Running older versions of MAME

[Steven633]

NEWB ALERT....

I have tried downloading an older version of MAME to run on a low spec machine but can't get it to work. I have tried MAME055b.zip, unzipped it then clicked on the MAME exe but all I get is the command line window which flashes up for a second with a error message I can't read in the short time it appears for, then nothing.

Is there anything else I need to download to make this work. My newer versions of MAME run fine on my machine.

[gonzo90017]

That's because it's the command line version. Download SendtoToys http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/downloads/2174614/sendtotoys and when installing it make sure to only enable command prompt. Then you can right click on mame.exe and select command prompt and type the full path to your rom inclucin extension and it should launch your game. The advantage of this method is that it uses less resources. It's better to use it with a frontend.

Or you can download the Mame32 version. http://www.joymonkey.com/main/index.php?n=MAME32Archives.053To059 

[SGT]

Steven633,

Steven,

Go to the C prompt:

Code: [Select]

Start -> Run -> CMD <enter>Change to the folder where your mame is located, for example:

Code: [Select]

CD \emulators\mame <enter>Start  Mame with a rom name, for example:

Code: [Select]

Mame pacman
The game will either start up or will give an error such as the rom has missing files which means your rom version is not for the version of Mame that you have.

As gonzo already pointed out, this command line version of Mame works well with a front end, or try the mame32 version which has a front end built in with a gui.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

do any front ends work in cunjunction with Mame32?  I know that Mame32 is basically its own UI, but I'd prefer to make it looks less "windows'y", and The romset for mame32 is the only one that works perfectly on my system.

[SGT]

Some will work though its not recommended to use a frontend to run a frontend.  If mame32 works with your romset, so will the the command line version.   You can download old versions of mame command line just like you can for mame32.  What version is your romset?

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

Not even sure, man.  I "picked and chose," as I didn't want a thousand roms I would never play on my machine.   

[SGT]

What version of mame32 are you using?  The same version of command line mame will work with your roms.

[protokatie]

Although it is prolly smarter to use the command line version with MALA/etc, I havent had any problems using MALA with MAME32. I just did a test to make sure: When I run MALA, it doesnt even start up the MAME32 front end, so I presuming that MALA (and prolly a lot of other FEs) treat MAME32 just as a command line program.

[SGT]

Once you go command line, you'll never go back. 

[TelcoLou]

Once you go command line, you'll never go back. 

So true. I was using MAME32 for the longest time, then switched to the command line version to use w/MAMEwah.

I noticed a difference in default screen resolutions too; the command line version seems more consistent, in regards to centering the game to the monitor.

[protokatie]

I noticed a difference in default screen resolutions too; the command line version seems more consistent, in regards to centering the game to the monitor.

Odd, i have never had any problem with that "sort of thing" with MAME32... Maybe it is the hardware I am using, or the settings I gave to MAME32... Then again, I am using MALA, and it may treat MAME differently... (BTW, I did change some of the MAME32 default settings, such as to "not change resolution" and some other stuff, so that may account for my different experience...)

[ark_ader]

I mean what are we talking about here?

P3? P2? 486? Low spec?  How about a 386?

Just run it with Mame .36 and ArcadeOS.

If I can get Pacman to run on a 486/25 in 8mb on a CF.  There shouldn't be an issue.

We need to know what spec and then we can help on the version and what you need to get you on the right path.


==========================
Gee guys, you need to read the opening post before jumping in....

[SGT]

Gee guys, you need to read the opening post before jumping in....

The first post has this:

I have tried MAME055b.zip, unzipped it then clicked on the MAME exe but all I get is the command line window which flashes up for a second with a error message I can't read in the short time it appears for, then nothing.

I'm having a hard time understanding how your post addresses this.  If he can't get .055 working, what makes you think .036 is going to be better?

[BASS!]

I like using mamefx mameXT and mamepp in conjunction with either maximus arcade or mala.

http://www.mamext.net/
http://mame-emu.blogspot.com/
http://mame32fx.altervista.org/home.htm
http://mala.arcadezentrum.com/
http://maximusarcade.com/

mala and max both work with even the most current versions of mame

[ark_ader]

Gee guys, you need to read the opening post before jumping in....

The first post has this:

I have tried MAME055b.zip, unzipped it then clicked on the MAME exe but all I get is the command line window which flashes up for a second with a error message I can't read in the short time it appears for, then nothing.

I'm having a hard time understanding how your post addresses this.  If he can't get .055 working, what makes you think .036 is going to be better?

What? Are you serious ?

Maybe he is using an earlier romset?   

[SGT]

Please wake up.  You asked why we posted what we did.  We posted for him to run from the C prompt so that we could get the exact error message.  This was so we could determine if he had the correct romset.  Since he was not running from the C prompt, the error message did not stay on the screen long enough.  Before you criticize other posters, please try to understand what it is being posted.

So to recap, we're trying to determine what the error message says (which would tell us if the error is due to an incorrect rom set).  You posted:

Maybe he is using an earlier romset?

WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE!!!!!

Of course your first post in this thread was:

Just run it with Mame .36 and ArcadeOS.

Wow   Let's not find out what the problem is, let's just try different Mame versions until we find one that works.

[ark_ader]

Please wake up.  You asked why we posted what we did.  We posted for him to run from the C prompt so that we could get the exact error message.  This was so we could determine if he had the correct romset.  Since he was not running from the C prompt, the error message did not stay on the screen long enough.  Before you criticize other posters, please try to understand what it is being posted.

So to recap, we're trying to determine what the error message says (which would tell us if the error is due to an incorrect rom set).  You posted:

Maybe he is using an earlier romset?

WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE!!!!!

Of course your first post in this thread was:

Just run it with Mame .36 and ArcadeOS.

Wow   Let's not find out what the problem is, let's just try different Mame versions until we find one that works.

Well the point in any excercise to help someone who has a problem is to ask probing questions.

I had the same problem with the pacman.rom in several versions of MAME.  Neither of them ran and gave me the issue that our friend has.  In the end it was a faulty rom file, so there still be many other problems we have to explore to find his solution.  It could be something simple or quite puzzling.

Lets not start back and forth banter, lets just try to help him in a positive manner.