[RESOLVED] PinballX does not start with windows...anymore!

[monnezzas]

in the last days I've added some videos, wheels and pf-image with the gamemanager.exe and suddenly PinballX doesn't start anymore withi windows7.

Things I've done:

Uninstalled PinballX (1.80)
Uninstalled and Reinstalled Sharks Codec
Reinstalled PinballX with the latest version (1.83) in another path
Started once PinballX as administrator
Restarted (nothing's changed)
Deleted all the media files in the media folders (table videos, screengrabs, etc etc)

this is my log:

16:47:28.3 23/05/2014: PinballX - Version 1.83
16:47:28.3 23/05/2014: Loading Settings
16:47:28.3 23/05/2014: Initialize Component
16:47:28.3 23/05/2014: Initialize Display
16:47:28.4 23/05/2014: Loading PlugIns
16:47:28.5 23/05/2014: Created DirectX BackGlass Window
16:47:28.6 23/05/2014: Hiding Cursor
16:47:28.6 23/05/2014: Hiding Taskbar
16:47:28.7 23/05/2014: Load Game List
16:47:28.7 23/05/2014: Loading Database: Future Pinball
16:47:28.7 23/05/2014: Loading Database: Visual Pinball
16:47:28.7 23/05/2014: Finding and matching artwork and videos
16:47:28.8 23/05/2014: Loading Game Statistics and Scores
16:47:30.2 23/05/2014: Initialize Audio
16:47:30.3 23/05/2014: Set Keyboard Controls
16:47:30.3 23/05/2014: Initialize Joystick
16:47:30.4 23/05/2014: 1 Joystick Attached
16:47:30.4 23/05/2014: Started
16:47:38.5 23/05/2014: Launch System
16:47:38.5 23/05/2014: Waiting for threads
16:47:38.5 23/05/2014: Disposing display
16:47:40.9 23/05/2014: D:\Future Pinball\BAM\FPLoader.exe /open "D:\Future Pinball\Tables\F-14 Tomcat(top gun mod)-DMDZED.fpt" STAYINRAM/play /exit /arcaderender
16:47:41.9 23/05/2014: Created DirectX BackGlass Window
16:48:39.2 23/05/2014: Created DirectX BackGlass Window
16:48:45.8 23/05/2014: Exiting
16:48:46.1 23/05/2014: Showing Taskbar
16:48:46.4 23/05/2014: Unhiding Mouse Cursor
16:48:46.4 23/05/2014: Disposing Plugins
16:48:46.4 23/05/2014: Saving Settings

and this is my pinballx config

[Display]
Monitor=0
Rotate=270
Windowed=False
WindowWidth=480
WindowHeight=720
WindowX=0
WindowY=65
PlayFieldBrightness=230
WheelTextColor=ffffffff
WheelTextOutlineColor=ff000000
InfoTextColor=ffffffff
InfoTextOutlineColor=ff000000
FilterTextColor=ffffffff
FilterTextOutlineColor=ff000000
MenuColor=ffffa500
[backGlass]
monitor=1
x=0
y=0
width=1024
height=768
[DMD]
Enabled=False
monitor=2
x=0
y=0
width=900
height=300
[FileSystem]
EnableFileMatching=True
[interface]
DesktopModeEnabled=False
EnableAdditionalDetail=True
ShowSystem=True
ShowRatings=True
[Audio]
StreamVolume=90
SampleVolume=90
PlaySoundInVideos=True
[startup]
playsound=True
playvideo=False
StartWithWindows=Yes
[KeyCodes]
quit=83
left=90
right=65
select=50
rotate=82
pageleft=33
pageright=34
exitemulator=27
ingame=80
screenshot=83
screenshotbackglass=66
instructions=87
[JoyCodes]
quit=10
left=0
right=1
select=2
rotate=3
pageleft=4
pageright=5
exitemulator=6
ingame=13
instructions=14
[Text]
Line1=Free Play
Line2=Press Start
[FuturePinball]
Enabled=True
WorkingPath=D:\Future Pinball\BAM
TablePath=D:\Future Pinball\Tables
Executable=FPLoader.exe
Parameters=/open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]" STAYINRAM/play /exit /arcaderender
LaunchBeforeEnabled=false
LaunchBeforeWorkingPath=
LaunchBeforeExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchBeforeHideWindow=False
LaunchBeforeWaitForExit=True
LaunchAfterEnabled=False
LaunchAfterWorkingPath=
LaunchAfterExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchAfterHideWindow=False
LaunchAfterWaitForExit=True
MouseClickFocus=True
FPRAMPath=D:\Future Pinball\fpRAM
[VisualPinball]
Enabled=True
WorkingPath=D:\vp
TablePath=D:\vp\Tables
Executable=VPinball990.exe
Parameters=/play -"[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]"
LaunchBeforeEnabled=false
LaunchBeforeWorkingPath=
LaunchBeforeExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchBeforeHideWindow=False
LaunchBeforeWaitForExit=True
LaunchAfterEnabled=False
LaunchAfterWorkingPath=
LaunchAfterExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchAfterHideWindow=False
LaunchAfterWaitForExit=True
NVRAMPath=D:\vp\nvram
[ExitScreen]
Enabled=True
EnableExit=True
EnableShutdown=True
[startupProgram]
Enabled=false
WorkingPath=
Executable=notepad.exe
Paramaters=
HideWindow=true
WaitForExit=false
[ExitProgram]
Enabled=false
WorkingPath=
Executable=notepad.exe
Paramaters=
HideWindow=False
WaitForExit=
[AttractMode]
Enabled=True
Timer=1
ShowFor=15
[system_1]
Name=Pinball FX2
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=C:\Steam
TablePath=C:\Steam\Tables
Executable=PinballFX.exe
Parameters=
[system_2]
Name=MAME
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=C:\- EMULATORS -\- MAME -
TablePath=C:\
Executable=mamep64.exe
Parameters=[TABLEFILE]
[AutoExit]
Enabled=False
Minutes=10
[Login]
Enabled=False
[internal]
lastselected=F-14 Tomcat(top gun mod)-DMDZEDF-14 Tomcat(top gun mod)-DMDZEDFuturePinball
filter_year=
filter_company=
filter_custom=
filtername=Tables
[system_3]
Name=
WorkingPath=
TablePath=
Executable=
[setupWizard]
EmuPath1=C:\Emulators
AssetPath1=C:\Assets
RomPath1=C:\Roms
DefaultPathPrompt=True
DownloadDatabasePrompt=True
DownloadEmulatorPrompt=True
WizardMode=2
CustomArray=General Settings|Display Settings|Audio Settings|GameEx Online|Startup Settings|Keyboard Input Settings|Joystick Input Settings|Text|Future Pinball|Visual Pinball|Other Systems|Attract Mode|Auto Exit|Exit Screen|Exit Program
SearchArray=
SavePosition=False
SectionIndex=0
SearchText=
EmulatorIndex=0
EmulatorGroupIndex=0
DaphneIndex=0
HTMLAppsIndex=0
ExternalAppsIndex=0
RadioStationsIndex=0
NewsFeedsIndex=0
MappedDrivesIndex=0
SystemIndex=2
ShowPanel=True
FontSize=1
WindowState=0
WindowSize=650,622
WindowLocation=635,301

[Plugin_1]
Enabled=False
Name=PlugInSpeech.dll
[Plugin_2]
Enabled=False
Name=QuickLaunch (PinballX Edition).dll
[Plugin_3]
Enabled=False
Name=Xpadder Plugin.dll

if started manually PinballX works perfectly

My pc is:

intel Q6600, 4GB, Geforce8600Gt 512mb,Windows 7 X64 Ultimate

[Tom Speirs]

Try disabling then enabling the setting again. You can always just create a shortcut and put it in the startup program group too.

[monnezzas]

Already done! Pinballx is even in the startup program(not sure if is a shortcut].. But nothing. I've even found the automatic start in msconfig, but nothing to do. Is there a deeper uninstaller way?

[Draco1962]

PinballX has been upgraded to version 1.84. You may want to download and install and report back with as to whether or not the issue continues. Thanks!

[monnezzas]

For sure Draco.. but after this problem I've updated to 1.83 with no success. I'm starting to think that could be something related to windows... So, this smell of format

[Draco1962]

I would avoid multiple installations on separate paths as that can confuse windows. Make sure the path for your shortcut in the Startup folder reflects Run as Administrator for All users. Let's see if this can be resolved without a format/reimage.

[Tom Speirs]

It can be quite normal for PinballX not to load on windows startup. Other services and drivers can get in the way and steal focus. When PinballX exits with an error it will just return to the desktop so that is normal too.

The solution for the issue has been to disable other things starting up with windows or add a delay before starting PinballX. The in built method for starting with windows does already add a delay.

[monnezzas]

Well, the path in Windows Startup is right and there's no other program in that folder.

Ok friends, before I loose myself in this labyrinth...what if I use an external program for automatic startup?

[Draco1962]

Did you run msconfig from the "run" lin in the Start Menu to see what is starting up (processes or services). Not all programs that can run at startup will show in the Startup folder!

[monnezzas]

yes Draco..."run\msconfig" and in the start tab there are normal programs like xpadder, google update, java update, windows os..and Pinballx!

all these programs are always been here few days ago when PinballX started automatically.

A little curiosity: in a different pc where autostart works perfectly the path of PinballX in the Startup folder points directly in Pinballx batch file and not exe...maybe I can manually copy the Pinballx batch shortcut in the startup folder?

[Draco1962]

Give it a try! Worse case is it doesn't work and you remove it. Just make sure that the paths are correct in the batch file for the new PC.

[monnezzas]

this is my actual msconfig and automatic startup. Seems to be all correct

[connorsdad]

Have an AHK containing a run pinballx command that starts with windows, that will always load.

[monnezzas]

Where I can find this ahk?

[connorsdad]

What is the location of your pinballx exe ?

[connorsdad]

Just add the following to an ahk script and stick it in your windows start up folder.

Run, c:\pinballx\pinballx.exe

Replace c:\.. with the location of your installation.

[monnezzas]

well, I've created an AHK script named PX

inside I've wrote: "Run, D:\Pinballx\pinballx.exe" (without quotes)

but nothing

I've tried with

"Run, D:\Pinballx\pinballx.bat" and still doesn't works

other programs like xpadder or autohotkey starts automatically, I've even tried to disable all other startups but PinballX seems to start only via mouse doubleclick

[connorsdad]

When I get off work I'll test an ahk for you.

[monnezzas]

thanx connorsdad!

[connorsdad]

I've just tested this on my system and it works fine, I put it in the startup folder, windows loads and then pinballx starts.

run, c:\pinballx\pinballx.exe

[andyco]

my bat file works just put this line in it.

start "" pinballx.exe

and then enable in settings

and ur good to go

[randr]

This should work...

Create a .bat file

add this

timeout /t 5

start "" c:\pinballx\pinballx.exe

save as pbxstart.bat

put this in startup folder and should work! you may need to increase the 5 seconds or try less if it works at 5sec.

Also interesting note... if you add the bat file to startup folder make sure you uncheck setting in pinball to load automatically. i'm sure you know that but you may forget

[monnezzas]

Andyco and randr, tried both methods but nothing changes. I think that is not a pinballx problem.. But windows user permission problem.. Even if hyperpin starts automatically like a charm. Probably nothing will change until format.. But for now I'll keep on using Hyperpin. Thanks for now

[Censored]

Try setting up a startup task with the task sheduler, this should work.
(Instructions how to set up a task are here )

[monnezzas]

I've even tried this and other ways to force pinballx to start with windows... Nothing! There's something strange in the start process: pinballx is configured to launch xpadder.. And xpadder is effectively launched by pinballx (not by windows).. this mean that pinballx is started but is not present in the process list or task manager!!