oh god i wish! controlled folders, great guess! i moved my RA to the D drive, the log started saving! i will walk you thru what it is ai am doing:
set emulator to RA, core is either genesis_plus_gx_libretro OR gearsystem_libretrro, as far as i can tell, the only two that will allow a mouse as a light gun
load up the rom "wanted"
quick menu > controls > port 1 controls (have also tried port 2) > device type: light phaser (or whatever it is called in the other core)
can now return to game and the mouse works, as expected
go back into quick menu > overrides > save game override (active override file now says "wanted")
exit
restart wanted
mouse no longer works. go back into quikc menu, control 1 is now set to a control pad
pull hair our, curse at screen
rinse and repeat
I am editing my own post and leaving the above in case anyone else has issues.
GIANT user error, i was saving the game config, NOT the controller REMAP. seems to be working now...
i swear im smarter than this
thanks for listening and offering advice!