Newby question, creating bootable USB stick with front end and mame

[Honda Z50M]

I have working cocktail arcade units, which is currently running a PC based system using mame and arcadeos as front end.

I have managed to copy and create a bootable usb stick so I can remove the hard drive.

However it is not possible to add any roms to the game list because the front end version prevents this despite adding the roms to the roms folder.

So I'd like to create a more up to date front end/mame system

I've tried and failed to use Mala with mame (both letest versions), which is most likely my error.

SO if anyone has some advice for a newby simpleton it would be appreciated.

Best Regards
Tom