[RESOLVED] Problem with MAME and UNC ROM path

[Andy L]

I was previously using a mapped drive to access my ROMs on my NAS in GameEx but due to that causing problems elsewhere on the computer (the "Multiple connections to a server or shared resource by the same user, using more than one user name, are not allowed" error whenever I tried to access a different share while the drive was mapped), I've switched to using UNC paths now to access my ROMs. This works for the 6 other emulators I have installed in GameEx but not MAME - any ideas why this could be? And is there a fix?

I tried writing a batch file to map the drive before GameEx loads and then another batch file to disconnect the drive when GameEx shuts down but even that doesn't work - the 'net use' command only seems to work when I enter it manually at the command prompt and not in a batch file, even though I'm entering the exact same command!

EDIT: also, I have a second MAME config question - I would like to map two of the buttons on my Microsoft Sidewinder Game Pad USB to 5 (insert coin) and 1 (1 player start). Is it possible to do this for MAME only? The Joy Mapping section in Advanced Emulator Config and the custominput.ini file appear to edit joypad mapping globally for all emulators...

[Draco1962]

I was previously using a mapped drive to access my ROMs on my NAS in GameEx but due to that causing problems elsewhere on the computer (the "Multiple connections to a server or shared resource by the same user, using more than one user name, are not allowed" error whenever I tried to access a different share while the drive was mapped), I've switched to using UNC paths now to access my ROMs. This works for the 6 other emulators I have installed in GameEx but not MAME - any ideas why this could be? And is there a fix?

Have you tested this through MAME directly? Are you using the MAMEUI version or command-line? Have you setup your paths in MAME as well to reflect the change to the UNC paths?

I tried writing a batch file to map the drive before GameEx loads and then another batch file to disconnect the drive when GameEx shuts down but even that doesn't work - the 'net use' command only seems to work when I enter it manually at the command prompt and not in a batch file, even though I'm entering the exact same command!

What OS are you using on your PC? Can you provide us with a copy of your batch file text?

EDIT: also, I have a second MAME config question - I would like to map two of the buttons on my Microsoft Sidewinder Game Pad USB to 5 (insert coin) and 1 (1 player start). Is it possible to do this for MAME only? The Joy Mapping section in Advanced Emulator Config and the custominput.ini file appear to edit joypad mapping globally for all emulators...

As I am not well-versed in the realm of controller mapping, I will defer this to one of the forum "pros" to answer.

[Andy L]

I'm using MAME 0.144 (command line version) on Win7 SP1 x64 and my NAS is running FreeNAS 8.0.2. If I map my NAS share manually and then change the path to the mapped drive in GameEx under the MAME Settings section, it simply works - I don't have to change anything in MAME (I don't think there's even a mame.ini file there to add a ROM path to).

The batch file is very simple:

net use R: \\192.168.1.9\public\Emulators\MAME\
C:\GameEx\Gameex.exe

But that gives a 'MAME ROM folder not found' error, as does putting the UNC path \\192.168.1.9\public\Emulators\MAME\ in the GameEx MAME settings. And like I said, all my other emulators work when using the same UNC path to the Emulators folder in the GameEx settings...

[Andy L]

I see the MAME UNC paths bug has been fixed now. But does anyone have an answer to the second question in my original post?

I would like to map two of the buttons on my Microsoft Sidewinder Game Pad USB to 5 (insert coin) and 1 (1 player start). Is it possible to do this for MAME only? The Joy Mapping section in Advanced Emulator Config and the custominput.ini file appear to edit joypad mapping globally for all emulators...

[Tom Speirs]

Sounds like you can do this in MAME itself. When in MAME press Tab.

[Andy L]

That turned out to be the simplest solution, which hadn't even occurred to me... thanks!