Wrestling with ClrMame

[Brax]

I have to admit, I'm not much of a software guy.  I'm much more comfortable with woodworking and hardware.

I've pieced together a Celeron 400 from the company dumpster. (there are some positives to your company going under... i suppose ) I'd like to run Mame .36 so I can play the classics. I have a full set of Mame .64 that I'm trying to convert down to .36. I've tried running ClrMame on several occassions and I just can't seem to get it to work.

Part of my problem is that I'm not even exactly sure what I have. My set is from a "burner", do you think it would be a non-merged set, a split set or a merged set? I originally tried converting the entire set but since it wasn't working, it took way too long to try different settings. Currently I'm just trying to convert the 1941 rom, with zero success so far.

I've tried following the directions that came with ClrMame, and I've tried a tutorial (http://www.mameworld.net/easyemu/clrmameguide.htm) but it just doesn't seem to be sinking in.

Does anyone feel up to holding my hand while they walk me through this?

[SirPeale]

I've pieced together a Celeron 400 from the company dumpster. (there are some positives to your company going under... i suppose ) I'd like to run Mame .36 so I can play the classics. I have a full set of Mame .64 that I'm trying to convert down to .36. I've tried running ClrMame on several occassions and I just can't seem to get it to work.

It's pretty easy, once you learn how the program works.

Part of my problem is that I'm not even exactly sure what I have. My set is from a "burner", do you think it would be a non-merged set, a split set or a merged set? I originally tried converting the entire set but since it wasn't working, it took way too long to try different settings. Currently I'm just trying to convert the 1941 rom, with zero success so far.

It really doesn't matter what you have, ClrMAME will output whatever your heart desires.

I've tried following the directions that came with ClrMame, and I've tried a tutorial (http://www.mameworld.net/easyemu/clrmameguide.htm) but it just doesn't seem to be sinking in.

Does anyone feel up to holding my hand while they walk me through this?

Sure, I can help.  What are some specific questions?

First, you do have the .36 datfile, right?  If not, do you know how to make one?

To rebuild a specific ROM, you open the 'rebuild' window, select where you would like the rebuilt ROM to be placed, and then drag/drop the ROM onto that window.

[Brax]

I do have the .36 datfile.

I've told it where to find my rom file and where to place it when done.  I don't see a "window" where you can drag and drap a specific rom file in the Rebuilder though.

When I try to run the new rom i get a ton of errors:

[SirPeale]

I do have the .36 datfile.

I've told it where to find my rom file and where to place it when done.  I don't see a "window" where you can drag and drap a specific rom file in the Rebuilder though.

You can drop it on any part of ClrMAME.

What OS are you running?

Edit: IIRC, the .36 on mame.net is the DOS version.  I'm not sure you can run it under Windows without some tweaking.

[Brax]

Uh oh. I'm running XP on the machine I'm using to set all this up. I'm running Windows 98 on the Celeron 400.

I've been trying to run Mame .36 from the "run" line in the start menu. That wouldn't be in DOS would it? That might explain alot. I believe I've tried it in a DOS window but that didn't work either. I'll try again tonight when I'm in pure DOS. Is there a windows version of .36?

If that's not it I really don't know where to go from here. I suppose I'll try to read all the documentation again. I swear I'm doing it right but you never know. I did check my rom in .64 and it does work so that isn't the problem...

[SirPeale]

I was just able to reproduce your results with the error.  Let me guess...you tried to use 'Sound Blaster' as your sound card?  Try '0' and see if it does anything.

[Brax]

Thats exactly what I selected.

Ok, I'll play around with those settings when I get home.

You were able to make it work by selecting 0? Thats no sound isn't it? You must be able to get sound somehow. I wonder what the problem is? I'll have to try it on the Celeron and see if I have the same soundcard problem. Maybe its just a driver issue?

It's kinda good news that it may be a soundblaster issue. My ROM's may work after all. Thanks, I'll look into this.

[SirPeale]

You have to remember that you're using a DOS exe with Windows XP.  It's not going to work correctly.

[Brax]

Even in a DOS window?
Ah well. I'll probably have the same trouble in WIndows 98 then? I'll have to figure out how to extract DOS out of Win 98... wasn't there a link somewhere that showed you how to do that?

[SirPeale]

You have to remember although a lot of the commands are the same, it's not DOS.

Windows 98 is easy, just boot to the command line.  You can do that by hitting [F8] before your boot processes start up, and select 'Command Prompt' from the menu it will give you.

[SirPeale]

How's it working out?