[RESOLVED] Database error causing GameEx to crash

[LucasBarton]

Hi all, I'm back again looking for help. Unfortunately the video card I've been using in my gaming PC went kaput so I had to get a new one. Due to being unable to find another one of the same card I had before I had to get a different one. Of course, after installing it and all the drivers now GameEx is throwing up some errors. I'm not sure how to fix it and I really don't want to re-install everything so I'm hoping there's an easy fix that you guys can point out. Here's the error log I'm getting when GameEx crashs. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

3:54:11.2 7/31/2011: Loading PlugIns

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Running Misc startup tasks

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Setting Menu types

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Opening Configuration File

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Getting Configuration Values

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Using Theme: Default - Future Retro

03:54:11.4 7/31/2011: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Future Retro

03:54:11.5 7/31/2011: Launching HideOS.exe

03:54:11.5 7/31/2011: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

03:54:11.6 7/31/2011: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

03:54:11.6 7/31/2011: Hiding Taskbar

03:54:12.0 7/31/2011: Is Media Center running?

03:54:12.0 7/31/2011: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

03:54:12.1 7/31/2011: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

03:54:12.1 7/31/2011: Media Center Mode 2

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Snap Delay set to: 4

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Get other settings

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Start work for Form

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Getting Original Screen Size

03:54:12.2 7/31/2011: Opening Database Connection

03:54:13.1 7/31/2011: --**--

03:54:13.1 7/31/2011: Error: Unrecognized database format 'C:\Program Files\GameEx\GameEx\DATA\data.mdb'.

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionInternal..ctor(OleDbConnectionString constr, OleDbConnection connection)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningObject)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection.Open()

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at j.a(Boolean A_0, String A_1, Boolean A_2)

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: at j..ctor()

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: Disposing Plugins

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: GameEx is exiting with errors

03:54:13.2 7/31/2011: Deleting search cache

03:54:14.3 7/31/2011: ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING

[Adultery]

Um, did you reinstall Windows or something? That's a DB error. Are you using a "lite" install of Windows?

That error really has nothing to do with the video rendering.

[Adultery]

I need the whole log too, not just the error.

[Draco1962]

Have to agree with Adultery on this one regarding the error not being an issue with graphics rendering, however, I would also recommend going to the video card manufacturer's website and verifying that you have the latest driver for your card.

[Adultery]

OleDb is the connection to the mdb and your log says it can't read it, so either data.mdb is corrupted or you're missing a part of your Windows install.

Since its making it as far as trying to open the file my money's on data.mdb being corrupt.

[LucasBarton]

I haven't reinstalled Windows at all. I was having some resolution problems after putting the video card in and I had a tech look at it and he installed all the latest drivers. He did however try to get GameEx to open and he said he thinks the data.mdb is corrupt. So, what exactly does that mean? Do I have to re-install GameEx? I won't be able to post my entire log until tomorrow.

[Adultery]

You could try and move it to another folder and do an offline install. I don't have that file in front of me so I don't know if GameEx regenerates it or not.

[Draco1962]

The data.mdb file should be replaced. You should have another data.mdb file in the \gameex\data\backup folder. Copy that one to the \gameex\data\ folder and attempt to run GameEx again. Let us know if that resolves the problem.

[LucasBarton]

  On 8/11/2012 at 1:59 AM, Draco1962 said:

The data.mdb file should be replaced. You should have another data.mdb file in the \gameex\data\backup folder. Copy that one to the \gameex\data\ folder and attempt to run GameEx again. Let us know if that resolves the problem.

No, that didn't work. Here's the full log:

7:33:18.1 7/31/2011: GameEx: Version 10.36: Starting Log

17:33:18.1 7/31/2011: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

17:33:18.1 7/31/2011: Operating System Name: Windows XP

17:33:18.1 7/31/2011: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: .net Framework 3.0 Installed

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: .net Framework 3.5 Installed

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Intel® Celeron® CPU 2.80GHz, 1022MB

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: 2.8Ghz

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Running Randomize()

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Loading PlugIns

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Running Misc startup tasks

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Setting Menu types

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Opening Configuration File

17:33:18.2 7/31/2011: Getting Configuration Values

17:33:18.3 7/31/2011: Using Theme: Default - Future Retro

17:33:18.3 7/31/2011: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Future Retro

17:33:18.3 7/31/2011: Launching HideOS.exe

17:33:18.3 7/31/2011: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

17:33:18.4 7/31/2011: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

17:33:18.7 7/31/2011: Hiding Taskbar

17:33:18.8 7/31/2011: Is Media Center running?

17:33:18.8 7/31/2011: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

17:33:18.8 7/31/2011: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

17:33:18.8 7/31/2011: Media Center Mode 2

17:33:18.8 7/31/2011: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Snap Delay set to: 4

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Get other settings

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Start work for Form

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Getting Original Screen Size

17:33:18.9 7/31/2011: Opening Database Connection

17:33:20.1 7/31/2011: --**--

17:33:20.1 7/31/2011: Error: Unrecognized database format 'C:\Program Files\GameEx\GameEx\DATA\data.mdb'.

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionInternal..ctor(OleDbConnectionString constr, OleDbConnection connection)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningObject)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection.Open()

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at j.a(Boolean A_0, String A_1, Boolean A_2)

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: at j..ctor()

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: Disposing Plugins

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: GameEx is exiting with errors

17:33:20.2 7/31/2011: Deleting search cache

17:33:21.4 7/31/2011: ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING

[Draco1962]

One more thing for you to try. Move the data.mdb file elsewhere, then download the latest version of GamEx and install from the .exe. This should rebuild the data.mdb file. If you have a problem after that, then we are not likely looking at a corrupt data.mdb file but a component that is required to read it.

[LucasBarton]

If I move the data.mdb and then install a new GameEx, will that allow me to keep my old settings, paths, etc.? I do not want to redo all the stuff again.

[u-man]

yes, it will keep your settings.

[Draco1962]

Most of that is in your GameEx.ini file. Some things, such as Favorites, reside in the data.mdb, however, if the file is corrupt, those are gone anyways.

[Tom Speirs]

I also notice your running version 10.36 which is very old by GameEx standards. data.mdb is no longer included with GamEx as it has been replaced by the sqlite version data.db3. Anyway deleting data.mdb and installing the latest version will still fix the issue. You will loose your favorites, last and most played data.

[LucasBarton]

Thanks for your help. I actually forgot that I had everything backed up on a seperate hard drive that I keep all my game stuff on. I copied and pasted all the GameEx stuff over and it fixed the problem. Still have to tweak a couple of emulators to work with the new video card but it's back up and running. Thanks!

[Draco1962]

Glad you got this issue resolved. I edited the title accordingly and also reflected in the title the true cause of the issue since it was a corrupt data.mdb file and not the video card as originally suspected.

Edited August 15, 2012 by Draco1962
This thread is marked as Resolved and is now closed. If the problem re-occurs, please start a new thread.