Too many N64 ROMs = GameEX exception

[TimeBandit]

I'm not sure if this is a bug related to Windows Vista only or if anyone else has had this same problem.

I have configured Project 64 in GameEX, and it runs fine. All the games will display fine in GameEX as long as I do not place more than ~53 ROMS (*.v64) in the directory. At some magic number GameEX will throw the following exception when I select "Nintendo 64 Games" from the main menu. If I go to the ROM directory and remove ANY ROM or two, everything runs fine. It seems to be directly tied to the number of ROMS (maybe filename / description length).

===========================

47:50.8 7/16/2006: GameEx: Version 6.45: Starting Log

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Operating System Name: Unknown

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Operating System Version: 6.0.5384

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Checking Registration

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Running Randomize()

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

15:47:50.8 7/16/2006: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Running Misc startup tasks

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Setting Menu types

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Opening Configuration File

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Getting Configuration Values

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Using Theme: Default - GameEx

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - GameEx

15:47:50.9 7/16/2006: Launching HideOS.exe

15:47:51.1 7/16/2006: Hiding Taskbar

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Is Media Center running?

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Media Center Mode 2

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Text/Language: English

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Applying Language/Text

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Snap Delay set to: 1

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Get other settings

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Start work for Form

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Getting Original Screen Size

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Loading ICON

15:47:51.7 7/16/2006: Initializing Component

15:47:51.8 7/16/2006: Initialising Bass Audio Library

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Loading default loading screen

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Using 2D Animations

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Using General Font: HandelGothic BT

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Using Title Font: HandelGothic BT

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Starting GameExtender Publisher

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Initialising DirectDraw

15:47:51.9 7/16/2006: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

15:47:52.0 7/16/2006: Creating DirectDraw Device

15:47:52.0 7/16/2006: Using Device: NVIDIA GeForce 6150

15:47:52.2 7/16/2006: Setting Resolution to 720x480 32 bit color

15:47:52.2 7/16/2006: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

15:47:52.2 7/16/2006: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

15:47:52.3 7/16/2006: Creating Back Buffer

15:47:52.4 7/16/2006: Loading graphic surfaces

15:47:52.5 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

15:47:52.5 7/16/2006: Creating Surface Volume

15:47:52.6 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Arrows

15:47:52.6 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

15:47:52.6 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

15:47:52.7 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

15:47:52.8 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

15:47:52.9 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

15:47:52.9 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

15:47:53.0 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Snaps

15:47:53.0 7/16/2006: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

15:47:53.2 7/16/2006: Creating Fonts

15:47:53.2 7/16/2006: Creating Menu Font

15:47:53.8 7/16/2006: Creating Game Font

15:47:54.3 7/16/2006: Creating Game Font Standard Size

15:47:54.9 7/16/2006: Creating Font Black

15:47:55.0 7/16/2006: Creating Font Black Small

15:47:55.1 7/16/2006: Creating Game Font Faded

15:47:55.6 7/16/2006: Creating Title Font

15:47:58.0 7/16/2006: Creating Control Panel Font

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Fonts Created Succesfully

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: MAME Path is: C:\MAME

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: ROM Path is: C:\MAME\roms\MAME

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Loading Controls.ini map file

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Loading Custom Emulators

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Loading Emulator 1: Nintendo 64 Games

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Loading OfflineList Dat File for emulator: 1

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Cannot Find Offline List Dat File

15:47:58.6 7/16/2006: Loading Emulator 8: SEGA

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Snap path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Flyer Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Cabinet Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Title Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Panel Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Icon Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Marquee Path: Not Found

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: MAME CMD options: -triplebuffer -nowindow -joy

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Attempting to load game list

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Running: mame.exe -help

15:47:58.8 7/16/2006: Running: C: C:\MAME\mame.exe -help > C:\MAME\help.txt

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Now Outputing mame.exe - Help

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: --BEGIN--

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: M.A.M.E. v0.106 (May 13 2006) - Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Copyright © 1997-2005 by Nicola Salmoria and the MAME Team

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: MAME is an emulator: it reproduces, more or less faithfully, the behaviour of

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: several arcade machines. But hardware is useless without software, so an image

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: of the ROMs which run on that hardware is required. Such ROMs, like any other

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: commercial software, are copyrighted material and it is therefore illegal to

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: use them if you don't own the original arcade machine. Needless to say, ROMs

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: are not distributed together with MAME. Distribution of MAME together with ROM

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: images is a violation of copyright law and should be promptly reported to the

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: authors so that appropriate legal action can be taken.

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Usage: MAME gamename [options]

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: MAME -showusage for a brief list of options

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: MAME -showconfig for a list of configuration options

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: MAME -createconfig to create a mame.ini

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: For usage instructions, please consult the file windows.txt

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: --END--

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006:

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Loading last used Game List

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Setting Music Volume

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Creating DirectSound Device

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Trying: Primary Sound Driver

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Loading Sound Files

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

15:47:58.9 7/16/2006: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

15:47:59.0 7/16/2006: Using Device Logitech Dual Action

15:47:59.0 7/16/2006: Using Device Logitech Dual Action

15:47:59.0 7/16/2006: Playing intro sound file

15:47:59.0 7/16/2006: Initializing MCE Remote

15:47:59.0 7/16/2006: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

15:47:59.1 7/16/2006: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

15:47:59.4 7/16/2006: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Custom Background:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_1: Custom Background Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Snap Path:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_1: Snap Path Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Database: N64

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Title Snap Path:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_1: Title Snap Path Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Box Art Path:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_1: Box Art Path Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_1: Cart Art Path:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_1: Cart Art Path Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Custom Background: C:\MAME\snaps\genesis

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_8: Custom Background Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Snap Path: C:\MAME\snaps\genesis

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Database:

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Warning: Emulator_8: Database Does not exist

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Title Snap Path: C:\MAME\snaps\genesis

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Box Art Path: C:\MAME\artwork\genesis\box cover

15:48:05.3 7/16/2006: Validating: Emulator_8: Cart Art Path: C:\MAME\artwork\genesis\cartridge

15:48:07.6 7/16/2006: 21 Consecutive Exceptions Occured: Exiting

15:48:07.6 7/16/2006: Value does not fall within the expected range.

15:48:07.7 7/16/2006: at Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.Surface.Flip(Surface surface, FlipFlags flags)

15:48:07.7 7/16/2006: at GameEx.GameEx.mainform.DisplayFrame()

=========================================

[Marker0077]

I have 328 N64 ROMs & GameEx runs all of them fine. I believe I renamed a few of the v64 to z64, this way all the roms are z64 but I have no problems running any of the games.

[firebrand_X]

I've got 108 N64 Roms, and I don't get any exception. Most are .z64's though, and I'm running XP.

[TimeBandit]

Thanks for the feedback fellas.

I also noticed that I was having a similar problem with my NES and SNES ROMS.

However, after playing around with the configuration, I found the solution. It seems that there is a setting called 'Database' in Configuration for each emulator (4 pages deep). The ROMS that were giving me problems had this setting preselected to some database name (NES, SNES, etc).

Everything ran fine when I blanked out that field.

Can you guys confirm your 'Database' settings for your N64, NES, SNES? I'm curious if this is a Vista only issue that needs to be reported.

Thanks.

[Adultery]

I have 200+ N64 ROMs and currently use the database. Same with NES (10000+ ROMs) and SNES (over 15000 ROMs) - I have all mine Good Merged though so that may be a variable - but when I had my ROMs in .zip files I didn't have a problem then either... I wonder if your error isn't being caused by your cart scan directory? Just a thought.

Hope that helps.

[TimeBandit]

I have 200+ N64 ROMs and currently use the database. Same with NES (10000+ ROMs) and SNES (over 15000 ROMs) - I have all mine Good Merged though so that may be a variable - but when I had my ROMs in .zip files I didn't have a problem then either... I wonder if your error isn't being caused by your cart scan directory? Just a thought.

Hope that helps.

Wow Adultery, you gotta hook us up with the ROMs brother!

My N64 ROMS are .zipped while the others are not. So that isn't a factor. Good Merged? I learn something new everyday. No clue what that is.

As for the cartridge scan and box cover directories, originally I had those fields blank and that is the reason why the error says "they do not exist." Since then, I have pointed them all to the approperiate directories with no difference.

Everything is tied directly to the "Database" setting. Its interesting how the limit of ROMs vary greatly between the emulators when this setting was set (~53 for N64, ~351 for NES).

[Michael]

I have 200+ N64 ROMs and currently use the database. Same with NES (10000+ ROMs) and SNES (over 15000 ROMs) - I have all mine Good Merged though so that may be a variable - but when I had my ROMs in .zip files I didn't have a problem then either... I wonder if your error isn't being caused by your cart scan directory? Just a thought.

Hope that helps.

yeh i got the same but deleted loads because there japanese, beta's and diffrent versions of the same game, i think a lot of them are a waste of hdd space

also i dont have any problems with n64 or any other emu my, my n64 is around the 200 rom mark all in zip files

[Adultery]

yeh i got the same but deleted loads because there japanese, beta's and diffrent versions of the same game, i think a lot of them are a waste of hdd space

also i dont have any problems with n64 or any other emu my, my n64 is around the 200 rom mark all in zip files

No reason to delete them all if you use GoodMerge (which Tom fixed today so it's running great!) - That way you can select the game in a simple way - like...

Super Mario Bros. 3 is selected, GameEx then goes to a sub screen with all the different versions in one handy .7z file. I guess I'm more interested in complete sets so I keep all the hacks / Japanese / trained etc... versions.

I currently possess complete sets for 16 different emulators - and a complete MAME set of course (complete with CHD's). Guess one might say I'm a little nuts when it comes to the ROM collection. But people really flip over the cab.

*Thanks to GameEx, of course, for making it easier to navigate through them all.

[Marker0077]

I believe the "database" option is just used for game descriptions. I don't know that, it's just a guess. Console emulation isn't like arcade emulation where you may or may not want to verify the integrity of the rom, are roms missing to make that rom work, yadda yadda yadda, so specifically because of this I think the database option is just for descriptions.

Anyways, I use the database with all my emulators, I also do not have any of my console ROMs zipped up at all, although after looking at the halacious amount of disk space this stuff is taking up, I may eventually switch.

Adultery: What's GoodMerge? That just the files zipped in 7zip?

[hansolo77]

Hey Adultery.. how do you have your GoodMerge setup? I tried to use GameBoy for starters. I downloaded the GoodName version from a torrent site. When I setup GameEx to look for the roms while still zipped, GameEx didn't find any roms at all. I had the option enabled to use GoodMerge. The only way I was able to get it to work was by unzipping everything.

[Marker0077]

Hey Adultery.. how do you have your GoodMerge setup? I tried to use GameBoy for starters. I downloaded the GoodName version from a torrent site. When I setup GameEx to look for the roms while still zipped, GameEx didn't find any roms at all. I had the option enabled to use GoodMerge. The only way I was able to get it to work was by unzipping everything.

Did you try setting .zip in the rom extension field?

[hansolo77]

No I had the extension field blank. For all other roms, leaving it blank seems to work best as it takes ALL the files.

[Adultery]

*MARKER* GoodMerge really just takes all the regions / hacks / versions of games and creates a 'central directory' which strips all the identical code from the ROMs you use. You can set it up to favor your region (U for me, E for some of you) and it not only saves a TON of space on your HD but makes your game lists much easier to navigate.

*HANSOLO* Actually, you need to use *.7z (assuming you're using 7-zip compression which I highly recommend) in the filter field.

Make sure you have your ROMs unzipped and run a GoodName check on them before you start the GoodMerge process, otherwise you'll get tons of errors.

After setting the ROM filter, be sure you enable GoodMerge support in the GameEx config for the emulator you're using.

If you have any other problems, holla @ me.

Hope that helps!

[hansolo77]

I found the problem, I didn't have 7zip installed. Silly me. All works now!

[Michael]

I found the problem, I didn't have 7zip installed. Silly me. All works now!

lol

[hansolo77]

I'm creating a new topic because this is getting off topic.