MAME config issue

[gwbmcse]

So I made a simple cab, 4 way HAPP joystick and 4 buttons to play nothing but pure retro type games. I went to MAME config and configured the Joystick and all 4 buttons under the Input (General). The joystick seems fine in all the games but for some reason, I am having to go to each new game I want to play and set up the buttons under Input (This Game). The button field always shows "..."  Any ideas why the main setup isn't taking hold with the buttons? Thanks

[BadMouth]

check the cfg folder to make sure there aren't already files for all the games.
The files in there override the global mapping.
Delete them.

[gwbmcse]

There isn't. I looked at that last night. There was on a ms pacman file because I was playing around with the controls on that but I deleted it. I think there is a default config file there as well.

[BadMouth]

1.  Are you using an official MAME build or some other derivative like MAMEUI?

2.  Are you using a front end?

If neither of those things are an issue, it could be some windows permission thing not letting you make changes to the default cfg file.

[gwbmcse]

Using MAME 32 bit (not UI), with Mala FE. I'm using a year old version .158 I think??? To lazy to get the updated ROMS ;P