Too many files in ROM directory

[fogman]

Is anyone having a huge problem with the amount of time windows takes to access the ROM directory?  With 4500 files in it. it sometimes takes 2 1/2 minutes to pop up, sometimes longer.  I need to know if this is a universal problem, or if I am having troubles with my hard drive.  Any input?

Thanks!

[wboy]

one solution is to spilt the roms up into multiple directories evenly sharing the number of files, and then edit your roms path in the mame.ini to search the multiple locations you are using.  .e.g .  .\roms-a2k;.\roms-l2z etc..

[SirPeale]

Happens on my machine too.  

You can make it a *little* easier by separating the BIOS sets into their directories.  IE Neo Geo, MacBIOS, cassette, etc etc

[JoyMonkey]

If you're using WindowsXP, this is because of XPs wretched internal zip file support- instead of just listing each file in your roms folder it has to examine each zip file before giving a directory listing.

You can turn off XPs zip support by following these directions:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-202

• Select Run from the Start Menu.
• Type :

regsvr32 /u %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll
 at the prompt, and click Ok.

• The change will take effect immediately, but you may have to restart Windows for all traces of the built-in ZIP support to disappear.

It only takes a second and works perfectly

[fogman]

Joymonkey, you are a lifesaver!!!  You can not imagine how much frustration you eliminated.  The karma in the universe just soared!!!

Thanks!

[SirPoonga]

saint should add an errata somewhere to his book with this.  

[MrBond]

Cool stuff...now what's the best zip program to use instead...I have winrar