[RESOLVED] Black screen when starting GameEx

[alexdelarge]

Hi guys,

The screen will go black when I execute GameEx. Only when I press Esc after a few seconds, the GameEx startup screen becomes visible. After that everything functions as it should be. What is causing this?

Thanks,

Michel

[Tom Speirs]

Hi,

A reboot may solve it but I have this issue on my laptop right now and am looking into it.

Thanks.

Tom.

[Tom Speirs]

PS: Please post the log so I can confirm it is the same issue.

[alexdelarge]

Hi,

A reboot did not resolve it,

Content of the logfile:

17:34:42.5 16-2-2015: Opening Configuration File
17:34:42.5 16-2-2015: GameEx: Version 14.02: Starting Log
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 32-bits
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Aero NOT running
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Initializing Vista/Windows 7 volume control
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Getting CPU and RAM info
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Pentium® Dual-Core CPU E5700 @ 3.00GHz, 2047MB
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: 3Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Running Randomize()
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Loading PlugIns
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Setting default net connection limit to 15
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Running Misc startup tasks
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Setting Menu types
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Getting Configuration Values
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Using Theme: Default - Default
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Default
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Launching HideOS.exe
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Arcade Mode is on
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Hiding Taskbar
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Is Media Center running?
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Media Center Mode 2
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Snap Delay set to: 4
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Get other settings
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: SlikStik support enabled
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Using DirectInput for keyboard input
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Start work for Form
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Getting Original Screen Size
17:34:42.6 16-2-2015: Opening Database Connection
17:34:42.7 16-2-2015: Initializing Component
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: MAME Path is: D:\emulators\M.A.M.E
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: ROM Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\roms
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Catver.ini is located at: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\catver.ini
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: History.dat is located at: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\history.dat
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: command.dat is located at: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\command.dat
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\mameinfo.dat
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Loading Controls.ini map file
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Snap Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\snap
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Database Snap Path: Not Found
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Background Snap Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\snap
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: AVI Snap Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\previews
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Flyer Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\flyers
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Cabinet Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\cabinets
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Title Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\titles
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: PCB Path: Not Found
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Artwork Preview Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\artwork
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Panel Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\cpanel
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Manual Path: Not Found
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Icon Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\icons
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Marquee Path is: D:\roms_and_assets\M.A.M.E\assets\marquees
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Applying Language/Text
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Text/Language: English
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Loading Language/Text
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Loading Custom Emulators
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Loading Emulator 1: Microsoft MSX
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Checking if Steam enabled
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Steam support is turned off in configuration.
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Checking if Origin enabled
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Origin support is turned off in configuration.
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Checking if Uplay enabled
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: UPlay support is turned off in configuration.
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations.
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Retrieving resolution setting
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS
17:34:42.8 16-2-2015: GameEx will try to reduce CPU usage
17:34:42.9 16-2-2015: Initialising Direct3D
17:34:43.0 16-2-2015: Applying GameEx is Loading Image
17:34:43.0 16-2-2015: Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color
17:34:43.0 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Creating Back Buffer
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Loading graphic Surfaces
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Display is running at: 800x600 32bit color, 29hz
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Max texture size: 8192x8192
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Available texture memory: 1261MB
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Initialising Bass Audio Library
17:34:43.1 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Volume
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Arrows
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Toolbar
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
17:34:43.2 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
17:34:43.3 16-2-2015: Creating Surface Unselected
17:34:43.3 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Snaps
17:34:43.3 16-2-2015: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
17:34:43.4 16-2-2015: Creating Fonts
17:34:43.4 16-2-2015: Creating Game Font
17:34:43.6 16-2-2015: Creating Game Font Faded
17:34:43.8 16-2-2015: Creating Title Font
17:34:43.8 16-2-2015: Restoring Title Font From Cache
17:34:43.9 16-2-2015: Creating Font Black
17:34:43.9 16-2-2015: Creating Font Black Small
17:34:44.0 16-2-2015: Fonts Created Succesfully
17:34:44.1 16-2-2015: 1MB Video Memory Used
17:34:44.1 16-2-2015: Attempting to load game list
17:34:44.2 16-2-2015: Running: mame.exe -help
17:34:55.2 16-2-2015: ERROR while doing: mame.exe - help
17:34:55.2 16-2-2015: MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo
17:34:55.2 16-2-2015: Cannot Load Play List. Check Path and filename
17:34:55.2 16-2-2015: Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
17:34:55.3 16-2-2015: Using Device ATRAK Device #1
17:34:55.3 16-2-2015: Initialising DirectInput for Keyboard support
17:34:55.4 16-2-2015: Loading Start Page
17:34:55.4 16-2-2015: Initializing MCE Remote
17:34:55.4 16-2-2015: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
17:34:55.4 16-2-2015: Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
17:34:55.6 16-2-2015: Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Snap Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Snaps
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Video Snap Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\preview
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Control Panel Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Controls
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Database: [PC] Microsoft MSX
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Title Snap Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Titles
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Box Art Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Boxes
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Cart Art Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Cartridges
17:34:59.2 16-2-2015: Validating: Emulator_1: Manual Path: D:\roms_and_assets\Microsoft MSX\assets\Microsoft MSX\Manuals
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Exiting GameEx!
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Disposing all videos
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Deleting temporary Karaoke videos
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Disposing Image List
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Disposing Fonts
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Disposing Surfaces
17:35:07.5 16-2-2015: Saving Settings
17:35:07.6 16-2-2015: Shutting down Bass
17:35:07.6 16-2-2015: Closing HideOS.exe
17:35:07.8 16-2-2015: Disposing Plugins
17:35:07.8 16-2-2015: Disposing Plugins
17:35:07.8 16-2-2015: Closing database connection
17:35:07.8 16-2-2015: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit
17:35:07.8 16-2-2015: Bye

Edited February 16, 2015 by tthurman
compressed logfile text

[Tom Speirs]

Hi,

It does not appear to be the same issue. I do see an issue with your mame.exe. I also see that aero is not running which is unusual. Your display resolution and mode also seems unusual.

[alexdelarge]

I turned off Aero to enhance performance of the system. I can turn it back on and try to change te display resolution, see what happens. I'll you know.

btw, what issue do you see with my mame.exe?

[alexdelarge]

Hi Tom,

The problem is solved. I changed the resolution from 800 x 600 to 1024 x 768. I'm not sure why this works, but it does I'm using an old CRT TV and maybe that has anything to do with it? Anyway, thanks for your help

Michel

[Tom Speirs]

Glad we figured it out. It looked like it was running at a bad refresh rate at 800 x 600. I think that was the issue.