Windows completely freezes upon GameEx startup

[Buzz]

Hi,

I have GE running on an AMD 750Mhz processor, with an ATI Rage 128 Pro card, 512mb of RAM. With a vanilla XP Pro install, GE runs fine. As soon as I installed the ATI drivers and rebooted (to enable the video-out) , GE will startup, hit the main options screen, and about 5-10 seconds later Windows will completely lock up.

Sometimes I can run the configuration program, but it usually freezes as well. IF I jump out of fullscreen mode, GE will be fine. I didn't try running games, it just didnt freeze in the menu options...

The computer is not overclocked. The log is below. I've been through my share of FEs and this one actually seems usable. I have real faith in this program and want to definitely buy it, can anyone help me please?

- Buzz

NOTE: This log is not truncated, GE appears to be writing to the log as it freezes...

-----------

12:44:24.1 6/29/2006: GameEx: Version 6.32: Starting Log

12:44:24.2 6/29/2006: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

12:44:24.2 6/29/2006: Operating System Name: Windows XP

12:44:24.2 6/29/2006: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

12:44:24.2 6/29/2006: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Checking Registration

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Running Randomize()

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Running Misc startup tasks

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Setting Menu types

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Opening Configuration File

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Getting Configuration Values

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Using Theme: Default - Default

12:44:24.3 6/29/2006: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Default

12:44:24.4 6/29/2006: Launching HideOS.exe

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Hiding Taskbar

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Is Media Center running?

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Media Center Mode 2

12:44:26.1 6/29/2006: Text/Language: English

12:44:26.2 6/29/2006: Applying Language/Text

12:44:26.3 6/29/2006: Snap Delay set to: 6

12:44:26.3 6/29/2006: Get other settings

12:44:26.3 6/29/2006: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

12:44:26.3 6/29/2006: Backing up Registry Wallpaper Settings

12:44:26.3 6/29/2006: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

12:44:26.4 6/29/2006: Start work for Form

12:44:26.4 6/29/2006: Getting Original Screen Size

12:44:26.4 6/29/2006: Loading ICON

12:44:26.4 6/29/2006: Initializing Component

12:44:26.5 6/29/2006: Initialising Bass Audio Library

12:44:26.8 6/29/2006: Loading default loading screen

12:44:26.9 6/29/2006: Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations. This could be slow

12:44:26.9 6/29/2006: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

12:44:26.9 6/29/2006: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

12:44:26.9 6/29/2006: Initialising DirectDraw

12:44:27.2 6/29/2006: Creating DirectDraw Device

12:44:27.2 6/29/2006: Setting Resolution to 640x480 16 bit color

12:44:27.9 6/29/2006: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

12:44:27.9 6/29/2006: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

12:44:28.0 6/29/2006: Creating Back Buffer

12:44:28.2 6/29/2006: Loading graphic surfaces

12:44:28.3 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

12:44:28.8 6/29/2006: Creating Surface Volume

12:44:28.8 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Arrows

12:44:28.9 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

12:44:28.9 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

12:44:29.0 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

12:44:30.8 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

12:44:30.8 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

12:44:30.9 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

12:44:30.9 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Snaps

12:44:30.9 6/29/2006: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

12:44:31.2 6/29/2006: Creating Fonts

12:44:31.2 6/29/2006: Creating Menu Font

12:44:32.1 6/29/2006: Creating Game Font

12:44:32.3 6/29/2006: Creating Game Font Standard Size

12:44:33.2 6/29/2006: Creating Font Black

12:44:33.5 6/29/2006: Creating Font Black Small

12:44:33.7 6/29/2006: Creating Game Font Faded

12:44:33.9 6/29/2006: Creating Title Font

12:44:34.7 6/29/2006: Creating Control Panel Font

12:44:35.5 6/29/2006: Fonts Created Succesfully

12:44:57.7 6/29/2006: Initialising Windows Media Player Component

12:44:58.0 6/29/2006: MAME Path is: E:\emulators\mame

12:44:58.0 6/29/2006: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe

12:44:58.1 6/29/2006: ROM Path is: E:\roms

12:44:58.1 6/29/2006: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

12:44:58.1 6/29/2006: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

12:44:58.1 6/29/2006: H

[Tom Speirs]

Hi,

I have GE running on an AMD 750Mhz processor, with an ATI Rage 128 Pro card, 512mb of RAM. With a vanilla XP Pro install, GE runs fine. As soon as I installed the ATI drivers and rebooted (to enable the video-out) , GE will startup, hit the main options screen, and about 5-10 seconds later Windows will completely lock up.

Sometimes I can run the configuration program, but it usually freezes as well. IF I jump out of fullscreen mode, GE will be fine. I didn't try running games, it just didnt freeze in the menu options...

The computer is not overclocked. The log is below. I've been through my share of FEs and this one actually seems usable. I have real faith in this program and want to definitely buy it, can anyone help me please?

- Buzz

NOTE: This log is not truncated, GE appears to be writing to the log as it freezes...

Can you try the latest version - 6.36?

Then post the log again.

Thanks,

Tom

[Buzz]

Can you try the latest version - 6.36?

Then post the log again.

Thanks,

Tom

Here you go! Same exact results, even in windowed mode:

---------------------------

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: GameEx: Version 6.36: Starting Log

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Operating System Name: Windows XP

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Checking Registration

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Running Randomize()

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Running Misc startup tasks

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Setting Menu types

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Opening Configuration File

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Getting Configuration Values

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Using Theme: Default - Default

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Default

17:53:16.5 6/30/2006: Launching HideOS.exe

17:53:18.9 6/30/2006: Hiding Taskbar

17:53:18.9 6/30/2006: Is Media Center running?

17:53:19.0 6/30/2006: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

17:53:19.0 6/30/2006: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

17:53:19.0 6/30/2006: Media Center Mode 2

17:53:19.0 6/30/2006: Text/Language: English

17:53:19.0 6/30/2006: Applying Language/Text

17:53:19.1 6/30/2006: Snap Delay set to: 0

17:53:19.1 6/30/2006: Get other settings

17:53:19.2 6/30/2006: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

17:53:19.2 6/30/2006: Start work for Form

17:53:19.2 6/30/2006: Getting Original Screen Size

17:53:19.2 6/30/2006: Loading ICON

17:53:19.2 6/30/2006: Initializing Component

17:53:19.3 6/30/2006: Initialising Bass Audio Library

17:53:19.9 6/30/2006: Loading default loading screen

17:53:20.0 6/30/2006: Using 2D Animations

17:53:20.0 6/30/2006: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

17:53:20.0 6/30/2006: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS

17:53:20.0 6/30/2006: Initialising DirectDraw

17:53:20.5 6/30/2006: Creating DirectDraw Device

17:53:20.5 6/30/2006: Setting Resolution to 800x600 32 bit color

17:53:20.8 6/30/2006: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

17:53:20.8 6/30/2006: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

17:53:20.9 6/30/2006: Creating Back Buffer

17:53:21.1 6/30/2006: Loading graphic surfaces

17:53:21.2 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

17:53:21.4 6/30/2006: Creating Surface Volume

17:53:21.4 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Arrows

17:53:21.5 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

17:53:21.5 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

17:53:21.5 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

17:53:23.8 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

17:53:23.8 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

17:53:23.9 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

17:53:23.9 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Snaps

17:53:23.9 6/30/2006: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

17:53:24.1 6/30/2006: Creating Fonts

17:53:24.1 6/30/2006: Creating Menu Font

17:53:24.7 6/30/2006: Creating Game Font

17:53:25.1 6/30/2006: Creating Game Font Standard Size

17:53:26.0 6/30/2006: Creating Font Black

17:53:26.6 6/30/2006: Creating Font Black Small

17:53:27.2 6/30/2006: Creating Game Font Faded

17:53:27.4 6/30/2006: Creating Title Font

17:53:28.6 6/30/2006: Creating Control Panel Font

17:53:29.4 6/30/2006: Fonts Created Succesfully

17:53:53.2 6/30/2006: Initialising Windows Media Player Component

17:53:53.5 6/30/2006: MAME Path is: E:\emulators\mame

17:53:53.5 6/30/2006: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe

17:53:53.6 6/30/2006: ROM Path is: E:\roms

17:53:53.6 6/30/2006: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

17:53:53.6 6/30/2006: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

17:53:53.6 6/30/2006: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

17:53:53.7 6/30/2006: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

17:53:53.7 6/

[Buzz]

Any idea Tom? I will upgrade to 2.37 and see if it happens. Thanks for looking into this...

[Tom Speirs]

Any idea Tom? I will upgrade to 2.37 and see if it happens. Thanks for looking into this...

Sorry, I'm not too sure. GameEx seems to be locking up without even producing an exception, so there's no way for me to tell exactly where it is failing. This would indicate it is not or not entirely GameEx crashing that is causing the problem.

Can't really think of anything to suggest, sorry. I guess check your system, and possibility rebuild.

Tom.

[headkaze]

I would try uninstalling the .NET Framework's and re-installing them. Is sounds like there is possibly a damaged file on your system, or some process causing a problem.

You can try running Task Manager and killing any non-standard Windows processes, then try running GameEx. If it works, then you can try eliminating the conflict by killing them one by one until it fails again.

There are two suggestions before you do a complete rebuild anyway. Might save a few hours of reinstalling. There is always the repair option for XP too.

[TimeBandit]

...With a vanilla XP Pro install, GE runs fine. As soon as I installed the ATI drivers and rebooted (to enable the video-out) , GE will startup, hit the main options screen, and about 5-10 seconds later Windows will completely lock up.

Seems to be your ATI drivers since everything worked prior to that. Make sure you're using the last driver release on ATI.COM's web site.

Since you mentioned that the problem now happens when in "window" mode, I would remove that driver and test GameEX to see if things are stable again, like it was originally. You need to isolate the problem to the ATI driver or something else.

If your problems are resolved without the driver, I would try to borrow another video card from someone. The rage 128 pro is quiet a dated video card. Or even purchase a used one for a few bucks.

Good luck.

[Ricci]

Agreed-do what worked last before you started crashing-take the drivers out, stop all processes you do not need to use (whether in MMC or reg hacks) and bare bone what you have running in the background.

[Buzz]

Agreed-do what worked last before you started crashing-take the drivers out, stop all processes you do not need to use (whether in MMC or reg hacks) and bare bone what you have running in the background.

SOLVED:

I had tried removing the .net framework, reinstalling, as well as gamex, with no solution. I then installed a GEForce 5200, and still had the same problem.

I ran Sandra's hardware burning software to put the computer through its paces, still no problem and NO freezes.

BUT I noticed that of my 3 RAM slots, I had my ram in slots 2 & 3. Moving my RAM from 2 & 3 to 1 & 2 solved the problem!

Any speculations on this?

[jthompson]

SOLVED:

I had tried removing the .net framework, reinstalling, as well as gamex, with no solution. I then installed a GEForce 5200, and still had the same problem.

I ran Sandra's hardware burning software to put the computer through its paces, still no problem and NO freezes.

BUT I noticed that of my 3 RAM slots, I had my ram in slots 2 & 3. Moving my RAM from 2 & 3 to 1 & 2 solved the problem!

Any speculations on this?

I'm guessing that you moved the stick you had in the third slot to the first. If this is the case then you might want to do a more extensive memory test, because it sounds like the stick in slot 2 might be bad as this stick was being used first/more by GameEx. Now, when you have the stick originally in slot three which is now in slot one, every thing works fine because this is the stick that is being used first/more by GameEx. I would try to DUPLICATE the error by just using one stick of ram at a time trying each slot. If one stick fails in every slot then you have bad RAM. If both sticks work in slots one and two but fail in slot 3 then you have a bad motherboard. I have fixed a lot of computers in my day and I can tell you that sometimes all the software tests in the world won't find every bad stick of RAM. The best test you have is to try to duplicate the error by trying one stick and slot at a time until you can pinpoint whats going on. Hope this isn't too confusing. Good Luck.

Jay T

PS. Maybe your MB does not support the 2-3 slot configuration but I doubt it. Most MBs I've worked with will accept the RAM in any slot with no problems.

[TimeBandit]

Buzz, glad that you figured it out. That is very odd indeed that the problem was with your RAM since you said that it worked originally (before installing the ATI driver).

I know that some MB manufacturers mention that you should use the first slots for "stability" reasons even though any slot typically works. So I'm not sure what these "stability" issues are or if that was the cause of your problems.

As the other person suggest, testing your memory might be a good idea.