@HPTF2020 - ISSUE RESOLVED - I had the games in the LR-FBA ROMS Folder which did not allow the dip switch setting menu to open when pressing F2 or TAB, however, when I moved the games to the Mame4All Rom Folder that functionality worked

Nice answers guys
Have got there (or have achieved somewhat for now) easier to focus on what looks confusing when one knows they are following the correct path

@dankcusions thanks for taking the time to reply. I removed the game .cfg files from under .../mame2003/cfg but still not getting the tab menu in these games.

@Pepper
Thanks for that, makes sense now and problem solved mapping to a key that was not shared with the controller.

problem is mame2010 isint done properly. It only maps the retropad to mame default keys. There is nothing you can do with it as is. I think a a few of these lr-cores are half done and abandoned. I have put pull requests in to fix the input up but no dice so far. Until its fixed use another lr-mame like 2003/2003+ series or advanced mame.

The issue is here

https://github.com/libretro/mame2010-libretro/issues/119

proper fix pull request is here
https://github.com/libretro/mame2010-libretro/pull/125

alternative fix for the hack job that was done that maps your retropads is here supports 4 players pull request is here

https://github.com/libretro/mame2010-libretro/compare/master...grant2258:map_retropad_to_mame_default_keyboard_settings

only one can be used but if you want to use the 2010 you will need one of them dont waste your time trying to get it working