Capturing a quick save: To capture a quick save go to File > Quick save and choose a slot, as shown here.If you want instant gratification, quick saves are the instant saving you want. Don't place them in mGBA's folder! To open mGBA, you can find it in your Windows start menu. I recommend Documents, Downloads, or create a folder on your desktop. With the installer version, your GBA ROMs for mGBA must be placed in a common folder on your computer.
You could place your GBA ROMs in mGBA's folder as well. With the portable version, mGBA must be placed in a common folder on your computer.There's an important detail you need to remember with either version: It lets you keep mGBA and the ROMs all in one location. But yet, I recommend the portable version. If you're not too computer savvy, I suppose the installer would be easier for you. The install wizard walks you through installing mGBA onto the C: drive. The installer version (“ Windows (64-bit, installer. This is how most emulators are: to 'install' the emulator, you simply extract it. 7z archive)” download is the 'portable' version.
If you need help extracting 7z files with 7-Zip, here are some help videos. You can extract 7z files with 7-Zip (it's free). If it says “ 32-bit operating system” then you're using 32-bit Windows.ħz is a compression format like 'zip'. If it says “ 64-bit operating system” then you're using 64-bit Windows.