MAME 0.97 installation

[sketch2k278]

i hope i don't sound too dumb for asking this but i just downloaded the newest mame v0.97 but im not sure on how to install it.........it says something about using a command promt and i've tried that but i don't know what im doing........i have the previous mame32 and that plays fine but i downloaded house of the dead,all the samarai showdowns,virtual cop and virtual fighter but for some reason it doesn't pick up when i audit the games........would version 0.97 help this problem?? if so please tell me how i could install this.....any help is greatly appriciated

[SegNin]

Mame doesn't have a GUI.
You need either a front-end, or to download the recent update of MAME32 which you will find here:
http://www.classicgaming.com/mame32qa/

Choose the one marked Binary not Source.

[sketch2k278]

ok thanks for the info but what i want to know is......what is the difference between source and binary file? when i went to that site and download what you told me to down load all i got was on small binary file? but the version i have is mame32 0.82 and i havs multiple folders to put roms screen shot etc...........even on mame's official website i couldn't understand it

http://www.mame.net/downmain.html

i download the mame097bzip binary but when i looking in the folder it still didn't have all the folders in order to save your roms and stuff like that it didn't even have the lil yellow arcade shortcut in the file now if i have to install that binary file where do i install that sucker lol.........thanks again

[Zorlon]

binary is compiled from source but source on it's own is more for developers and can't be directly run on it's own, it has to be compiled first

[SegNin]

I'm not a computer expert, so this explanation probably isn't the best.

The binary is the file you can download and install "as-is"
The source is the "raw code" that you need to compile first using something like Visual C++ (which is not freeware) before you can use the emulator.
Here's a more complete definition of source code:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_file

The binary file you downloaded is actually an installer, you need to double-click it, and it will install all the files on your computer.
I believe, however, there are some folders and files that won't be made until after you run MAME32 at least once.

EDIT--
Zorlon posted, while I was in the middle of searching for info on source code.
That plus I'm somewhat of a slow typist.

[mighty]

you can also use a frontend there is plenty of them on www.zophar.net.

[RainyShadow]

here's what to do:
get compiled mame32 from http://redump.emubase.de/mame.php
extract it to your old mame folder, overwriting old files
start mame, verify folder settings in Options > Directories
then you can Audit all games, and play