[RESOLVED] PinballX crashing on certain games - Disappearing Mouse

[lees1964]

I would have attached the log and ini files but I am on a different computer because I have no mouse (well, a tiny black dot that I constantly lose track of).  I have maybe fifty Future Pinball games in my tables file, and though I've played most of them (usually through fploader), I have only played a handful through PinballX (I finally made the switch from Pinball Emporium ).  I'm not sure what is causing the disruption, but on at least two of the tables, when I hit the button to load the game (I'm using a two monitor cabinet by the way, sorry for not mentioning it sooner), the playfield screen turns black and I get a windows error noise (which I feel sure is accompanied by an error pop up window that I can't see).  Absolutely nothing I try on the keyboard will bring the playfield screen back to a windows setting though I can access the menu with the windows key and task manager, both of which I have used to restart the computer.  Everything comes back up fine after reboot EXCEPT the mouse.  Well, it IS there, but it's that tiny black dot again.  I don't recall what I did both times to finally get a pointer back, but I eventually did after several restarts and trying different things.  I feel fairly confident that this is some setting in PinballX that is meant to make the pointer all but disappear so that it isn't there and obnoxiously in the way while you're playing a game.  When it crashes like this, I think that program is still telling the mouse to stay mostly hidden.  I did manage to look at the log file the first time it happened and it basically showed no issues down to the last entry which was saying that it was starting the particular game that crashed (it's the line that ends in "STAYINRAM").  I know of at least two games that I have that cause this crash (both seem to be newer tables with possibly some extras, as opposed to the single fpt file).  I've got a strong graphics card, lots of ram, an i7 processor, so none of that should be a problem.  I honestly think there's some additional file with these games that is causing PinballX to spit it out, but the file that ghosts the pointer seems to stay in memory.  Sorry that this sounds so jumbled. 

[scutters]

You're correct, PinballX will hide the mouse when launched and then restore it on exit - if you're not exiting cleanly (using task manager) then that step is missed. You might be able to get round the issue by using your exit button/key after a failed table launch rather than using task manager.

The real fix is to work out why the tables aren't loading and get them to work outside pinballx first. You mention they're newer tables so maybe you need to update FP BAM files, and possibly update pinup player if they're 'pinevent' tables - here's another guide link https://www.vpforums.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15601

Sorry - think there's going to be some reading involved!

[Draco1962]

Starting now and going forward, please attach copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files when reporting any issues.

Providing the names of the games affected is also helpful and attaching a copy of the xml file a plus.

These help those helping you zero-in on the issue quicker rather than guessing.

[lees1964]

4 hours ago, scutters said:

You're correct, PinballX will hide the mouse when launched and then restore it on exit - if you're not exiting cleanly (using task manager) then that step is missed. You might be able to get round the issue by using your exit button/key after a failed table launch rather than using task manager.

The real fix is to work out why the tables aren't loading and get them to work outside pinballx first. You mention they're newer tables so maybe you need to update FP BAM files, and possibly update pinup player if they're 'pinevent' tables - here's another guide link https://www.vpforums.org/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=15601

Sorry - think there's going to be some reading involved!

Thank you Scutters!  I've actually read that entire pdf file back a couple of months ago (absolutely INCREDIBLE job he did with that, by the way) but was only focused on my issues at the time, so I will definitely give it another read through.  My other issue is that I don't yet know all the terminology or how it fits together.  For instance, I have now heard of pinup player, but have never installed it as a standalone program, and if it IS part of what I'm using now I have been unaware of it.  Pinevent... I am assuming that is a program designed to handle specific game builds, but that's just a guess.  Until today (and your link) I have not seen ANY real explanation of what that even is.  Searching through forums (which has been my "go to" move for various questions) almost always uses that searched word already in context, but no explanation of the context (sorry if that doesn't make any sense - I tend to type like I talk - be GLAD we're not having this conversation in person, LOL).  Anyway, I'm gonna read back through the mega guide again and install pinevent V2 and see where that takes me   Thank you for hanging in there with me. 

[lees1964]

1 hour ago, Draco1962 said:

Starting now and going forward, please attach copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files when reporting any issues.

Providing the names of the games affected is also helpful and attaching a copy of the xml file a plus.

These help those helping you zero-in on the issue quicker rather than guessing.

Sorry, as I mentioned above, I was on a different computer due to the mouse making things nearly impossible to navigate on the pinball pc.  I've gotten my mouse back (for now) and will attach the files.  The two games that were a problem were Ghostbusters and Road Girls. 

log.txt PinballX.ini SetupWizard.log XDMDlog.txt

[lees1964]

Interesting development - I went back into fploader and tried the two games in question and it threw maybe ten or more error boxes at me about various missing fpl files.  I know these are library files, so I'm unsure of why they are calling for these when the tables in question came only with the fpt file.  Either way, this IS the issue, as it recreated the sound and series of sounds from the error pop ups that I was unable to see when running through PBX.  Perhaps I changed things when I connected to the ftp to search for missing files?  Or maybe the switch from the pinballx game manager to the database manager didn't carry over somehow?  Though I'm still kind of lost, I CAN see light through the trees, lol. 

[scutters]

25 minutes ago, lees1964 said:

My other issue is that I don't yet know all the terminology or how it fits together.  For instance, I have now heard of pinup player, but have never installed it as a standalone program, and if it IS part of what I'm using now I have been unaware of it.  Pinevent... I am assuming that is a program designed to handle specific game builds, but that's just a guess. 

Future Pinball came first but the development was stopped. BAM / FPloader came later to extend FP functionality (3d stuff, improved physics etc), and then pinup player / pup came along to add to BAM allowing video playback and improved DMD displays. That's how i think of it anyway, but as i haven't used used FP in a while i might not be totally accurate. Reading the guides should explain it better once you know the terminology.

30 minutes ago, lees1964 said:

sorry if that doesn't make any sense - I tend to type like I talk - be GLAD we're not having this conversation in person, LOL

No worries, i have to deal with Mrs Scutters wibble!!

11 minutes ago, lees1964 said:

Either way, this IS the issue, as it recreated the sound and series of sounds from the error pop ups that I was unable to see when running through PBX

Yep, it sounds like this is the real problem.

13 minutes ago, lees1964 said:

Or maybe the switch from the pinballx game manager to the database manager didn't carry over somehow? 

Game manager and database manager wouldn't change the fpl files. All they really control is the game media you see in pinballx before launching the tables and what games are available. I'd have though the fpl files should come with the table downloads, it may be better asking in the table support / download threads for help there.

[lees1964]

SOLVED!!!  (again, the devil is in the details!).  I had two FP/Bam folders on this drive (the old folder is in the Pinball Emporium folder, so I compared the contents of each, and SHOCKER - I had almost NOTHING in the new Library folder, NO scripts folder, and several other minor files that I copied over, and wouldn't you know it - WORKING PERFECTLY!!!!  Scutters, you're my HERO, dude!  Thank you for working through this with me!  I know that saying "I sincerely appreciate it" sounds a bit trite, but I assure you, I do, SINCERELY, appreciate your help. 

[scutters]

No problem mate, glad to be of some help (although i think in the end you worked most of it out yourself!)