The emulator often requires a games.txt file listing the ROM names without the .zip extension.

: Program tools like UltraISO or WinQSBT to package files into standard ISO formats. Step-by-Step Configuration Pipeline

Would you like help finding the best PS2 emulator for arcade games instead? Or are you specifically trying to run a very old MAME set?

[USB / HDD Storage] ├── [apps] │ └── PS2MAME.ELF └── [ROMS] or [DVD] └── Arcade ROMs (.zip) or Pre-built MAME ISO 1. Preparing the Storage

Given the evolution of PS2 homebrew, "ps2mame elf 16 new" probably includes the following improvements over older versions (e.g., ps2mame 0.7 or earlier):

The .elf (Executable and Linkable Format) file is the standard executable format used by the PlayStation 2 operating system, acting similarly to an .exe file on Windows. When developers ported the open-source MAME architecture to the PS2 hardware, they compiled it into ps2mame.elf .

: A FAT32-formatted USB drive is commonly used to store your games and the emulator. How to Install and Run PS2MAME