The perfect software setup

[Kagemusha]

I am putting the final touches on my arcade cab.  I am using a SlikStik quad and a 27 inch RCA television with S-video, running Windows XP (I don't really know if that is relevant but I put it in there nonetheless).  I would love to get everyone's opinion on the software setup I should use.

I envision a cab where the computer boots up directly into a frontend.  When the user selects a game it automatically displays the relevant control inputs (i.e. cpviewer/johnny 5) before launching the game.

Any suggestion for the types of programs I should look to install?

[youki]

As Front end you can try mine. AtomicFE

I never tried it with cpviewer/johnny 5  , so i can not say if it works or not , but it could! 

[leapinlew]

I am putting the final touches on my arcade cab.  I am using a SlikStik quad and a 27 inch RCA television with S-video, running Windows XP (I don't really know if that is relevant but I put it in there nonetheless).  I would love to get everyone's opinion on the software setup I should use.

I envision a cab where the computer boots up directly into a frontend.  When the user selects a game it automatically displays the relevant control inputs (i.e. cpviewer/johnny 5) before launching the game.

Any suggestion for the types of programs I should look to install?

Mamewah gets my vote.

[eightbit]

Any front end can be automatically started. The easiest way to do that is just drop a shortcut to it in the start menu "start up" folder. I'm using mamewah but not cpviewer even though I know it can do it.

[cobey]

Mamewah with Johhny5 is in my cabinet. They work flawlessly. There is also an huge supply of info and examples on setting them both up.

cobey

[KDOG]

you could  try shell switching program
http://shell-shocked.org/article.php?id=60