Cut down version of windows xp? i'm new to this!

[elkameleon]

I tried to search for a all-in-one answer but came up short, so please don't flame me!
So anyways, i'm looking for the best option as far as software goes for a dedicated mario bros machine, this pc will only run mario bros. Right now i'm running the command line version of mame, but my fresh install of windows xp is sitting pretty at just over 4gigs right now, I need to cut that down, cause I'd like to replace the wholly unneccesary 40gig HD with one of the direct plugin solutions: http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-10010119-2GB+Disk+On+Module+40+Pin-+IDE+Industrial+MLC+Flash+DOM+SSD.html

Let me know what my (easy) options are, thanks again!
p.s. I still need USB game controller support cause I bought one of them ZD encoders off Vigo for this cab, keep that in mind!

[Le Chuck]

Elk, somebody around here got a unix or linux boot disk running that can be configured to do what you want I’m pretty sure if you're interested.  That's a super tiny package. 

If you don't want to go that route I'm running Tiny XP booting directly to MALA at less than a gig.  You can have MALA boot directly to Super Mario and have the whole deal pretty streamlined.  Let me know if that's more what you're interested in. 

[elkameleon]

Isn't MALA a frontend? i'm in no need for one of them, but yeah that tiny xp sounds pretty much exactly what i'm looking for

[Le Chuck]

I only recommend mala cause it's a nice way to have the cab do something else if you need it to, but if you don't then just dropping a batch file calling the rom in your start-up folder will suffice.  As for TinyXP there are a bunch of releases, I'm using an 08 release but I think they are on 11 for the most current.  You can usually find an ISO on any of the media servers/torrent sites and it's a real simple cd install.  Note that although the releases do not require a Win XP registration key one should have one for that machine to be completely on the level if that is a personal concern.  There is even a micro XP out there running at under a few hundred meg but that doesn't have all the USB support you'll be wanting.  TinyXP08 has been able to instantly recognize every controller and encoder I've tossed at it. 

Once it's installed there is a really good walkthrough on here that will help you slim XP down to pretty much nothing.  I don't shell as once I fix the settings I've found it to be unneccesary and not worth the hassle of backing around everything if I do want to make a system change.

[elkameleon]

I went ahead and remotely logged into my home pc and started downloading TinyXP rev09, we will see how that goes. It says it can get in under 500mb when installed, so that will be just kosher! I'll let you know how things go later.

[Howard_Casto]

I tried to search for a all-in-one answer but came up short, so please don't flame me!
So anyways, i'm looking for the best option as far as software goes for a dedicated mario bros machine, this pc will only run mario bros. Right now i'm running the command line version of mame, but my fresh install of windows xp is sitting pretty at just over 4gigs right now, I need to cut that down, cause I'd like to replace the wholly unneccesary 40gig HD with one of the direct plugin solutions: http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-10010119-2GB+Disk+On+Module+40+Pin-+IDE+Industrial+MLC+Flash+DOM+SSD.html

Let me know what my (easy) options are, thanks again!
p.s. I still need USB game controller support cause I bought one of them ZD encoders off Vigo for this cab, keep that in mind!

Not flaming, but I'm questioning your logic on this one....

Ok so you've managed to go to the trouble of buying a fairly high-end pc (it'll run a ssd afterall).... xp, and some custom usb adaptors to play a single game?
Unless you can explain your situation that doesn't make any logical sense.  

You can buy a mario bros.  pcb for around 100 bucks....  for another 100 you can probably get a full nintendo control panel buttons and all.  

I've got to think that you've spent waaaay more for your pc, a copy of xp and your adaptors.  

Ok money aside.....

Why XP?  You are running a single game, so just use a dos version of mame and a cheap-o keyboard encoder?  It isn't like you need a powerhouse of a pc to run mb... it's an old game.  It'll run on a old p300mhz... it'll run on my phone!


I think you might want to re-think your gameplan on this one, because unless you have some special circumstances it sounds like you are going about it the wrong way.

[elkameleon]

I bought the whole PC including the monitor im using in the cab for 50 bucks, i really only wanted the monitor, but the pc with windows xp came with it. You know, buy a monitor, get a free pc with purchase. So really, it's what I have available, its just a 2GHz P4 with 768mb of ram.

p.s. Technically, its an SSD, but it's still an IDE interface, i'm just looking to get away from the heat and noise a HD can produce, as well as the cable mess and having to mount the bastard. I could of bought a cheap-o keyboard encoder, but I wanted to support a fellow forum-goer, that's why I went with Vigo's option, or I would of just went with a miniPAC since i already have one of them and have experience with that product.

[Howard_Casto]

Ok that makes a little more sense. 

I've got to ask though... why just mario bros?   Is it going into a mb cabinet?

Lots of games can be played with a 4-way and a button.


I still think I would stick to DOS though....  even with a ssd, xp is a lot of boot time for a single game.

[elkameleon]

I refer you to my current project:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=117557.0

[Howard_Casto]

Cool man! 

Here would be my suggestion:

Make it a Nintendo VS cabinet instead.  Mario Bros.  isn't really effected by the use of a 8 way instead of a 4-way and a two-button 8way cabinet can play TONS more games.  You could even paint it to look like a MB cabinet anyway... nintendo used essentially the same cabinet throughout it's arcade history. 

You've got a pretty decent pc there and I can see her getting sick of a single game real quick.  If you are worried about a front-end being too complex for her I'm sure we could rig up something simple.... like a single button press to change games that they used on the neogeo mvs cabinets.

[elkameleon]

Naw, i'm not really worried about complexity, she plays with my ipad like she owns the damn thing. She knows more spanish than I do... Kids these days are just smarter than we were at that age. Your suggestion makes sense, I think I will go with the extra button, but i'm still going to be making a mario bros cabinet (wifes orders, believe me, I tried to get away with a centipede cab, that got shot down ).

[Le Chuck]

I'm with Howard, you're not losing anything buy adding just a few games that go with the genre and can still boot to Mario.  Hell, you can even hide the exit button so random whoevers don't start changing games on you.

And oh by the way, there are some really great Mario themed MALA layouts out there if you do decide to toss a FE on it.

[Howard_Casto]

Ok dumb question....

I don't mean to offend, but the women folk aren't always up on the video games like the men are.  You are sure she means Mario Bros.  and not SUPER Mario Bros.  right?  The only reason I ask is because the original mb is just awful.  

[elkameleon]

I've showed her the cabinet pics online, she specifically picked the original mario bros. If it ever want to see light of the living room, it'll be a mario bros, and i'm cool with that, cause I already have a mame cab and a playchoice 10 chillin' in the garage (literally, its freezing out there!).

[Howard_Casto]

I've showed her the cabinet pics online, she specifically picked the original mario bros. If it ever want to see light of the living room, it'll be a mario bros, and i'm cool with that, cause I already have a mame cab and a playchoice 10 chillin' in the garage (literally, its freezing out there!).

We'll that's what I'm saying.... I'll bet the game she's thinking of is smb though.... you might want to point that out to her.  A VS smb is essentially the same, just different artwork  (uglier imho). 

[elkameleon]

No, she knows the difference. I showed her the game. Besides, my playchoice has super mario 1, 2, and 3, so she can take her butt out there and play them.

[elkameleon]

Got TinyXP installed, came in at just under 700 mb! I ordered one of these the other day:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300652325782&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123#ht_793wt_1165
I'm excited to check it out, should be a huge improvement in both heat and noise!

[Le Chuck]

Glad I could help

[Gray_Area]

It depends on how stripped you want/what components you want to use instead, etc. I'm fine with IE8 and WMP11, and I like to have network options, etc, so I go with option 2 (un-assisted). With the programs I use and all, right now it's at about 5 gigs. I set the partition for 10, just in case.

[elkameleon]

I just wanted to update this thread, I have installed TinyXP on to the drive that I bought off ebay, it comes in at just under 2GB, so I have about 1.8GB free for ROMs! It also boots FAST! If it wasn't for the BIOS taking forever, I would say this thing boots directly into a game in under 5 seconds! The seller of the drive contacted me saying he was getting alot of traffic from my mention of it here. If you do decide to pick one up from him,(and I highly recommend one, even for a boot drive!) Let him know you came from this forum, maybe you can get a discount.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300652325782&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1123#ht_793wt_1165