Step by Step setup?

[Evilpenguin]

Can anyone direct me to a simple step by step setup for command line mame.  I have always been using mame32 but now that I have a cab I want to use some of the frontends.  Now correct me if I am wrong but do any of the frontends work with mame32?  Please let me know!

Jason
(LEX)

[EndTwist]

No frontends work with MAME32 (none that I've come across, and I've come across many!)

MAME is very easy to set up:
1. Unzip it to c:\mame (or whatever folder you want)
2. open up a command prompt (Start > Run, then type "command" and hit OK)
3. type "cd \mame" (no quotes)
4. type "mame -cc" to create your config file
5. done! just drop your roms in the roms folder and set the emulator up in your frontend and your good to go.

[Scoobie]

No frontends work with MAME32 (none that I've come across, and I've come across many!)

MAME is very easy to set up:
1. Unzip it to c:\mame (or whatever folder you want)
2. open up a command prompt (Start > Run, then type "command" and hit OK)
3. type "cd \mame" (no quotes)
4. type "mame -cc" to create your config file
5. done! just drop your roms in the roms folder and set the emulator up in your frontend and your good to go.

I have never used DOS before and this didn't work for me.  I installed Mame on my C drive and a couple roms in my Rom folder.  I get as far as C:\MAME>.  When I try to create the config file I either get a message "Bad Command" or it goes back to C:\MAME> and nothing happens.

Then I tried launching puckman (as described in the EasyEmu section on mameworld).  I only get "Bad Command" messages when I type C:\MAME> mame puckman.

Please help me!  I'm sure it must be something minor that I am just overlooking.

Thanks guys!

[Scoobie]

I guess I should put this thing down for the night.  Anyone ever think about throwing their PC out the front door?!  Arghh!!  I hate DOS!

If anyone has some specific suggestions...I would be very grateful!  This thing just isn't as easy as everyone else describes .

[dema]

I have never used DOS before and this didn't work for me.  I installed Mame on my C drive and a couple roms in my Rom folder.  I get as far as C:\MAME>.  When I try to create the config file I either get a message "Bad Command" or it goes back to C:\MAME> and nothing happens.

Then I tried launching puckman (as described in the EasyEmu section on mameworld).  I only get "Bad Command" messages when I type C:\MAME> mame puckman.

Please help me!  I'm sure it must be something minor that I am just overlooking.

Thanks guys!

When I was running MAME off of DOS without a front end I did it pretty much like you mentioned, but I didn't worry about a config file. I just unzipped everything to the MAME folder on my C drive, put the roms into the rom folder, left the .exe file in the general MAME folder and then opened the DOS window. Make sure you get into the MAME folder in DOS by typing cd\mame and hitting enter. It should then read c:\MAME and then you can type in mame puckman. That should get you working.

[Scoobie]

I have never used DOS before and this didn't work for me.  I installed Mame on my C drive and a couple roms in my Rom folder.  I get as far as C:\MAME>.  When I try to create the config file I either get a message "Bad Command" or it goes back to C:\MAME> and nothing happens.

Then I tried launching puckman (as described in the EasyEmu section on mameworld).  I only get "Bad Command" messages when I type C:\MAME> mame puckman.

Please help me!  I'm sure it must be something minor that I am just overlooking.

Thanks guys!

When I was running MAME off of DOS without a front end I did it pretty much like you mentioned, but I didn't worry about a config file. I just unzipped everything to the MAME folder on my C drive, put the roms into the rom folder, left the .exe file in the general MAME folder and then opened the DOS window. Make sure you get into the MAME folder in DOS by typing cd\mame and hitting enter. It should then read c:\MAME and then you can type in mame puckman. That should get you working.

I did all of that.  I can get to c:\MAME, but then I can't get anything else to run (games, mame, anything)...

What else can I try?

[Tiger-Heli]

I have never used DOS before and this didn't work for me.  I installed Mame on my C drive and a couple roms in my Rom folder.  I get as far as C:\MAME>.  When I try to create the config file I either get a message "Bad Command" or it goes back to C:\MAME> and nothing happens.

Then I tried launching puckman (as described in the EasyEmu section on mameworld).  I only get "Bad Command" messages when I type C:\MAME> mame puckman.

Please help me!  I'm sure it must be something minor that I am just overlooking.

Thanks guys!

When I was running MAME off of DOS without a front end I did it pretty much like you mentioned, but I didn't worry about a config file. I just unzipped everything to the MAME folder on my C drive, put the roms into the rom folder, left the .exe file in the general MAME folder and then opened the DOS window. Make sure you get into the MAME folder in DOS by typing cd\mame and hitting enter. It should then read c:\MAME and then you can type in mame puckman. That should get you working.

I did all of that.  I can get to c:\MAME, but then I can't get anything else to run (games, mame, anything)...

What else can I try?

Weird - I assume you aren't using true DOS, but command prompt in Windows correct?

Verify the following

Type "cd\" <enter> (no quotes), you should be at the C:\ prompt.

Type "cd mame" <enter> , you should be at the C:\MAME> prompt.

Type "Dir" you should see mame.exe listed  (I think it will just have a large space between MAME and EXE.

If this is correct - mame.cc should work.  It will just return you to the C:\MAME prompt, but you should see a MAME.ini file if you type "dir" again.

Type "CD Roms" <enter> you should be at the C:\MAME\ROMS> prompt

Type dir and puckman.zip should appear.

Post back if any of this works or doesn't work.

[Scoobie]

Weird - I assume you aren't using true DOS, but command prompt in Windows correct?
Verify the following
Type "cd\" <enter> (no quotes), you should be at the C:\ prompt.
Type "cd mame" <enter> , you should be at the C:\MAME> prompt.
Type "Dir" you should see mame.exe listed  (I think it will just have a large space between MAME and EXE.
If this is correct - mame.cc should work.  It will just return you to the C:\MAME prompt, but you should see a MAME.ini file if you type "dir" again.
Type "CD Roms" <enter> you should be at the C:\MAME\ROMS> prompt
Type dir and puckman.zip should appear.
Post back if any of this works or doesn't work.

Yes, I'm trying this in command prompt in Windows.

When I'm at the C:\MAME> promt and type "Dir", I do see the directory of folders in Mame.  However I don't see one for mame.ini.

I have again tried many times over typing "mame-cc" or "mame -cc" or "mame.cc" or "<mame> <-cc>" or "mame <-cc>".

I have also tried just running a game in mame without my being able to setup the .ini folder.  Here is what I've tried:  When at C:\MAME> prompt, I type "mame tempest" or "mametempest" or "mame_tempest" or "mame-tempest".

With all of these, I continue to get "Bad Command or file name".

I know Mame is installed and the roms are okay (tested them in Mame32).  There must be a small detail I'm missing.  

After installing MAME (I did this in Windows) I copy and pasted the roms into the roms folder (again within Windows).  Then I opened the command line with the above results...

What am I missing?

[Muttley]

Weird - I assume you aren't using true DOS, but command prompt in Windows correct?
Verify the following
Type "cd\" <enter> (no quotes), you should be at the C:\ prompt.
Type "cd mame" <enter> , you should be at the C:\MAME> prompt.
Type "Dir" you should see mame.exe listed  (I think it will just have a large space between MAME and EXE.
If this is correct - mame.cc should work.  It will just return you to the C:\MAME prompt, but you should see a MAME.ini file if you type "dir" again.
Type "CD Roms" <enter> you should be at the C:\MAME\ROMS> prompt
Type dir and puckman.zip should appear.
Post back if any of this works or doesn't work.

Yes, I'm trying this in command prompt in Windows.

When I'm at the C:\MAME> promt and type "Dir", I do see the directory of folders in Mame.  However I don't see one for mame.ini.

I have again tried many times over typing "mame-cc" or "mame -cc" or "mame.cc" or "<mame> <-cc>" or "mame <-cc>".

I have also tried just running a game in mame without my being able to setup the .ini folder.  Here is what I've tried:  When at C:\MAME> prompt, I type "mame tempest" or "mametempest" or "mame_tempest" or "mame-tempest".

With all of these, I continue to get "Bad Command or file name".

I know Mame is installed and the roms are okay (tested them in Mame32).  There must be a small detail I'm missing.  

After installing MAME (I did this in Windows) I copy and pasted the roms into the roms folder (again within Windows).  Then I opened the command line with the above results...

What am I missing?

You didn't download the Pentium Pro optimised version of MAME did you?  In which case the command is mamepp.exe not mame.exe...

Muttley

[Scoobie]

I might have downloaded the Pentium Pro optimized version, but I'm not sure.

Will I still be able to get this thing working if I have the Pentium version?  If so, what should I do differently once at C:\MAME>?

[Tiger-Heli]

When I'm at the C:\MAME> promt and type "Dir", I do see the directory of folders in Mame.  However I don't see one for mame.ini.

"Dir" lists files also.  You should see
MAME   EXE
and
MAME INI
mame.ini is a file, not a folder.

I have again tried many times over typing "mame-cc" or "mame -cc" or "mame.cc" or "<mame> <-cc>" or "mame <-cc>".

"mame -cc" with space, no quotes.  In Windows Explorer, do you see mame.exe and/or mame.ini in C:\MAME???

I have also tried just running a game in mame without my being able to setup the .ini folder.

.ini file, there may be an .ini folder also, but we'll worry about that later.

Here is what I've tried:  When at C:\MAME> prompt, I type "mame tempest" or "mametempest" or "mame_tempest" or "mame-tempest".

"mame tempest" or "mame.exe tempest"

With all of these, I continue to get "Bad Command or file name".

Either of the above should at least have MAME printing Roms missing or alternate game names.  If you are getting bad command or file name, it sounds like mame.exe is not in C:\mame.  

I know Mame is installed and the roms are okay (tested them in Mame32).  There must be a small detail I'm missing.  

After installing MAME (I did this in Windows) I copy and pasted the roms into the roms folder (again within Windows).  Then I opened the command line with the above results...
What am I missing?

Maybe I found it.  You can't just open the command line and have it work, you have to be at the c:\mame prompt.

i.e. open the command line
type "cd\" <enter>
type "cd mame" <enter>
type "mame.exe tempest" <enter>

See what that does!

[Tiger-Heli]

I might have downloaded the Pentium Pro optimized version, but I'm not sure.

Will I still be able to get this thing working if I have the Pentium version?  If so, what should I do differently once at C:\MAME>?

In windows Explorer, look in C:\MAME for a file ending in .EXE (unless you have extensions hidden named mame.exe or mamepp.exe  (about 5.7 megs).

Type <that> gamename at the C:\MAME prompt -

"mame tempest" or "mamepp tempest" or "mameiscalledthis tempest"

[Scoobie]

Okay, it turns out I downloaded the Pentium Pro version.  When I type C:\MAME> mamepp tempest, it launches Mame (thanks Muttley)!

Now I need to figure out why I still don't see the .ini file.  I'll try a few things before the next post.

Should I download and run the regular version instead of the PP version?

[Muttley]

Okay, it turns out I downloaded the Pentium Pro version.  When I type C:\MAME> mamepp tempest, it launches Mame (thanks Muttley)!

Now I need to figure out why I still don't see the .ini file.  I'll try a few things before the next post.

Should I download and run the regular version instead of the PP version?

You can use the PP version no problem.  It's just compiled with some optimisations for Pentium CPU's.

Anyway, to get your config file do this:

C:\MAME> mamepp -cc

This will create the default config file (mamepp.ini for the Pentium Pro version).

Muttley

[BigBri]

All I do is open a command promt window and drag the mame.exe into it, press space and type -cc then enter.  I then do a search for it and drag the new mame.ini into the main mame folder.  If you wanna keeps things simple (when setting up a front end) change the name from mamepp.exe to just mame.exe.  Of course exclude the '.exe'.

[hulkster]

holy crap, are you guys just not reading any of the software forum stuff?  i have mame32 only to run in the background...and have run mamewah as a frontend ever since i built my first cab....never had a problem.  and theres no command line code to learn or anything like that.  its all menu driven, and if you cant find something, spend a little time with and youll find what you are looking for.  just install mame32, and then point the directories to your roms folder...close mame32.  open mamewah, set exe to mame32.exe and fill in all the other stuff for where to look for roms, screenshots, etc. and you got it.  i dont understand why people use all this DOS crap (yes i know some command line, so im not just blowing steam here) when there is a simple windows version of this app.  just run mamewah, (the best frontend on any cab in my opinion) and set it up for mame32 and you dont have to learn another thing.

[Scoobie]

I might try what you're saying, although you are the first person I've seen using mame32 with a different fe.

I now have command line mame working and some games launch in 3D Arcade.  This fe is the best I've seen visually...now if I can only grasp how to configure it properly.  If not, I guess I'll be trying mamewah like everyone else...

[Aceldamor]

Well You could try Easyemu that has tons of info on how to use command line mame..

One thing to modify what hulkster said....if you use Dave Butler's Mamewah setup program, it won't let you select mame32 as an executable...


*edit for me being a url moron

[Scoobie]

Is there a tutorial on setting up Mamewah (a link would be great)?

[dema]

Is there a tutorial on setting up Mamewah (a link would be great)?

http://www.screenshotarchive.com/mwtutorial.htm

[Scoobie]

Thanks, I'll give this one a try as well.