Does Mala installation access the Windows registry?

[jukingeo]

Hello All (well mostly Loadman):

I was wondering if Mala accesses the Windows registry when you install it.  When I first set it up, it appeared that the main setup file really just unpacked the contents of the download.

The reason why I am asking is because I would like to take Mala, Mame, and WinCab (DWJukebox) and put it on an iso and burn it to a disk, this way I could easily add it to any computer I want to.  I know that both Mame and WinCab do not need to be "installed" into the operating system, but I am not 100% sure about Mala.

(Granted, I know I will have to set up audio and other system specific items such as paths, but it would save me time if I can put a general format on a disc and just load up into any computer I want to).

I would like to know if this can be done.   I would be mostly using Windows 98SE, but I would also like to use the disc for Windows XP.

Given Mala's easier setup than MameWah, I would like to use Mala instead as my primary front end.

Thanx,

Geo

[fatfingers]

I do not believe MaLa uses the registry.  You could test it easily by taking a snapshot of the registry before and after installing MaLa and then seeing what the differences are.  Plugins may be a different story.

[jukingeo]

I do not believe MaLa uses the registry.  You could test it easily by taking a snapshot of the registry before and after installing MaLa and then seeing what the differences are.  Plugins may be a different story.

Well, once I get everything set up I am going to save the setup on a Memory stick before I "go for the burn" on a CD.  This way I can try it out and work any kinks out that I have to.  Once done, then I will just burn the whole thing to a disc and that should speed up installation on future machines I decide to set up.

Geo

[swindus]

Just one thnig (start with windows) is written to the registry. All other things are located in the ini files in the MaLa folder.

[jukingeo]

Just one thnig (start with windows) is written to the registry. All other things are located in the ini files in the MaLa folder.

Oh, Ok.  If that it is all, then it is no biggie.  The thing is that I would like to create a a full package with Mame, Wincab (DWJukebox), and Mala all nice and neatly put together on a disc or memory stick.  Then when I want to set up a machine, I just have to "drop" the entire contents right on the C: drive and from there, just add music (and/or more roms).

Many programs that you install on your system need to access the registry and for the most part it doesn't seem that either Mame or WinCab does that, which would make this feasible.

Thanx,

Geo

[MasterRat]

I've got MaLa loaded with the following on a thumbdrive :
  Sega 32x, GameGear, SMS, Genesis
  Nintendo GameBoy, GameBoy Color, NES, SNES
  Turbo Grafx16
  Atari 2600/5200/7800
  ColecoVision
  Intellivision

And emulators/snaps on a 4gb thumbdrive.  As long as the jumpdrive is letter J: (just happened that way, I swear)  I can run MaLa and all the above straight from the drive.

The only one (that I've noticed) puts files anywhere on the local system is Stella.

[jukingeo]

I've got MaLa loaded with the following on a thumbdrive :
  Sega 32x, GameGear, SMS, Genesis
  Nintendo GameBoy, GameBoy Color, NES, SNES
  Turbo Grafx16
  Atari 2600/5200/7800
  ColecoVision
  Intellivision

And emulators/snaps on a 4gb thumbdrive.  As long as the jumpdrive is letter J: (just happened that way, I swear)  I can run MaLa and all the above straight from the drive.

The only one (that I've noticed) puts files anywhere on the local system is Stella.

If you mean a memory stick, then yes, I would like to do the same thing as well.  Just have everything with some basic tunes all loaded on one stick.  Then when I want to set up a  machine I just have to "do a dump".   Generally I would "dump" to the C: drive, so I could set up all the defaults in place.  Then a control panel interface just has to be plugged in and I should be good to go.

[Bloodwyn]

I tried to set up Mala on my 8 gb thumbdrive without using drive letters.. just directory reference. Mala config wants a drive letter for Mame.exe
Even manually entering the directories in the config file still makes Mala unhappy and unable to find Mame.exe.

It would be fantastic if in future versions of Mala we could just specify "Mame.exe" in the config and it would look in the root directory of the drive.

Bloodwyn

[SGT]

I am able to put in a path for Mame without specifying a drive letter.  How are you trying to do it?

[loadman]

It would be fantastic if in future versions of Mala we could just specify "Mame.exe" in the config and it would look in the root directory of the drive.

I just dumped it on my usb drive and it worked without specifying a drive no problem.    It ended up being a E drive

See attached pic of my config

I am able to put in a path for Mame without specifying a drive letter.  How are you trying to do it?

My best guess is he did not put a backslash at the head,  so mala would have been looking in the wrong place for the mame directory, like in a subdirectory of mala directory. 

[Bloodwyn]

Ah.. gotcha. I will move my mame files to a directory off the root of the USB drive.
I was running Mala in its own directory, while mame was just installed on the root of the drive.

Thanks,

Bloodwyn