Two steps forward, one step back...

[Draco1962]

You have to tell GameEx the file path that your ROMs reside. You can separate your MAME ROMs from CHDs but have to tell GameEx where to look. In the example below from my gameex.ini file, you will see that my ROMPath shows two directories separated by a semi colon ; with no spaces:

MAMEPath=C:\Emulators\MameUI64MAMEEXE=Mameui64.exeROMPath=H:\MAME\ROMS;H:\MAME\ROMS\CHDs

[Sideshow88]

What are CHDs, by the way? And referring to my previous question, are those supporting files important in getting some ROMs to actually work? I really thought that having the MAME version and ROMset matching would get me better results, but I still only have a fraction functioning...

[tthurman]

Compressed Hard Drive

Many modern games will have hard disks. Unless you have a really beefy system, you're not going to be playing them anyway

[tthurman]

If you're having trouble launching old school classics, then something else is going on. If you're trying to launch games from 90's up, you could be seeing CHD issues, and since you don't have them, well....they aren't going to launch. Since we don't know this info, it makes it really hard to say.

For me, no CHD games currently, and with a 0.161 set filtered to remove mechanical stuff, I get 3000+ items. You're getting 600....something isn't right. I think your best bet is to A: Follow nullPointers advice, and check the integrity of your set, and rebuild if necessary, or B: Do an over the top install of GameEx

[Sideshow88]

Assuming an "over the top" Install of GameEx mean just reinstalling now that all these changes are made, I'll do both of those things tonight. Thanks for all the help thus far.

[tthurman]

Over the top installation has, for some at least, resolved odd issues. It a fairly safe troubleshooting step, and it's the same way GameEx updates are applied.

[Sideshow88]

The majority of the roms I had were from an even earlier version than I thought, and I had been adding newer ones and squeezing them in to see if they acted any different, which is obviously not a good starting point. As far as reinstalling GameEx over the top, do I need to do any removing of old files or anything, or do I just start the installation from the beginning and let it take over?

[Kustom Kid]

Just start the install. GameEx will take care of the rest.

[Draco1962]

Also please watch discussing about how you obtain ROMS as that goes against forum rules. Thanks.

[DazzleHP]

To answer your earlier question, and put your mind at ease (i don't think anyone has yet ) - the support files will not affect the running of MAME.

As long as you have your MAME executable selected, and your rom path selected in GameEx, the correct commands will be sent. This is what GameEx is good at!

If the above are correct, and you are being thrown back to the menu, it's most likely rom incompatibility as nullPointer mentioned.

I know it sucks, but MAME is not like any other emulator - your rom versions really must match your MAME version to work properly.

For the record, i would opt for RomCenter, it's user friendly, has a great UI and much easier to get to grips with if you're new to all of this.

If you're wondering, the support files that we all talk about allow you to refine your (MAME) list in very powerful ways, but i would advise to get it working first, before you even bother with all that