Complete Reinstall? Any advice to make life easier.

[Deadbolt Don]

Take it easy on me...  I haven't really touched my cabinet for over 2 years.  
So I have a 240 GB SSD that has windows 7 home and all my pinball stuff. As well as a Plex media server setup.  The issue I have is everything else has windows 10 and file sharing/remote file management has ceased to be easy for me.  
So I Started a chain of events that should put me in a better situation.   

Bought 1TB SSD split into 2 partitions.  Had heck of a time getting a proper clone of the 240gb done but it is done.  
Removed the now "backup 240gb SSD" and did a windows 10 upgrade on 1TB SSD but this only gives me home edition.  (I will need the remote desktop that the PRO version offers).  <-----Problem one. Yes I know a fresh install is the best way but had to redo everything once and hope to never need to do that again.  

Everything  kinda works.  The USB pincab controller doesn't always get recognized on start up, and needs to be unplugged and plugged back in.   But everything is so slow.... lag just moving over in the pinball x menu take for ever to load a table. 
(At this point the system is mostly to blame.  Was a 650w power supply AMD 10 processor with a geforce 650Ti GPU only 4gb of Ram,  did the trick for a few years anyway).

So I did what anyone would do...  System upgrade LOL!  Bought a 2 month old used Gigabyte Z490 mainboard and Intel 11700F processor. Scored a really good deal on 32gb (x2 16gb) DDR4-3200.   Started to install everything and the system wouldn't post....   This is used and I was feeling pretty sick thinking the stuff is D.O.A.  The guy that sold it to me stayed in contact so I wasn't believing he knowingly sold me bad stuff.  But it ended up that the mainboard wouldn't work with my existing 650Ti GPU.  
So the new system is a Asus prime Z590 mainboard, Intel 11gen.11700F processor ,  32GB DDR4-3200 ram,  Geforce 650Ti video card, 650w power supply. 
And it is still so painfully SLOW!    
The only thing I can think of is that the multiple installs and the conversion from AMD to Intel stuff plus windows 10 has the system all bunged up.  Also not up to date versions of pinball stuff.

I don't remember anything about how or where or what is involved in setting up everything.   I know that everything is out of date.  But not even sure I know how to tell what version of  pinballX and visual pinball I have running?

So I am thinking that a complete reinstall is in order.  I would need to start with windows7 PRO and upgrade from there to Win10 PRO.  Or purchase a windows 10 pro key..  rather do the free upgrade.  
In the past I have backed up visual pinball and pinballx files and just copied over the one that got "reinstalled" this would replace the INI files and my menus/controls/tables etc. and most of the time everything works.   

What advice can you give for a guy that is so out of date the stuff he does remember only confuses him more when trying to start with new stuff.   What are the main info files that could still save me day/weeks/months of redoing?  

[AndyMcDandy]

I tried the Windows remote desktop once and I didn't like that my pinball cab would need to be logged out.  Today I just installed Team Viewer on my laptop and Team Viewer Host on my pinball cab.  It appears to work great.  I have to do some more testing like am I locked to just the main screen.

When it comes re-installation, I always prefer to do it all from scratch, like I've never installed pinball before.

[Tom Speirs]

1. Posting your log and pinballx.ini files will help me troubleshoot.

2. Ensure you have LAV codecs installed.

3. Make sure you on the latest version of PinballX. You should just be able to install over the top.

[Tom Speirs]

PS: AnyDesk is the defacto standard these days over TeamViewer.

Its faster, lighter, cheaper and more free.

[Deadbolt Don]

I am ticked at the Chrome remote desktop being removed, and while I am not completely apposed to the idea.   Feel that using another 3rd party software to remote desktop.   Plus the computers at work use the remote desktop so I can log into it an tinker during lunch (installing any other 3rd party software is a no-no. 

As far as reinstall fresh goes.   Is there UP TO DATE tutorials that I could use to get reacquainted with?    Leaning more to the "based on windows 10" side of things.  For me I guess it is more a order of operations to redo everything.  

I will work on the INI files and start with the LAV codec since I'm unsure if I do. 

[Tom Speirs]

Remote desktop is terrible for PinballX, GameEx, Emulators and all GPU based apps. Your welcome to find out the hard way!

[Deadbolt Don]

I can see were it creates issues (separate login and credentials)  Won't be using for playing anything just option for the wife to work from home through a computer that should on paper be decent.   
But regardless of what or why on the remote desktop.  No other benifit to going windows 10 Pro? 
Is this a issue of the older Geforce 650ti not being able to keep up?  Back in the day it was "the go to card"  But everything gets old.  But I am willing to bet that the "backup SSD with windows 7 still works okay-well with a little lag on loading games.  
Let me play with thing abit.  The more I play the more start to come back to me.  
Just did a PinballX 5.33 install into existing C:\PinballX dir.  Should I just skip the setup and everything should still be like it was right?

 

 

[Tom Speirs]

10 minutes ago, Deadbolt Don said:

 
Just did a PinballX 5.33 install into existing C:\PinballX dir.  Should I just skip the setup and everything should still be like it was right?

 

 

For PinballX yes. I cant think of any reason why it would be slow on that system spec. Maybe you do actually need a resinstall.

It is also worth adding a windows defender exclusion for the PinballX folder. It may well be the addition of a virus scanner in windows 10  that is causing the extra slow down. Sounds like it is IO rather than cpu or gpu.

[Deadbolt Don]

Ya everything in general is slow!  The setup windows for PinballX took much longer than one would expect after clicking the next arrow. 
I will look into the defender option but I am suspecting something else given the specs this should be opening windows like changing channels on tv.  not click and wonder if you clicked it fast enough then click again and finally it loads a window then a second one LOL.  Frustrating.  Adds to my hatred of Windows 10. 
As far as a recommendation on what guys are running for video cards.  Currently I am using HDMI for playfield, vga for backglass tv (TV has a HDMI input) and DVI for a old computer monitor "DMD".  Keeping cost around possibly 300-400 Can$  is it possible?

 

[Draco1962]

Please attach copies of your log and pinballx.ini files to help troubleshoot.  Thanks.

[Mike_da_Spike]

I did a reintall off my cabinet about 2 months. I bought a 2tb harddrive and wanted a clean windows install..

You can create a windows bootable media from the Microsoft side.

Any w7 key (home or pro) will still work. There are some websites that offers a w10 pro key for 12 euro, but think those are w7 keys.

After the install, I made a pinball dir on c:\. I excluded this dir from any  realtime virus scan.

Installed steam and all the software i need for running all my emulators in c:\pinball sub dirs.

For dof, I installed it completly and copied the config over from the old dir.

Same for visual pinball. Installed 10.6 and updated to 10.7, and updated vpinmame with latest sam build.

Tablesdir copied over.

I was up and running in 2 days to a brand new installation of windows and all the software.

 

And I'm using teamviewer as well.not via internet, but only setup locall connection. 

[Deadbolt Don]

Yep Tom, Mike everyone is right a reinstall was the answer to the problem so far.    Wasn't pinball X ONLY it was windows in general.    I did install the LAV codec and it made some improvement to the PinballX front end and playing. 
I just wiped the c drive and installed win 10 home from USB made off the Microsoft site.  
I am installing drivers and stuff tonight and will mess with pinball and game stuff tomorrow.   But already I can tell the difference.  Night and day.  I alway USED to prefer reinstalls for the clean install but that one reinstall and setup of tables had me trigger shy I guess.  
I did backup the Visual pinball and pinballX directories and other stuff.  I am sure I have done exactly what Mike said and just loaded the files over top.  But I think I should try to redo some of the tables anyway.  Since I could use the practice.  I didn't even have Visual PinbalX so that tells you how long its been.
Thank for info so far.    I will post the results tomorrow.  

[Deadbolt Don]

Happy New Year!!!
Made lot of unexpected progress.   Firstly the fresh install of windows 10 then the Lav codec.  Install Visualpinball 9 & 10 Then Pinball X.  Copied over the old files to keep my tables and basics setup.   This kind of worked, because I proceed to mess around, and add a power plug and switch for the Back glass tv.  As well as USB/HDMI outlets so I can use the backglass as a "smart" tv with a Chromecast or Digital picture frame with a USB stick. 
I need to rewire my pincab controller one day soon.    
While I was in the back board I Ran HDMI instead of VGA to the extra DVI port on the 650Ti.  With a adapter.  This of course messed with all my settings and playfield ended up on backglass and backglass on the DMD monitor. 
Got all that figured out and now have the back glass in 1080p, Playfield in 1080p, DMD in who knows what... its a DMD..   Now I can play 1080p games on the backglass or play from Bluray drive.
The Pincab controller is the next  thing to tackle.  Off till Tuesday.  

[Mike_da_Spike]

What is your issue with the licap controller ? Last week my virtuapin controller died and replaced it with a pinscape controller. I needed to rewire some as well, but could program the board as the same button setup as I had, so no changes in pbx, vp or other emulator

[Deadbolt Don]

Let me play with the controller for a little before I call any shenanigans' with the controller. 

But I installed the VirtuCab software and controller gets recognized.  In windows game manager pincab controller shows up the plunger does move the axias on the screen. 
But the virtucab software won't recognize anything.    I don't think my controller is a V3 and this may be the issue?      
I can use the flipper buttons but the launch button and start as well as others are all messed up. 
Is Joytopin still required?  My "plunger" either never got setup right or something since it only worked in a few tables.   To the point I would use just use launch button play.  But it looses a little WOW factor when visitors are told to just use the launch.   
I do recall the subwoofer setting of the tilt in some games like Roadshow when the bulldozer would fire up.  I just seen

something about knockers and solenoids doing this and some work arounds that I will look into.

[Mike_da_Spike]

I dont know anythi g about the virtucab controller.

Iis this seen as a joystick within windiws ? If so, you dont need joytopin.

I just use my joystick config in all emulators.

[Deadbolt Don]

I Have made alot of progress but as usual one SSD Hard drive set into motion a chain of events that I had been avoiding.  
Getting everything installed was pretty much fresh installs of Win 10 home (as recommended will try something else for remote desktop for time being) 
I basically did fresh install of visual pinball full install x.7 (was on 9.02 it think).    
Fresh install of PinballX. 

Copied my old files over the new stuff (replace with the backed up files and directories) Then reinstalled..  Whatever it seemed to solve a few things.  Set up Visual pinball 995 and Visual pinballx under "other".

Treated preferences as if it was all new.   Had to set a custom resolution since windows would overscan full page @ full 1920x1080.  Nvidia software sets this in windows as something like 1846x1054.     Had some issues getting my controls that were working before up and running.   By strokes of luck I have the main buttons flippers/magna saves/start and coin/  Launch button and the plunger seems to work in at least 2 games (testing each game will take time LOL)   Nudge seems to be working.  Will need fine tuning but is SOOO much better than I remember it being before.    I do see that the Nudge testing table that came with VPX seems to have the balls "resting" to the righ side, is that normal?  I do have the Vitrupin controller V2. Is it telling VPX that it is off level? How do I adjust that, since I do seem to lose more balls on the right outlane (blaming machine LOL)
Really think I still want to rewire the cabinet and maybe get away from the logitec 5.1 speaker system.  It sounds awesome but sub box is in the way of everything.    Been thinking about my computer case and wishing I could make it a much smaller foot print inside cabinet.  Maybe a server chassis? 

I will most likely start a new thread leaning more towards the "what's next"  Steps I need to do to get my cabinet guest ready.  Mike I blame you  (good thing unless wife finds out)  I started to look into the pinscape stuff and Zeb has them on his site.  I really like supporting my fellow Canadians if I can.  Plus the CAN$ pricing and free shipping is no hassle for me Eh'?    Seems like a good start to getting some much needed feedback integrated.  The two things I would love to get on first is a replay/match knocker and a revolving light for the top.  Then some lighting......   
I digress,  
Is there a way to Have the VPX and VP9 tables in separate folders?  I see that the VPX tables seem to use all the backglass files I already have for the VP9 stuff.  Would all these need to be in the hypothetical  "seperate VPX folder" as well?  
Lastly is there a way to have the VPX & VP9 stuff identified in the Pinball X front end?  How do you tell them apart if the wheel info is all the same?

 

[Mike_da_Spike]

3 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

The two things I would love to get on first is a replay/match knocker and a revolving light for the top

I adde a knocker when I build my cabinet, but I disabled it in dof after a few weeks , as it makes a hell of a noise. I play mostly night times and neighbors complain about it 

Be aware that a knocker doesn't get attached directly to a DOF controller. You need a relay and a diode (i hope these are the English words)  to not overload/damage your controller. Most of the controllers are made for leds and you need the expensive extension boards for toys. Or build them yourself which are much cheaper (diode is 0.20 € and relay 0.80 €) .

3 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Is there a way to Have the VPX and VP9 tables in separate folders? 

Yes. There are multiple threads here, but the way i setup is to have a subfolder vpx and vp9 under my tables directory. Create a system for vpx and a system for vpx and point the exe and the tables dir to the correct system.
See 

3 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Lastly is there a way to have the VPX & VP9 stuff identified in the Pinball X front end?  How do you tell them apart if the wheel info is all the same?

Hmmm... first you ask to separate them and next you want to merge the media ? 

I think that you should not have double tables in vp9 and build in vpx that are the same, as vpx is much better. Maybe backglasses could be the same. By default it is not possible, but you can ise symbolic links. That some kind of shortcut for folders. So your vp9\wheels can have a junction point to vpx\wheels. So both have the same files, but actually 1 time on  harddrive.

See The Complete Guide to Creating Symbolic Links (aka Symlinks) on Windows (howtogeek.com)

Be aware that  the check of "media audit" within Databasemanager will not work correctly as it doesnt make a distinct between symbolic links and real folders

3 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Mike I blame you  (good thing unless wife finds out)  I started to look into the pinscape stuff and Zeb has them on his site.

I bought a too expensive kit (150 €), that only has the board and the convertor of the analog plunger to 'digital' (it is actually a slide potentiometer).
When buying just the kl25z board, it is much cheaper (around 25 € and with the software of pinscape you can flash it to the latest version.
The only thing you need is the plunger convertor and mounting stuff (but are properly also found on the internet)
But it is working like a charm. You can also use it as a ledwizard (for example your knocker if you don't have a ledwiz yet), but I only use the joysticks on it.
need to adjust nudging

Good luck with all, and dont make your wife upset (my wife doesn't come to my work room where cabinets are, so she doesn't have a clue what i do and buy)

[scutters]

7 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

Lastly is there a way to have the VPX & VP9 stuff identified in the Pinball X front end?  How do you tell them apart if the wheel info is all the same?

Enable Show System in Settings.exe (under general settings)?

Agree with Mike though, once you start updating tables i suspect you'll have very few VP9 tables left enabled in PinbalX so might not be much of an issue when you get to that stage

 

I did write up some stuff for setting up a vituapin controller a while back, but it's for V3 rather than V2 so not sure how much is relevant - https://forums.gameex.com/forums/topic/22391-virtuapin™-digital-plunger-kit-v3-nudge-and-tilt-setup-for-visual-pinball-10/ 

[Deadbolt Don]

Mike & Scutters, Thanks for everything so far!  It is starting to come back to me (all the outdated info anyway LOL)
I never had the Game manager work before and added all 140 tables manually...   But I did try the Pinball Database Manager and it seems to be a very powerful piece of software.   
I should probably post this in the thread for it.  But  I have been able  to use the media FTP to grab info from GameEX.  It works okay on alot of tables.  
But I do get a warning loading media requires plugin enabled in PinballX : <--- or something like that. 
I have looked around, followed the link in your signatures to the plugins.   But I am still unsure how to install or what plugin that it is looking for is.  
I have other things I need to mess with in pinball database manager but, this will get me moving.   The other thing (not sure if related to above).   Is it will add the wheel and backglass on some tables (maybe flyers and instructions) but doesn't seem to locate a playfield video and the record your own doesn't seem to work for the playfield or some DMD unless I have set it up right yet.     one example is the VP10 Scarred stiff.   Such a famous table should be easy to find everything? 
Maybe I just need more seat time with this new fangled tech you guys worked so hard on.   

[scutters]

46 minutes ago, Deadbolt Don said:

But I do get a warning loading media requires plugin enabled in PinballX : <--- or something like that. 

Loading media by table rather than in random needs the derandamomiser plugin (change the loading media mode in settings, copy the plugin dll file to the pinballx\plugins folder and and enable the plugin in plugin manager - see info on that page).

51 minutes ago, Deadbolt Don said:

record your own doesn't seem to work for the playfield or some DMD unless I have set it up right yet. 

Probably worth posting that in a new thread as a specific issue (don't forget to attach your log and ini files!)

It's always worth recording your own playfield videos imo,  that way the video you see will match the table/version you're using. Probably why you're not finding some on the FTP. I think there are some on a mega link somewhere though, might be a link buried in the database manager support thread (database manager can download media from mega links too once set up)

[Mike_da_Spike]

5 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

But I did try the Pinball Database Manager and it seems to be a very powerful piece of software.   
I should probably post this in the thread for it. 

Scutters and I appreciate your kind words !

5 hours ago, Deadbolt Don said:

it will add the wheel and backglass on some tables (maybe flyers and instructions) but doesn't seem to locate a playfield video and the record your own doesn't seem to work for the playfield or some DMD unless I have set it up right yet.

I normally use only wheels, flyers and i structions from ftp. If thosecare not there and I found or create them myself, I upload them to the ftp. Playfield/backglasx I always record my own, so it matches the table I have. Dmd's i create with a program. Based on wheel /company and year images

If you encounter  any issue during use of Databasemanager,  please do as scutters said. Create a new thread with your log and settings file