[RESOLVED] Losing all configuration data and settings multiple times

[WfM]

Hello all,

I've been using Gameex for about 5 years or so with no problems. I registered it long ago. I would sometimes go months without turning on my cab and all would be well. I used my cab about two weeks ago and it was fine. Turned it on three days ago and it went straight to the generic default Gameex startup screen (not the Arcade theme I'd been using for years). All my Mame settings were lost, the list of emulators was empty, etc. Everything was gone.

I went into advanced configuration and everything was gone and empty. I went ahead and downloaded the latest version of Gameex and over the last couple of days reloaded and set back up everything, Mame, multiple emulators, etc. Last night I had gotten Daphne setup and everything was running smoothly. I had rebooted several times and so on. No problems.

I cut the cab on this morning and everything was gone again. Back to the default Gameex startup screen, no emulators setup, all control settings gone, etc.

Anybody have any clue where to start with this? No changes were made to the cab or the pc or anything? I hate to go through all the setup just to lose everything again. Hoping to find out a possible reason before I sit down with it again. Thanks in advance if anyone can help!

[Adultery]

Could you provide the files we need (ie GameEx log and ini) so we can look at your install path and whatnot?

[DazzleHP]

Hi WfM,

There are a few things that could be causing this, so i'll ask some quick questions if i may:

Is GameEx installed in the default location (C:\GameEx) or in a system directory such as Program Files or even a separate partition?

Do you have more than one installation of GameEx?

Does the GameEx directory and it's subdirectories have write permissions? Which leads me to...

Are you using any logon features and are you sure you are logged into the same User each time?

These are a few off the top of my head but i'm sure there are more.

When you reply would mind attaching your log and gameex.ini.

Thanks

EDIT - Adultery, don ninja me i keel you

[WfM]

Let me go check on directories and try and get the log file and ini file. I do know there is no user login info at play. It is an XP machine with only the default user and also there are no separate drive partitions. Only one installation of Gameex ever.

Thanks for the help. It's strange it would just do this after several years?

[tthurman]

Has the machine been online at all with an exposed interface on the external side?

[WfM]

It does have a wireless adapter on the pc and it will logon to the internet automatically after boot up. Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

[WfM]

Alright here's the log info. This was the second time I cut it on this morning, after I had re-enabled the red theme and keyboard input and a couple of other things. This wasn't the log from early this morning when everything first disappeared again:

12:23:44.3 11/7/2014: Opening Configuration File

12:23:44.3 11/7/2014: GameEx: Version 13.32: Starting Log

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Getting CPU and RAM info

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Intel® Pentium® D CPU 3.00GHz, 3070MB

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: 2.99Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Running Randomize()

12:23:44.5 11/7/2014: Loading PlugIns

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Setting default net connection limit to 15

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Running Misc startup tasks

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Setting Menu types

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Getting Configuration Values

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Using Theme: Default - RedEx - Arcade800x600

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - RedEx - Arcade800x600

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Launching HideOS.exe

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Arcade Mode is on

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Hiding Taskbar

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Is Media Center running?

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Media Center Mode 2

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Advanced Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Snap Delay set to: 4

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Get other settings

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: SlikStik support enabled

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Using DirectInput for keyboard input

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Start work for Form

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Getting Original Screen Size

12:23:44.6 11/7/2014: Opening Database Connection

12:23:44.8 11/7/2014: Initializing Component

12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: MAME Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32

12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: MAME EXE file is: Mame32.exe

12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: ROM Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms

12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

12:23:44.9 11/7/2014: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\controls.ini

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: command.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\command.dat

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Loading Controls.ini map file

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\snap

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Database Snap Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Background Snap Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\flyers

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\cabinets

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Title Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\titles

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: PCB Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\pcb

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Panel Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\cpanel

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Manual Path: Not Found

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Icon Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\icons

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\marquees

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Applying Language/Text

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Text/Language: English

12:23:45.0 11/7/2014: Loading Language/Text

12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Loading Custom Emulators

12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Checking if Steam enabled

12:23:45.1 11/7/2014: Cannot find steam path

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Checking if Origin enabled

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Cannot find origin executable

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Checking if Uplay enabled

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Cannot find UPlay executable

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using 2D Animations

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Retrieving resolution setting

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

12:23:45.2 11/7/2014: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage

12:23:50.7 11/7/2014: Initialising Direct3D

12:23:50.8 11/7/2014: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

12:23:50.9 11/7/2014: Setting Resolution to 1920x1200 32 bit color

12:23:50.9 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Creating Back Buffer

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Loading graphic Surfaces

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Display is running at: 1920x1200 32bit color, 60hz

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GT 430

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Max texture size: 8192x8192

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Available texture memory: 1474MB

12:23:51.1 11/7/2014: Initialising Bass Audio Library

12:23:51.2 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Volume

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Arrows

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surface Unselected

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Snaps

12:23:51.8 11/7/2014: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

12:23:51.9 11/7/2014: Creating Fonts

12:23:51.9 11/7/2014: Creating Game Font

12:23:52.6 11/7/2014: Creating Game Font Faded

12:23:53.8 11/7/2014: Creating Title Font

12:23:53.8 11/7/2014: Restoring Title Font From Cache

12:23:54.1 11/7/2014: Creating Menu Font

12:23:54.6 11/7/2014: Creating Font Black

12:23:54.7 11/7/2014: Creating Font Black Small

12:23:54.8 11/7/2014: Fonts Created Succesfully

12:23:55.4 11/7/2014: 9MB Video Memory Used

12:23:55.4 11/7/2014: Attempting to load game list

12:23:55.6 11/7/2014: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo

12:23:55.6 11/7/2014: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support

12:23:55.7 11/7/2014: Unable to create a joystick device

12:23:55.7 11/7/2014: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support

12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Loading Start Page

12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Initializing MCE Remote

12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Playing intro sound file

12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

12:23:55.9 11/7/2014: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame

12:23:56.4 11/7/2014: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully

12:24:15.6 11/7/2014: Restoring Cached ICONS from File

12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Writing Game List to disk

12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Updating MAME Game List

12:24:40.2 11/7/2014: Running: C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe -listxml > C:\Emulators\Mame32\listinfo.dat

12:24:44.7 11/7/2014: Opening Listinfo.dat

12:24:46.2 11/7/2014: Reading ListInfo.dat

12:24:52.5 11/7/2014: Reading ListInfo.dat - DONE

12:24:52.5 11/7/2014: Running: C: C:\Emulators\Mame32\Mame32.exe -verifysets -rompath "C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms" > C:\Emulators\Mame32\verify.dat

12:25:14.7 11/7/2014: Opening Verify.dat

12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Processing Verify.dat

12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Total verifyable roms: 6429

12:25:15.7 11/7/2014: Processing ListInfo.dat

12:25:23.8 11/7/2014: Listinfo.dat Processing Complete

12:25:23.8 11/7/2014: Sorting MAME Game List

12:25:24.0 11/7/2014: Adding Catver.ini info to gamelist

12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Importing MAME32 Favorites

12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Updating Custom Folders

12:25:28.0 11/7/2014: Writing MAME Game List To File

12:26:11.3 11/7/2014: Writing MAME Game List To File

12:26:15.4 11/7/2014: Adding History.dat info to gamelist

12:26:17.4 11/7/2014: Adding History.dat Series info to gamelist

12:28:31.4 11/7/2014: Adding MAMEInfo.dat info to gamelist

12:30:08.2 11/7/2014: Adding Nplayers.ini info to gamelist

12:30:09.8 11/7/2014: Writing Game List to disk

12:30:10.3 11/7/2014: Updating Year List

12:30:10.3 11/7/2014: Updating Manufacturer List

12:30:10.4 11/7/2014: Updating Category List

12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Year List To File

12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Manufacturer List To File

12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Writing Category List To File

12:30:10.7 11/7/2014: Loading Game List

12:30:10.8 11/7/2014: Creating: [Arcade] MAME.mdb

12:30:15.1 11/7/2014: Recreating ICONS

12:30:18.3 11/7/2014: Attract Mode Re-Enabled

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Exiting GameEx!

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing all videos

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Deleting temporary Karaoke videos

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Image List

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Fonts

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Disposing Surfaces

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Saving Settings

12:33:50.1 11/7/2014: Shutting down Bass

12:33:50.2 11/7/2014: Closing HideOS.exe

12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Disposing Plugins

12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Disposing Plugins

12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Closing database connection

12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

12:33:50.4 11/7/2014: Bye

[DazzleHP]

Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

You can attach the files using the "More Reply Options" button or paste the contents. We do politely ask that when pasting you embed the contents in the spoiler tags:

[spoiler]paste it here[/spoiler]

[WfM]

Sorry, I missed the spoiler bit. Edited the post to add it. Hope that's the correct way.

[WfM]

Hope this is the right .ini file? If not let me know and I will get the right one. Thanks.

[tthurman]

Sorry, I missed the spoiler bit. I was pasting while you replied. Would you like me to edit the post or delete it?

if you don't mind editing, please do, it just keeps the thread easier to read.

[WfM]

Trying one more time. I guess I actually forgot to attach the file. Hope this is the correct .ini

GameEx.ini

[tthurman]

It does have a wireless adapter on the pc and it will logon to the internet automatically after boot up. Do I paste all this log and config info into the body of a message or send it as an attachment somehow?

If all else fails you may want to consider running a full virus scan, as well as a complete malware scan. Malwarebytes still works fine for me, just do custom and select the drives.

If your behind a residential router and getting a DHCP private address your a bit safer, but any browsing could subject you lots of nasty thigs regardless. While it's unlikely you have a public IP, it goes without say that your exposure increases exponentially so if you do.

Just a thought, but out of the blue problems like this make me suspicious with XP.

[WfM]

I can do all that, but have you seen any type of Malware/Virus that just wipes out Gameex?

I should mention that all the emulators are still working fine and still have all the custom control settings working, etc. It is just Gameex that has gotten wiped clean twice now in the last few days?

[tthurman]

I can do all that, but have you seen any type of Malware/Virus that just wipes out Gameex?

No I haven't, but honestly I've never seen GameEx lose all it's configuration settings like this either.

As I mentioned, if all else fails.

Browsing your setup you've got a fair amount going on. Have you tried testing with a basic MAME and MAME extra config?

<edit> only suggesting that so you don't loose everything over and over upon power cycles.

Nothing jumps out at me, but some of the guru's here could easily see something I don't, so give them a chance to respond.

Edited November 7, 2014 by tthurman

[WfM]

I cloned my HD on this machine a couple of years ago. Nothing had changed really since then and the first total wipeout. Here is the log file and the config file from the cloned drive, the way it's supposed to be. Obviously it's an also older version of Gameex.

GameEx.ini

log.txt

[DazzleHP]

Hmmm, well in the newer gameex.ini there is no information regarding any emulators apart from MAME and Daphne, yet in the old one they are clearly there. Can you make sure your newer gameex.ini has write permissions - right-click> Properties, make sure "Read Only" is not checked.

Also, you could try as a long shot backing up your newer gameex.ini first, then over-write it with the old one (still make sure that Read Only is not checked afterwards).

[Draco1962]

Unfortunately, you will probably need to upgrade to version 13.32 (current) as there have been many bug fixes and enhancements since version 12.56. The issues you are running into may be resolved by downloading and installing the latest version.

[tthurman]

He mentioned that he downloaded he latest version, sat everything back up, and it ran fine. Next morning "poof" all gone again, weird!

Did you reconfigure everything manually? Sounds like you did, just checking.

[Draco1962]

I was going by the log.txt file from this post which I assumed was the most recent. Odd that it would revert back to a prior version. I wonder if it is installed twice on the same machine.

[DazzleHP]

I was going by the log.txt file from this post which I assumed was the most recent. Odd that it would revert back to a prior version. I wonder if it is installed twice on the same machine.

Already confirmed in my initial questions, and he is running the latest as it has GameEx Online portions - they are new to public correct?

But i agree it is strange that it seems to have reverted back to default on update...

[DazzleHP]

Actually, come to think of it, i seem to have a memory of Tom stating in a recent update that some (older) versions may not be compatible?! My memory is shot to hell so i'm doubting myself as much as you are reading this, but may be i'm right. Arrrgh! That's what i get for being absent

EDIT - WfM, your original version of GameEx is quite old right? Maybe the updates are over-writing your old configs to accommodate the new features? This is all speculation of course as like i said - my memory is the most unreliable source of info on the planet

[WfM]

The log file that is included in the body of the message above is the one from this morning after everything had been wiped out. It was the second time I booted the machine and included just a couple of changes I made to the theme and to enable Slikstik support, etc. I upgraded to 13.32 three days ago because when I cut it on then it had been wiped clean.

The log file that is an attachment above is the log file from a cloned hd I made about two years ago. It was running 12.56 at the time it was cloned. So, it has lost all settings running 12.56 and 13.32 in the last several days. Hope that helps clarify. Thanks.

[Adultery]

If his version is an old one it shouldn't even have the new wizard options for GameEx Online?

[DazzleHP]

If his version is an old one it shouldn't even have the new wizard options for GameEx Online?

I think they both have become fused into one, both by updates and human error - like a hybrid of GameEx's