Mame problems?

Hey all,

Ive been having some problems with a recently set up retropie where I can get everything else working perfectly (atari through psx) sound and all, but i can not get mame games to run at all.

Ill have one of two problems, i took a few games and put them in each mame folder to test them all individually, and on two of the emulators the games start and then the screen goes black and goes back to the menu, on Advmame the games start, but then the controllers dont work and i have to un plug and reset.

what can i do to fix this? i just want to get my shadows of mystara on!