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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    MAME roms not all working

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    • rbakerR
      rbaker
      last edited by

      This post is deleted!
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      • ParzivalP
        Parzival @Riverstorm
        last edited by

        @Riverstorm sorry but this did not work. Is there another way to repair the roms so that they can be read correctly?

        RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M
          megatron99
          last edited by

          getting mame roms to work is trail and error. People always reference
          https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Managing-ROMs but it doesn't always work. Which game are you trying to add maybe I can help.

          ParzivalP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote -1
          • RiverstormR
            Riverstorm @Parzival
            last edited by Riverstorm

            @Parzival said in MAME roms not all working:

            @Riverstorm sorry but this did not work. Is there another way to repair the roms so that they can be read correctly?

            I don't think it's trial and error as much as following the tutorial. If you have the correct ROMs the DATs will organize them precisely in to the correct zip file regardless of what set type is used like non-merged, merged or split. It will also correct the name and verify the CRC. The ROM management tools work very well and the DATs guarantee your set will work in the emulator you're building it for.

            That doesn't mean every game is working as some are bad dump or no dump ROMs in which case the game just doesn't work for example Xenophobe doesn't work in lr-imame4all or lr-mame2003 but works fine in AdvMAME.

            The only other method I can think of is very time intensive which is to look at the DAT and add them by hand to the proper zip. Keeping in mind you'll need to be aware of the CRC on each ROM file as the name could be correct but the CRC incorrect. You could also have a correct CRC but named incorrectly. There are several scenarios where issues may arise but the ROM management tools will organize and do all this for you automatically if you have the correct ROMs before you start processing them.

            ParzivalP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • ParzivalP
              Parzival @megatron99
              last edited by

              @megatron99 dungeons and dragons, and street fighter 3 or alpha

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              • ParzivalP
                Parzival @Riverstorm
                last edited by

                @Riverstorm so lets say I just want one game... could i use the method in the tutorial to try and make it work?

                RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • RiverstormR
                  Riverstorm @Parzival
                  last edited by Riverstorm

                  @Parzival said in MAME roms not all working:

                  @Riverstorm so lets say I just want one game... could i use the method in the tutorial to try and make it work?

                  Yes it would work but you'll see thousands of errors for the missing ROMs but it would work fine with no issues.

                  If you're only looking for a few games you'll find many sites that allow the downloading of single game ROMs for the specific version you need.

                  Look here for the ROM set version you're looking for. At the top of the page is a table. Look under the Emulator & Romset columns for the version of MAME ROMs to match the emulator you're wanting to use. Several search engines will produce the results you're looking for. As per the forum rules and to avoid any legalities you can't post direct links but the information is available in many locations.

                  It may seem daunting at first but give it a go and once you get rolling with it you'll find it a snap to do.

                  Managing ROMs link:
                  https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Managing-ROMs

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • caver01C
                    caver01
                    last edited by caver01

                    It should be said here on this thread that getting MAME ROMs to work isn't actually trial and error at all. Sure, there are a few ROMs that fail in MAME on the Pi, sometimes merely due to performance, but by and large, MAME should be able to launch ROMs from the right ROMset. The key is knowing how MAME ROMs are built, and getting a known good (complete) ROMset of a version that matches the MAME you plan to use to launch it. It also requires an understanding of parent-child ROMs if you are expecting to launch clones. This isn't guesswork. It should be easy, provided you know what you need and you are able to obtain it.

                    I think where it feels like trial and error are situations when you don't pay attention to what you need, or you try to launch MAME using a ROM from one set while that version of MAME requires a different set. Sometimes that works (because an individual ROM may not have changed between versions). Taking chances like that is fine, but claiming that none of your ROMs work when you may not even have the right versions is the wrong way to go about it, and you can't expect a lot of sympathy in the forums. Figure out what ROMset you need and make sure your ROM is from that set and that it does not require any parent ROMs. It's never hit or miss. There is a proper way to do it.

                    My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                    RiverstormR 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • RiverstormR
                      Riverstorm @caver01
                      last edited by

                      @caver01 said in MAME roms not all working:

                      It should be said here on this thread that getting MAME ROMs to work isn't actually trial and error at all.

                      Well said, I agree when I first read the post about trial and error I bristled a bit. :) When using the DAT with a ROM management tool it's really an exact science.

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                      • ParzivalP
                        Parzival
                        last edited by

                        what would the rom set of dungeons and dragons as well as mega man 2: power fighters be?

                        caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • caver01C
                          caver01 @Parzival
                          last edited by

                          @Parzival first you tell me, what version of mame are you going to use to open these?

                          My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                          ParzivalP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • caver01C
                            caver01
                            last edited by

                            Because you need both bits of info to answer your question. The ROMset must match the MAME version you plan to use. Otherwise, it may not work.

                            My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • ParzivalP
                              Parzival @caver01
                              last edited by

                              @caver01 mame4all or mame2003 :)

                              caver01C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • caver01C
                                caver01 @Parzival
                                last edited by

                                @Parzival Ok, so you need to go find two ROMsets. 0.37b5 for mame4all and 0.78 for lr-mame2003. Let's look for Mega Man 2.

                                Checking here, you can look at the compatibility lists. I looked at 0.78 and someone has tried MegaMan2 and reported that it does not work on the Pi3. No notes added. That's unfortunate. if it did work, though, 0.78 would be the ROM for that emulator. Next, I checked 0.37b5, but Mega Man 2 is not in there. It's from 1996, right? So perhaps this ROMset is simply too old have a game that was so recent (by the standards back then).

                                So, I looked at AdvanceMAME 1.4 which is a fallback for me. It's more recent at ROMset 0.106, and lo and behold--there it is in the compatibility list and someone has said it works on a Pi2. That's good because it probably works even better on a Pi3.

                                So, the short answer for MegaMan2 is that you can run it with AdvanceMAME 1.4, which means you need to find a 0.106 ROMset.

                                I know this sounds like a lot of rig-a-ma-role to get a single game to work, but that's why we have more than one MAME emulator available. The point is that each MAME uses a ROMset that matches. You can't just download a random zip file from somewhere and expect it to run on your preferred emulator.

                                You will have to do the same investigation for your D&D title. Newer arcade games are going to be harder. Classics from the 80's often give you more choices.

                                My 4-player cocktail style cabinet built as a custom "roadcase"

                                M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                • RiverstormR
                                  Riverstorm
                                  last edited by

                                  That's well written Caver a great way to explain some of the reasoning on multiple emulators and ROM sets.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • ParzivalP
                                    Parzival
                                    last edited by

                                    thanks guys you are the best! Mega Man is working and ready to play. Ill be posting pictures and videos of how my cabinet looks ;)
                                    Thanks Again!

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                                    • M
                                      megatron99
                                      last edited by

                                      I got D&D and Alpha to work on FBA

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                                      • Beretta9B
                                        Beretta9
                                        last edited by

                                        D&D and all three of the street fighter alpha games wont work using mame4all or mame 2003. Use final burn alpha for these.

                                        Retro Gamer Supreme

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                                        • M
                                          moman @caver01
                                          last edited by

                                          @caver01 I see you are helping out wit a problem I also seem to have. I just bought a Pi 3 and most of my mame roms will not play. Moon Patrol, defender 1942, 1943, missile command etc mostly the old calssics. I have the rom set .37b5 and the Pi mame emulator still says there is an error. Only games I have working so far are tapper, timber, qbert and frogger. Any ideas ?????

                                          BuZzB caver01C 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote -1
                                          • BuZzB
                                            BuZz administrators @moman
                                            last edited by BuZz

                                            @moman Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first (and start a new topic).

                                            To help us help you - please make sure you read the sticky topics before posting - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

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