  (cuz I really need it. )

[Minwah]

Yo that's a lot of stuff you're asking:

How good is your PC?  Remember for newer ones Windows is better (quicker) than DOS.

Hack a keyboard only if you are flat broke (this is the crappest option as you will get ghosting).  Buy an IPAC (ultimarc.com) or KeyWiz (sorry RandyT not sure your URL) or whatever if you can afford it (easiest option).  Or if you can get a gamepad cheaper hack that.

Hope that helps slightly  

[Kane]

http://www.groovygamegear.com/ - KeyWiz...I to am a newbie and I went with this because 1- I can't solder 2 - I needed cheap(the wife hates me spending money) 3 - I needed easy.

[theblt]

I know its a lot, but I really want to know.  I think the machine is a 333Mhz with 64mb ram.  I'll prolly end up getting a new mobo and a faster CPU.  But I know Windows is better because of the GUI, but I know DOS is faster because there are less proggys running in the background.  So what program should I use then?  I have MAME and MAME32.

[Kane]

if you are upgrading the mb and processor you can run the windows version and it will be just as fast as the dos.

[theblt]

Well, what program should I use then?  ArcadeOS or somethin?

[theblt]

?

[Tiger-Heli]

Well, what program should I use then?  ArcadeOS or somethin?

I think ArcadeOS is only DOS-based.  I like EmuLoader, but it's very Windowsy.  For a true cab, I would recommend Lazarus or )p('s Emulaxian virtual arcade.  (Sorry I don't have links)

[eightbit]

Use Windows its faster than Dos. Use WinXP if your PC is fast enough. Buy a keywiz for an encoder. Use Mame32 for a front end at least until you find something you like better. Lazaruz and emulaxian might be a little tough to configure when you add to it getting everything else to work.

[Minwah]

IMO you should stick with DOS with your 333.  Use ArcadeOS and obviously DOS MAME.  Windows is pretty painful on a PC that slow...

When you upgrade, then goto WinXP and one of the FE's in the software section.

Good luck!

[rick6668]

I agree, stick with DOS for that MB and processor.

I run ArcadeOS with DOS MAME, also have Win98 installed for easy access via my network.

My autoexec.bat boots to a menu in DOS which I can then select 1 for ArcadeOS or 2 for Windows.

Once I exit ArcadeOS it goes back to the menu and I can just shut down from DOS.

If you want to persue something like this send me an email at rick6668@yahoo.com  
Good Luck

Rick

[Pixelhugger]

Encoder...get an iPac.