[RESOLVED] GameEx would not start up its theme after upgrading to GameEx 12.05

[orangeGameCabinet]

Hello,

I have recently updated the GameEx to 12.05 (tried both automatic and manual update), and it would not any longer show the selected GameEx theme initial screen (tried several themes including the default one), leaving the screen blank or sometimes GameEx left minimized on desktop after the Windows XP is started up.

The GameEx installation is made to automatically run upon startup by adding its shortcut in the startup folder.

There are approx. 1 in 10 chances that the theme's initial screen normally shows up after booting the machine.

Force-quitting then starting up the GameEx does always work normally showing the initial screen of selected theme.

Thank you for your help in avance,

Edit: the problem has been sorted out as I tried doing any changes to the settings that I could think of. It might have something to do with the gamebase and other misc settings related to hiding / showing desktop. Sorry about this arbitrary information.

Edit #2: the problem is recurring. Now the GameEx is minimized as a Tab in the Task Bar and the Windows XP desktop appears as soon as the GameEx theme is loaded up.

Edit #3: I guess that the problem might have something to do with any other software executed upon startup after GameEx is started. I turned off a budled software of mini USB wireless adapter, and there does not seem to be any problem for now.

Log is as follows:

13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Opening Configuration File
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  GameEx: Version 12.05: Starting Log
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Operating System Platform: Win32NT
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Operating System Name: Windows XP
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Operating System Version: 5.1.2600
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Checking for versions of .net Framework installed
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  .net Framework 2.0 Installed
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  .net Framework 3.0 Installed
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  .net Framework 3.5 Installed
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6300 @ 1.86GHz, 1015MB
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  1.86Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
13:11:14.9  2011/08/25:  Running Randomize()
13:11:15.0  2011/08/25:  Loading PlugIns
13:11:15.1  2011/08/25:  Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
13:11:15.1  2011/08/25:  Launching and waiting: C:\Program Files\KeyMouser\endKeymouser.bat
13:11:19.5  2011/08/25:  Running Misc startup tasks
13:11:19.5  2011/08/25:  Setting Menu types
13:11:19.5  2011/08/25:  Getting Configuration Values
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Using Theme: Default - Media Center
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Media Center
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Using Images from theme: Default - Media Center V1\MEDIA\
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Launching HideOS.exe
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Hiding Taskbar
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Is Media Center running?
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
13:11:19.7  2011/08/25:  Media Center Mode 0
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Snap Delay set to: 2
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Get other settings
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Using DirectInput for keyboard input
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Start work for Form
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Getting Original Screen Size
13:11:19.8  2011/08/25:  Opening Database Connection
13:11:20.0  2011/08/25:  Initializing Component
13:11:20.1  2011/08/25:  Retrieving resolution setting
13:11:20.1  2011/08/25:  MAME Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Emulators\ThunderMameUI
13:11:20.1  2011/08/25:  MAME EXE file is: ThunderMAME32UI+.exe
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  ROM Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\roms
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Catver.ini is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  History.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\history.dat
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  nplayers.ini is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  command.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\command.dat
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Loading Controls.ini map file
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Snap Path: Not Found
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  AVI Snap Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Video_AVI
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Flyer Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Advert
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Cabinet Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Title Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Title
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  PCB Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\pcb
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Artwork Preview Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Artwork
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Panel Path: Not Found
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Manual Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\manual
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Icon Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME\Icon
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Marquee Path is: C:\GameEx\EMU\MAME
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Applying Language/Text
13:11:20.3  2011/08/25:  Text/Language: Custom
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Loading Custom Emulators
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Loading Emulator 1: PSX MAME
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Using Version 3 Themes Animations
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Using General Font: Bauhaus Md BT
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Using Title Font: Bauhaus Md BT
13:11:20.4  2011/08/25:  Initialising Direct3D
13:11:20.5  2011/08/25:  Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color
13:11:20.5  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces
13:11:20.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
13:11:20.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Back Buffer
13:11:20.9  2011/08/25:  Loading graphic Surfaces
13:11:20.9  2011/08/25:  Display is running at: 800x600 32bit color, 75hz
13:11:21.6  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
13:11:21.7  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Volume
13:11:21.7  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Arrows
13:11:21.7  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
13:11:21.7  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar
13:11:21.8  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
13:11:21.8  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
13:11:21.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
13:11:21.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Surface Unselected
13:11:21.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Snaps
13:11:21.9  2011/08/25:  Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
13:11:22.4  2011/08/25:  Creating Fonts
13:11:22.4  2011/08/25:  Creating Game Font
13:11:22.7  2011/08/25:  Creating Game Font Faded
13:11:23.2  2011/08/25:  Creating Title Font
13:11:23.2  2011/08/25:  Restoring Title Font From Cache
13:11:23.4  2011/08/25:  Creating Font Black
13:11:23.5  2011/08/25:  Creating Font Black Small
13:11:23.5  2011/08/25:  Fonts Created Succesfully
13:11:23.5  2011/08/25:  207MB Video Memory Used
13:11:23.5  2011/08/25:  Initialising Bass Audio Library
13:11:23.5  2011/08/25:  Creating instance of global keyboard hook
13:11:23.7  2011/08/25:  Attempting to load game list
13:11:23.8  2011/08/25:  MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo
13:11:23.8  2011/08/25:  Loading last used Game List
13:11:24.0  2011/08/25:  Loading Start Page
13:11:24.0  2011/08/25:  Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename
13:11:24.0  2011/08/25:  Creating DirectSound Device
13:11:24.0  2011/08/25:  Trying: Primary Sound Driver
13:11:24.0  2011/08/25:  Loading Sound Files
13:11:24.1  2011/08/25:  DirectSound Device Created Successfully
13:11:24.1  2011/08/25:  Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
13:11:24.1  2011/08/25:  Unable to create a joystick device
13:11:24.1  2011/08/25:  Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support
13:11:24.2  2011/08/25:  Initializing MCE Remote
13:11:24.2  2011/08/25:  Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
13:11:24.2  2011/08/25:  Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
13:11:24.6  2011/08/25:  Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

[Draco1962]

13:11:24.1 2011/08/25: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

13:11:24.1 2011/08/25: Unable to create a joystick device

I noticed the above in your log. Were you using the mini-USB software to connect your Gamepad? I would recommend clicking the "How to ask for help" link in my signature. I believe you are correct in your assessment of the software "stealing focus" from GameEx on startup. You may need to work within your system to have that software startup before GameEx so that this does not occur.

EDIT: You may want to refer to this article on How to Control the Order of Startup Programs in Windows, particularly the batch file section. This may remedy your issue so that you can load the mini-USB software ahead of GameEx and setup GameEx to load last in the batch.

[orangeGameCabinet]

13:11:24.1 2011/08/25: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

13:11:24.1 2011/08/25: Unable to create a joystick device

I noticed the above in your log. Were you using the mini-USB software to connect your Gamepad? I would recommend clicking the "How to ask for help" link in my signature. I believe you are correct in your assessment of the software "stealing focus" from GameEx on startup. You may need to work within your system to have that software startup before GameEx so that this does not occur.

EDIT: You may want to refer to this article on How to Control the Order of Startup Programs in Windows, particularly the batch file section. This may remedy your issue so that you can load the mini-USB software ahead of GameEx and setup GameEx to load last in the batch.

Thank you & nice to talk to you, Draco1962.

My GameEx installation now works fine. I am now using "Windows Zero Configuration" instead of the driver that came with the USB wifi adapter, so that its shell script will not be executed upon startup.

Also thank you for your kind suggestions about Windows how-tos! I am sure that the information will be invaluable when I have problems with Windows OS.

>>Were you using the mini-USB software to connect your Gamepad

I am using J-Pac only. I have not used any joystick device on this machine yet.

[Draco1962]

Anytime, oGC! Glad you got everything sorted out and this will be marked as RESOLVED. Don't be a stranger!