burns711

I just voted (16.3%) Tied with Maximus now.

Well everything has been figured out. I had a chance to get to the house and try it out. The problem was that I was running GameEx(MAME ONLY). I had no clue that would have been the problem. Thanks to everyone who tried to help me out, especially bkenobi and a mega huge thanks to fRequEnCy. Super mega huge thanks to Tom for noticing that I was running a different version and creating a kick ass frontend. I'm not te best at a lot of computer things, but I'll do my best to help out the GameEx community! Thanks again guys!

Wow Tom. I haven't had a chance to try it yet because I'm at work, but I'm almost positive that's my problem. Thanks A TON! I owe you that donation now for sure. Is there somewhere I can read about the different launchers for GameEx so I can get some clarification?

I can tell you right now that I'm running it in MAME Only. I don't have any other emulators so I figured that would be my best bet. So what mode should I run it in?

That is the problem. The Start menu has all of the other menu items listed EXCEPT for "Favorites". I have a favorites.ini and all that good stuff. I have GameEx point to it in the setup wizard and it still never shows up. I've even tried not importing it and manually making one through GameEx, but that didn't work either. What I meant in the last post is that GameEx "thinks" it's there, but it doesn't give me an option to select it from the start page. Does all that make sense?

The only emulator I have setup is MAME. I can play games through it just fine. I just have to go to one of the other menus that has games (ALL MAME, CPS, Trackball, etc.). If MAME isn't setup correctly, I shouldn't be able to play games right? Another thing that I noticed is that if I go to play a game that I have on my favorites list that I have GameEx point to, it has the option to remove it. So, it obviously thinks that it's there...somewhere.

I sure did. I've tried every theme in the default pack.

I have another question. I know there is a way to search for a game but I can't find it. Is that only for registered users? I'm just wondering how many of the other features aren't showing up for me.

I will post a log when I get home for a minute. I'm not using any custom language though. Edit: Here is the log. I did another fresh install with the new version without any luck. 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: GameEx: Version 9.81: Starting Log 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Operating System Platform: Win32NT 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Operating System Name: Windows XP 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: .net Framework 1.1 Installed 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: .net Framework 2.0 Installed 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.80GHz, 1278MB 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: 2.79Ghz 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Running Randomize() 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Loading PlugIns 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Running Misc startup tasks 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Setting Menu types 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Opening Configuration File 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Getting Configuration Values 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Using Theme: Default - Future Retro 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Future Retro 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Launching HideOS.exe 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance) 18:08:49.3 1/26/2009: Hiding Taskbar 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Is Media Center running? 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Media Center Mode 2 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Snap Delay set to: 2 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Get other settings 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Start work for Form 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Getting Original Screen Size 18:08:49.4 1/26/2009: Opening Database Connection 18:08:49.5 1/26/2009: Initializing Component 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Retrieving resolution setting 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: MAME Path is: C:\mame0120 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: MAME EXE file is: Mame.exe 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: ROM Path is: C:\mame0120\roms 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Loading Controls.ini map file 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Snap Path is: C:\mame0120\snap 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: AVI Snap Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Flyer Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Cabinet Path is: C:\mame0120\cabinets 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Title Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: PCB Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Panel Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Manual Path: Not Found 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Icon Path is: C:\mame0120\icons 18:08:49.6 1/26/2009: Marquee Path is: C:\mame0120\marquees 18:08:49.7 1/26/2009: Using 2D Animations 18:08:49.7 1/26/2009: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS 18:08:49.7 1/26/2009: Using Title Font: Alien League 18:08:49.8 1/26/2009: Initialising DirectDraw 18:08:51.0 1/26/2009: Creating DirectDraw Device 18:08:51.0 1/26/2009: Using Device: Primary Display Driver 18:08:51.1 1/26/2009: 90mb video memory available 18:08:51.8 1/26/2009: Setting Resolution to 1024x768 32 bit color 18:08:51.8 1/26/2009: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces 18:08:51.8 1/26/2009: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Creating Back Buffer 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Version 2 Theme being used. Loading. 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Loading Button Data 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Loading Font Data 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Loading Layout Data 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Loading Taskbar Data 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Loading graphic Surfaces 18:08:51.9 1/26/2009: Display is running at: 1024x768 32bit color, 75hz 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Flags 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Volume 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Arrows 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text 18:08:52.0 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Toolbar 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surface Unselected 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Snaps 18:08:52.1 1/26/2009: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars 18:08:52.2 1/26/2009: Creating Fonts 18:08:52.2 1/26/2009: Creating Game Font 18:08:52.3 1/26/2009: Creating Game Font Faded 18:08:52.3 1/26/2009: Creating Title Font 18:08:52.4 1/26/2009: Restoring Title Font From Cache 18:08:52.5 1/26/2009: Creating Menu Font 18:08:52.6 1/26/2009: Creating Font Black 18:08:52.7 1/26/2009: Creating Font Black Small 18:08:52.8 1/26/2009: Fonts Created Succesfully 18:08:52.8 1/26/2009: 44mb video memory left available 18:08:52.8 1/26/2009: Creating instance of global keyboard hook 18:09:18.2 1/26/2009: Playing Startup Video on thread 18:09:18.2 1/26/2009: Attempting to load game list 18:09:18.3 1/26/2009: Text/Language: English 18:09:18.3 1/26/2009: Applying Language/Text 18:09:18.3 1/26/2009: Initialising Bass Audio Library 18:09:18.6 1/26/2009: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo 18:09:18.6 1/26/2009: Loading last used Game List 18:09:18.6 1/26/2009: Setting Music Volume 18:09:18.6 1/26/2009: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename 18:09:18.6 1/26/2009: Creating DirectSound Device 18:09:18.8 1/26/2009: Trying: Primary Sound Driver 18:09:18.8 1/26/2009: Loading Sound Files 18:09:18.9 1/26/2009: DirectSound Device Created Successfully 18:09:18.9 1/26/2009: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support 18:09:19.4 1/26/2009: Unable to create a joystick device 18:09:19.5 1/26/2009: Initializing MCE Remote 18:09:33.8 1/26/2009: Playing intro sound file 18:09:33.8 1/26/2009: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx! 18:09:33.8 1/26/2009: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame 18:09:34.3 1/26/2009: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully 18:10:12.5 1/26/2009: Updating MAME Game List 18:10:12.5 1/26/2009: Running: C: C:\mame0120\Mame.exe -listxml > C:\mame0120\listinfo.dat 18:10:26.6 1/26/2009: Opening Listinfo.dat 18:10:28.1 1/26/2009: Reading ListInfo.dat 18:10:58.3 1/26/2009: Reading ListInfo.dat - DONE 18:10:58.3 1/26/2009: Running: C: C:\mame0120\Mame.exe -verifysets -rompath "C:\mame0120\roms" > C:\mame0120\verify.dat 18:14:29.6 1/26/2009: Opening Verify.dat 18:14:30.6 1/26/2009: Processing Verify.dat 18:14:30.8 1/26/2009: Processing ListInfo.dat 18:14:34.9 1/26/2009: Listinfo.dat Processing Complete 18:14:34.9 1/26/2009: Sorting MAME Game List 18:14:35.1 1/26/2009: Adding Catver.ini info to gamelist 18:14:54.1 1/26/2009: Writing MAME Game List To File 18:14:55.9 1/26/2009: Adding History.dat info to gamelist 18:15:21.6 1/26/2009: Adding Nplayers.ini info to gamelist 18:15:31.7 1/26/2009: Adding History.dat Series info to gamelist 18:20:39.6 1/26/2009: Adding MAMEInfo.dat info to gamelist 18:24:03.1 1/26/2009: Writing MAME Game List To File 18:24:10.0 1/26/2009: Updating Year List 18:24:10.0 1/26/2009: Updating Manufacturer List 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Updating Category List 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Updating Custom Folders 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Writing Year List To File 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Writing Manufacturer List To File 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Writing Category List To File 18:24:10.1 1/26/2009: Loading Game List 18:24:10.4 1/26/2009: Importing MAME32 Favorites 18:24:11.8 1/26/2009: Writing Game List to disk 18:24:11.9 1/26/2009: Creating: [Arcade] MAME.mdb 18:24:17.7 1/26/2009: Recreating ICONS 18:25:08.7 1/26/2009: Attract Mode Re-Enabled 18:27:42.2 1/26/2009: Exiting GameEx! 18:27:42.2 1/26/2009: Saving Settings 18:27:43.2 1/26/2009: Disposing Plugins 18:27:43.2 1/26/2009: Closing database connection 18:27:43.2 1/26/2009: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

Haha, wait a minute....there is a "create snaps" option? I don't see that anywhere either. Does anyone have an older version of GameEx I can try to install? Is that worth a shot?

I just wanted to post an update on my situation. I completely deleted GameEx from my pc and did a fresh install and guess what???....still having the problem

Here is the data file data.zip

Ok, here you go. Thanks again for trying to help. I'm sure you're getting tired of me by now On the plus side, i did level up! GameEx.zip

I've tried to ad a game to my favorites within GameEx before. That was one of the very first things I tried and that didn't work.

Yea the games show up and work fine. I could understand if things were in the wrong folder or something if I could at least select the menu option for "Favorites", but that's not coming up. Just "All MAME Games ", "Trackball Games", etc. fRequEnCy: That didn't work either. I'm using v120. I even found the fav list that comes with that version and used that header. It was the same one you found. Is there some .ini or .cfg file that I can open that points the the list that I can open and paste it here to see if something else is going on?

Ok, here is what I did, step by step. 1. Ran setup wizard and deleted the line that pointed to my favorites. 2. Ran GameEx and updated my list to make sure it wasn't there...it wasn't 3. Copied bkenobi's header and pasted it on top of the list that you edited to say this: [FOLDER_SETTINGS] RootFolderIcon = cust1.ico SubFolderIcon = cust2.ico [ROOT_FOLDER] 2020bb 3countb And the rest of the games 4. Saved that file. 5. Ran setup wizard again to point to that favorites list file. 5. Ran advanced config to make sure the "show favorites" was set to "yes" 6. Saved all of that info. 7. Ran GameEx again...nothing 8. Updated my list, and.........got nothing! Now I'm completely 100% STUMPED.

Thanks fRequEnCy! Unfortunately, that didn't work. I even tried it by inserting bkenobi's code before it. I did use the setup wizard to locate the file too. I tried to place it in the custom folders in the setup wizard, but that made a list of about 1200 items and GameEx crashed on me. Now I'm completely lost. I haven't registered my copy of the software yet. Does that have something to do with it?

I wish I knew where in the world to start with that ^^^^

Wow fRequEnCy! That would be great if you could help me out with it. I think I have around 300 or so in my list bkenobi. You may have got off the hook if fRequEnCy can help Feel free to add any games you think I might be missing out on too! Thanks again guys!!!! I had to save the file as .doc because I wasn't allowed to upload a .ini. favorites.doc

Well that's lame that my list is like that. It came from another frontend. I'm still curious as to why it didn't work whenever I didn't import my own list though. So I pretty much have to remake my list from scratch once I get the correct file setup? Thanks for all of your help bkenobi!

Ok, I understand what you are saying. I'm using MAME32 v122...I think that's the version. I used the MAME setup from GameEx to import the .ini file, but came up with nothing. So I'm assuming that I don't have the correct headers on my list, and for some reason, GameEx isn't creating a list for me? Could someone paste their headers from their favorites list here so I could copy that and give it a shot? That should work right?

Unfortunately, I can't right now because I'm at work....shhhh don't tell. Anyway, it's a regular .ini file called "favorites.ini". When I open it in notepad it just lists the games the way they would show up on any list. There isn't any special coding or anything. Just a regular list of game titles. Did that clarify anything for you? Edit: I had a chance to grab the file........... A few from the beginning 2020 Super Baseball (set 1) 3 Count Bout / Fire Suplex 64th. Street - A Detective Story (World) '88 Games After Burner (Japan) Alien3: The Gun (US) Aliens (US) Alligator Hunt (unprotected) Altered Beast (set 5, 8751 317-0076) Aggressors of Dark Kombat / Tsuukai GANGAN Koushinkyoku APB - All Points Bulletin (rev 7) A few from the end WWF Superstars (US, Newer) WWF WrestleFest (US set 1) WWF WrestleFest (US Tecmo) X-Men: Children of the Atom (USA 950105) X-Men (2 Players ver AAA) X-Men Vs. Street Fighter (USA 961023) That's it. No code or anything.

I could yuse some help, and any would be greatly appreciated. I've searched for some info on this and came up with nothing. Here is my problem: I've installed GameEx and everything works great except that I have no "favorites" list. When setup asked if I already had and existing .ini, I selected the one that I already had. That didn't work. I went through the Advanced Configuration and made sure that "show favortites" was turned on and all that good stuff. I updated my list after trying each of these options and nothing still. I even tried it without importing my old list. I went to a game and hit "add to favorites"...still no "favorites". Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.