I'm using Advmame 0.99 Dos version.
At this moment, Advmenu 2.4.13 is my FE.
If I want to run a game, without using advmenu, I'll do in this way:
c:\mame\advmame.exe c:\roms\pacman.zip

All the roms are inside the folder ROMS (not in a sub-folder).
All I do as you explain in atomic manager.exe.
Put the folders, mark the amulator executable, click on "Save at Startup config", then SAVE (by default it saves as ATOMIC.CFG), and then CLOSE.

The exactly message I can't tell you...('cause now I'm working....or something... )

Thanks in advance Youki.

A plus!!