[RESOLVED] Newbie question - GameEx not starting

[smario]

I am new to GameEx, hello everybody!

I am experiencing a black screen right after the nag screen (I _will_ donate right after it's up and running :-). I have installed GameEx properly, but even after a new install it's just the same. I have attached the log file and the current GameEx ini (in which I haven't made too many modifications after my last reinstall).

Please also note that the MAME paths in the GameEx.ini and the Log file differ - which seems odd to me. The MAME path in the GameEx.ini is the right one and I can start Mame properly on the command line from that location. The path in the Log file is an old path where there is no current Mame installation anymore. Probably a hint at the black screen...

Thanks very much for helping me out (and sorry in advance if that should turn out to be a dumb question...)

Cheers

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

Log File

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

21:26:14.9 19.06.2012: Opening Configuration File

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: GameEx: Version 12.67: Starting Log

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Operating System Name: Windows Vista

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Operating System Version: 6.0.6002

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Aero running

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Initializing Vista/Windows 7 volume control

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Intel® Core™2 Duo CPU T5800 @ 2.00GHz, 3066MB

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: 2Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Running Randomize()

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Loading PlugIns

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Running Misc startup tasks

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Setting Menu types

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Getting Configuration Values

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Using Theme: Default - Default

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Default

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Is Media Center running?

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

21:26:15.0 19.06.2012: Media Center Mode 2

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Snap Delay set to: 2

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Get other settings

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Start work for Form

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Getting Original Screen Size

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Opening Database Connection

21:26:15.1 19.06.2012: Initializing Component

21:26:15.2 19.06.2012: MAME Path is: C:\Users\mittag\_Privat\Videogames\9_Emulatoren\MAME0146

21:26:15.2 19.06.2012: Cannot Find MAME Path: MAME Disabled

21:26:15.2 19.06.2012: Loading Controls.ini map file

21:26:15.2 19.06.2012: Applying Language/Text

21:26:15.2 19.06.2012: Text/Language: English

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Loading Custom Emulators

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Loading Emulator 1: Atari 5200

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Loading Emulator 2: Nintendo SNES

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo N64

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Using Version 3 Themes Animations

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Retrieving resolution setting

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage

21:26:15.3 19.06.2012: Initialising Direct3D

21:26:15.4 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Creating Primary Surface - Windowed Mode

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Creating Back Buffer

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Loading graphic Surfaces

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Display is running at: 1280x800 32bit color, 60hz

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Adapter: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Max texture size: 8192x8192

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Available texture memory: 1527MB

21:26:15.9 19.06.2012: Initialising Bass Audio Library

21:26:16.0 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Volume

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Arrows

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surface Unselected

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Snaps

21:26:16.5 19.06.2012: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

21:26:16.8 19.06.2012: Creating Fonts

21:26:16.8 19.06.2012: Creating Game Font

21:26:17.0 19.06.2012: Creating Game Font Faded

21:26:17.0 19.06.2012: Creating Title Font

21:26:17.1 19.06.2012: Restoring Title Font From Cache

21:26:17.2 19.06.2012: Creating Font Black

21:26:17.3 19.06.2012: Creating Font Black Small

21:26:17.4 19.06.2012: Fonts Created Succesfully

21:26:17.4 19.06.2012: 1MB Video Memory Used

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: Creating DirectSound Device

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: Trying: Primärer Soundtreiber

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: Loading Sound Files

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: DirectSound Device Created Successfully

21:26:40.8 19.06.2012: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

21:26:40.9 19.06.2012: Unable to create a joystick device

21:26:40.9 19.06.2012: Loading Start Page

21:26:40.9 19.06.2012: Initializing MCE Remote

21:26:40.9 19.06.2012: Playing intro sound file

21:26:41.0 19.06.2012: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

21:26:41.0 19.06.2012: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

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

GameEx.ini

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

[General]

Xresolution=800

Yresolution=600

DisplayOnSecondary=False

MAMEPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32

MAMEEXE=Mame32.exe

ROMPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms

StartWait=False

USeAdvanceMame=False

AdvanceMAMEEXE=advmame.exe

AdvanceMAMEPATH=C:\Emulators\AdvanceMAME

ADVANCEMAMEOptions=-device_video_output fullscreen -quiet -dir_rom "C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms"

UseZinc=False

ZincEXE=zinc.exe

ZincPATH=C:\Emulators\ZiNc

ZincOptions=--renderer=.\renderer.znc

Font=Trebuchet MS

TitleText=MAME Games

OnlyWorking=True

AllowImperfect=True

VerifyRoms=True

OnlyRoms=False

NoGameInfo=False

GameFilter=Japan;Korea;Asia;Hispanic;Bootleg;French;German;Hack;Prototype;Hardware;Spanish;(Easy;(harder

GameFilterOn=True

NoAdult=True

NoClones=False

MameOptions=-nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo

ArcadeMode=False

UseLargeFonts=True

SnapPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\snap

AVISnapPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\avisnap

AVIFrameSkip=0

flyerpath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\flyers

cabinetpath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\cabinets

CatverLocation=\DATA\catver.ini

nplayerslocation=\DATA\nplayers.ini

HistoryLocation=\DATA\history.dat

InfoLocation=\DATA\mameinfo.dat

CommandLocation=\DATA\command.dat

ShowGameInfoPage=True

EnableStartPage=True

ShowStartPageFirst=True

skipintro=False

AntiAliasFonts=True

OutlineFonts=False

DisplayBackgroundImage=True

SnapBrightness=120

MusicPlayList=C:\Music

MusicVolume=100

MediaCenterMode=2

PlayIntroSound=True

AttractModeTimer=4

AttractModeAudio=2

UsingArcadeVGA=False

StretchResToX=640

StretchResToY=288

TryToStretchto256=True

NoWaitVSync=False

Sleep=True

HideUpdateList=False

DisableExit=False

HideShutDown=False

StartUpVideo=C:\Video

LaunchOnStart=

LaunchOnStartNoWait=

LaunchOnExit=

LaunchOnExitNoWait=

FontSize=0

VectorResX=632

VectorResY=264

AlwaysStretch=410x256

DisableEscape=False

DisableRemoveGame=False

theme=Default - Media Center

Language=English

FlatStartPage=False

DontSwitchRes=True

SnapDelay=2

AllowWindowResize=True

ShowLoadingScreen=True

Use16BitColour=False

Widescreen=False

DisableMAME=False

ShellBeforeLaunch=

ShellOnExit=

EnableJukeBox=True

jukeboxplaylist=Live! (CD1)

EnableMediaControls=True

ShufflePlayLists=True

LoadPlayListAtStartup=False

LoadPlayListThread=False

DownloadArt=True

TitleFont=Trebuchet MS

DialogTextWhite=False

TimeFormat=True

HideToolBar=3

DoNotFilterROMS=pacman;splatter

MAMEAudioMode=1

DisplayTitle=True

AVIAudio=True

MarqueePath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\marquees

PanelPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\cpanel

TitlePath=C:\Emulators\Mame32 itles

ICONPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\icons

CPEnabled=True

CPPATH=\DATA\controls.ini

ShowVector=True

ShowNeoGeo=True

ShowOriginal=True

ShowAdult=True

ShowCPS=True

ShowVertical=True

ShowHorizontal=True

EnableFavorites=True

ShowMulti=True

ShowAllMAME=True

ShowLastGame=True

ShowRandomGame=True

ShowListNumbers=True

AlphaBlendVideos=True

EnableSound=True

MediaCenterOpenCheck=true

UseSharp=True

CreateImageOnThread=False

HideCreateSnaps=False

HideLogoff=False

HideStandBy=False

DisableMouse=False

ShowVideos=True

VideoPath=

EnableAlphaPage=True

EnableJoystick=True

EnableSlikStik=False

KeyboardDirectInput=False

NoMahjong=True

VIDEOFFDSHOW=0

JoystickDevice=

EnableCustomInput=False

EnableCustomJoyInput=False

AttractVideosEnabled=True

AttractVideosRatio=1

AttractVideosPath=C:\Video

AtractModeNewGameTimer=2

AdvancedGFX=True

HideZinc=False

TransitionType=0

Bypass=True

DontBlitWait=False

ShowMostPlayed=True

ExcludedMAMERoms=

DeadZoneX=0

DeadZoneY=0

JukeBoxMode=0

AmbienceFile=L:\-DATA-\-MP3-\4 Non Blondes\4 Non Blondes - What's Up.mp3

AmbianceFile=C:\arcade.mp3

EnableAmbiance=False

HIDEDESKTOP=True

UseSnapBestMatch=true

IngameVK=121

EnableThemePicker=True

DisablePleaseWaitAnimation=False

EnableRipCD=True

DumbyValue=

DVDPath=G:\

AttractOnlyFavs=False

rotateplus90=False

ShowButtons=True

DisplayTitleText=True

PlayExitSaverSound=False

ShowAtari=True

ShowGolden=True

ShowHorizVert=0

UseModel2=False

Model2PATH=C:\Emulators\Model2

ShowModel2=True

ShowLightGun=True

EnableBezel=True

AutoUpdate=1

NoMAMEOnStartPage=False

HideRestart=False

EnableStartScreenSaver=True

SortMAMEThE=True

SortEmuThE=True

ShowMCEEXport=True

NoRotationRestrictions=False

MakeToolbarTextWhite=False

ExitGameAfter=0

ShowTrackball=True

ShowSpinner=True

LoadEmusOnThread=True

LoadRadioOnThread=False

StartPageAni=True

EmusAttractMode=False

MuteEmuAttractMode=False

Show4Player=True

CabControlFriendly=False

ManualPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\manuals

HideShowTaskbar=True

CustomMAMEFolderPath=C:\Emulators\Mame32\CustomFolders

MAMEFavoritesini=C:\Emulators\Mame32\Folders\Favorites.ini

MenuFontSameSize=False

PreviewVideos=2

ShowStatistics=True

DisableMouseWheel=False

ErrorReporting=0

ReduceCPU=True

ShowNotPlayed=True

(and so on)

[AlphaUMi]

Check your registry, probably there are leftovers of your old MAME installation that are causing the conflict... In fact, I guess that the discrepancy is the cause of your issue, as you already noted...

[Tom Speirs]

Have you got GameEx installed in two locations perhaps? For the black screen try the latest version.

[Adultery]

Maybe you have GameEx installed in more than one place? Do a search for gameex.exe and see if more than one exe pops up.

:EDIT: Dang, Tom beat me! LOL!

[Tom Speirs]

How did you get on?

[smario]

Right on the spot, guys!

For whatever reason I had a second GameEx.ini deep down in ~user\AppData\Local\VirtualStore (and so on) and that one had the wrong paths in it. Only one GameEx.exe though.

Thanks very much for helping me out!

[AlphaUMi]

Does this mean that GameEx looks for another location than CONFIG\GameEx.ini before searching in what should be the default folder?