getting games to run off image

[headcasephil]

i am have been using emulators for a long time now but all ways use software with funt ends now i am wanting to try and make it so that i go to the rom file and load it up with out having to go to emulator and then find the rom sorry if this sounds like a noob i am when it comes to some things but not others is there a way to do this or am i going to be hitting a brick wall if there is a way can some one help me
i am runing vista 32 if that helps

[SSaxdude]

What DC emulator are you using? I think some of the emus have problems running on Vista.