So...I got all the way to the end. I've been using a Samsung SyncMaster 943 LCD/LED display. Doing this, I was able to get all the way into the shell installer where it has the empty MAME look on the screen. From there, I reconfigured it to get back to Windows since I think I'm going to be using Launchbox/Bigbox was my front end. I followed the guide and everything went well enough to get that far..but I am curious - since I did all of this on the LCD/LED screen, is there a definitive way (in text form or otherwise) that lets me know I did everything correctly and the computer is now capable of sending a 15hz signal to an arcade monitor? Lastly, is there a value in adding ATOM-15 after the fact? I'd like to make sure I don't fry my arcade monitor when I get everything set up but I still need to order a J-Pac or something equivalent so I'm not going to be hooking the rig up to the cab for a bit anyways. Can I continue to tinker and refine and make sure everything checks out okay using the monitor I have been?
Thank you again for your help but mostly for your patience. Very kind.