Best Practice for keeping MAME ROMs up to date

[DOS76]

What is the best way to make sure that your MAME ROMs are up to date and playable in the latest version of MAME? How do users manage the ever changing landscape that is MAME.

[SentaiBrad]

Quite honestly.......... I don't. I cry in the corner for MAME, it is a jungle...

[SentaiBrad]

Actually, right after my post @CriticalCid pointed out http://mamedev.emulab.it/clrmamepro/#downloads That will go a long long long way in to helping. Grabbing the latest batch and running that ever so often might be my answer.

[DOS76]

Almost as much of a mess as MESS?

[SentaiBrad]

DOS76 said Almost as much of a mess as MESS?

Something like that. That must have come from someone more wise than myself ;)

[CriticalCid]

Honestly, the easiest way would be just to download a complete set for the newest version. The regularly way would be to download all Romupdates from your current MAME version till the newest one and then use a Rommanager like Clrmamepro to rebuild your Romset to the newest version. At the beginning it’s a little tricky to learn how Clrmamepro works because it’s not really self-explanatory. But with the right tutorials and little help from here it should be no problem to get it the job done.

[DOS76]

Thanks guys I will have to check this out or search for that complete set.

[CriticalCid]

If you need help with Clrmamepro than just ask, I'll be glad to help. Once you figured out how that program works it will be so much faster to just update your romset than downloading a completely new set. Especially if you want CHD games you don’t really want to download 300 to 400 GB again.

[CriticalCid]

For starters I would recommend the offical Clrmamepro tutorial: http://www.mameworld.info/easyemu/clrmameguide/clrmame-guide.html If you need help just ask. I used that program so many times I could rebuild and update a romset while I’m sleeping.

[DOS76]

Thanks @CritiacalCid I'll watch the tutorial and if I run into any issues I'll let you know.

[DOS76]

My CHD's will be done downloading in 5 days. Could only find 161 complete but have all the updates do I have to do them one at a time as in 161 to 162 and then 162 to 163 or can I just go to 170 from 161

[CriticalCid]

You can update from 161 to 170 in one step but you will still need all update packs from 161to162 till 169to170 to do that.

[DOS76]

Ok I have them all already I'll get into that tomorrow if I have the time (I should do my math homework instead).

[DOS76]

Download ClrMAMEPro from here and installed it but after that Windows Defender said that it is a severe trojan threat the funny thing is it removed the downloaded exe but not the installed files. I grabbed another copy from major geeks but I still haven't deleted the other version I'm thinking it is a false positive but don't really know.

[SentaiBrad]

I removed Windows Defender for this reason, it is TOO picky.

[CriticalCid]

I'm using Microsoft Security Essentials and never got any warnings. And Clrmamepro is one of the most common programs in the MAME community so it should be definitely clean.

[eric]

this is were i shop.... if u guys want the latest full complete mame rom sets verified theirs only one place to go.. [redacted], very tight group,,, if your not very careful you will be shit listed! [Link removed by Mod] they have the most complete update sets you will ever find...on planet earth

[DOS76]

Thanks Eric but as a heads up This post is probably going to get taken down due to the link to ROMs but I do appreciate the info.

[CriticalCid]

If you want the most recent MAME set it is indeed the best option to go. The MAME sets are even 'free' so you don't need to build up any ratio to download them. Just register there and grab it. But again, if you don't want to download the 300 to 400GB CHD set each time it is easier to learn how Clrmamepro works and just update the set you already have. And I also think that Jason don't want to see here any links to ROM sites even if they are private trackers with strict rules that don't allow any current systems.

[DOS76]

Do they have a problem with you using a proxy to download.