[RESOLVED] Games stopped launching

[andydrgn]

Fired up my machine for the first time in a while. Has been working great for years. Now when I try to launch a game it makes most of the launch sound then stops, doesnt load the game and goes back to the game selection. Any thoughts why this would just start happening? I only run MAME and it does it on every game I try. PC does not and has not had internet access so cant be a windows update issue. Any help is much appreciated. Would hate to uninstall and redo everything from scratch

[Draco1962]

Hi @andydrgn sorry you are having problems with launching. Even though your PC is not connected to the internet, things internally can and will go wrong when starting up after a while of being shut off.

Please help us help you by attaching (no copy & paste, please) copies of you gameex.ini and log.txt files.

Any pertinent information (MAME version installed, happening for all or just one or certain MAME ROMS, etc.).

Thanks!

[andydrgn]

Thanks for the reply. Files are attached. I run MAME version .218. MAME still works fine outside of GameEx. Not sure what broke. No games launch in GameEx. It tries to then reverts back to the "play this game" screen

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

Not that it is related but you may want to consider upgrading to the latest version of GameEx Arcade Edition 18.51.

Two things I noticed right away that are concerning. First, within the log.txt file:

15:53:50.89  5/19/2023:  MAME Path is: 
15:53:50.89  5/19/2023:  Cannot Find MAME Path: MAME Disabled
15:53:50.89  5/19/2023:  MAME EXE file is: 
15:53:50.91  5/19/2023:  Invalid MAME Executable
15:53:50.91  5/19/2023:  Searching for MAME executable..
15:53:50.91  5/19/2023:  Cannot find MAME executable.
15:53:50.91  5/19/2023:  Invalid ROM Path: 
15:53:50.92  5/19/2023:  Catver.ini Not Found
15:53:50.92  5/19/2023:  controls.ini Not Found
15:53:50.92  5/19/2023:  History.dat is located at: C:\GameEx Arcade Edition\DATA\history.dat
15:53:50.92  5/19/2023:  nplayers.ini is located at: C:\GameEx Arcade Edition\DATA\nplayers.ini
15:53:50.94  5/19/2023:  command.dat is located at: C:\GameEx Arcade Edition\DATA\command.dat
15:53:50.94  5/19/2023:  MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\GameEx Arcade Edition\DATA\mameinfo.dat
15:53:50.94  5/19/2023:  Loading Controls.ini map file
15:53:50.96  5/19/2023:  Snap Path: Not Found
15:53:50.96  5/19/2023:  Database Snap Path: Not Found
15:53:50.96  5/19/2023:  Background Snap Path: Not Found
15:53:50.96  5/19/2023:  AVI Snap Path: Not Found
15:53:50.97  5/19/2023:  Video theme Path: Not Found
15:53:50.97  5/19/2023:  Video background Path: Not Found
15:53:50.97  5/19/2023:  Flyer Path: Not Found
15:53:50.97  5/19/2023:  Cabinet Path: Not Found
15:53:50.99  5/19/2023:  Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found
15:53:50.99  5/19/2023:  Title Path: Not Found
15:53:50.99  5/19/2023:  Title Path: Not Found
15:53:50.99  5/19/2023:  PCB Path: Not Found
15:53:51.00  5/19/2023:  Artwork Preview Path: Not Found
15:53:51.00  5/19/2023:  Panel Path: Not Found
15:53:51.00  5/19/2023:  Manual Path: Not Found
15:53:51.00  5/19/2023:  Icon Path: Not Found
15:53:51.02  5/19/2023:  Marquee Path: Not Found

Are you using the integrated MAME feature?

And the second, when attempting to view your gameex.ini file:

I should be seeing configuration text. A guess is that it is corrupt. There should be a backup copy named GameEx.UpgradeBackup.ini which you can rename gameex.ini after deleting the original first and see if that works. There may be some minor tweaking that needs to be done depending upon how many changes were made between version upgrades in the past.

[andydrgn]

Thanks @Draco1962. So the backup ini swap didnt work. I deleted the old software and installed the latest GameEx arcade version, pointed to mame and roms and am back up and running with the exception of proper controls. Forgive my beginner questions as I have been out of the arcade emulator game for a very long time now. Just want this working again for my kids to enjoy. So I am trying to use a tankstick with a custom mapping and remember having to add a file or something to make it work properly. I believe there was a write up on this somewhere but cant seem to find it. Are the controls done in mame settings or gameex? Could you please help me through this last part when you have a moment. Much appreciated

[Draco1962]

X-Arcade MAME config instructions.

Under "Advanced MAME Settings" be sure to add "-ctrlr X-Arcade" as shown below.

A reference from our forums:

I also attached a copy of the x-arcade.cfg that should be in your \MAME\ctrlr folder. Keep in mind that individual games will require controller mapping by hitting TAB upon game launch to set any assignments that may differ from the defaults.

x-arcade.cfg

[tthurman]

https://docs.mamedev.org/usingmame/defaultkeys.html

[andydrgn]

Thanks for the direction. I got it up and running again. Also new interface is a lot nicer than my older version. Greatly appreciate all the help!