[RESOLVED] Black screens, with sound, on ALL Video, VidSnaps, IntroVids, etc

[Games001]

Hi all.  Returning to the world of Retro Arcade Building after a decade away and I have run into an odd pair of issues when installing into a 100% New PC Install of GameEx (latest version as of 09.17.2023), Codecs, LAME, and MAME (also latest version).  Roms and Paths, both in MAME and GameEx configs all confirmed to be in the 'correct' locations.

All my videos, be they Intro vids, Video Snaps, etc do not show in the menus screens.  With the game lists I get the sound but just a black square for the preview window on the left of the game info and menu.
When running many, but not all, game I hit Play and am taken to a black screen then, after a few seconds, am taken right back to the Play Game menu.

Video demo attached for ease of review.

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

Likely you omitted installing video codecs required for launching the videos.

Try installing the LAV video codecs from the link below and please report back with your results:

 

[Games001]

LAV Filters 0.77.2 were already installed.  All Options installed.  Still no go.

[Draco1962]

As for some ROMS not playing, does your ROMset match your MAME version?

Can you provide the game names and associated ROM names of the games not loading?

[Games001]

That would seem to be a long list at the moment.  I usually do tests by running Die Hard Arcade and X-Men; CotA.. both of which are failing to get beyond the black screen after clicking Play this Game, then CP view.  After the black screen of approx 3 seconds it slips right back into the Play this Game menu screen.

I am not 100% sure of the ROM Set version.  Where might I find that info?

[Draco1962]

Typically you would update your ROMset when you upgrade your MAME version so that is the only way I know of.

If you don't know, you may want to acquire a new set to ensure a match. Beyond that, you are on your own as to how/where to acquire them.

[Draco1962]

I am running MAME 0.258 with the 0.258 ROM set on GameEx Arcade Edition v18.51 with LAV Codecs installed. I tested Xmen CotA and Die Hard and, unfortunately, I cannot replicate either issue that you are reporting. No issues with the videos displaying a black box over the video snap within the theme videos. No issues launching either game. The videos are from the same session but split as Windows screen capture has a max limit.

 

 

 

[Games001]

These roms run fine when executed through MAME or MAMEUI, but not when chosen through GameEx's Menu.  Clearly MAME and the Rom Set version is not so far off as to be the primary issue.

The IntroVideos and VideoSnaps play fine on Media Center and other players, yet not in GameEx.

[Draco1962]

I forgot to mention that your log.txt file shows you are running v18.50 so you may want to upgrade to v18.51. Please upgrade your version, also, refer to this post regarding the LAV codec settings:

Once complete with both tasks, please report back with updated gameex.ini and log.txt files attached if still a problem with the videos.

Otherwise, this is where it gets more difficult to triage the issue. Not sure what to tell you if I cannot replicate what you are seeing as this is generally an issue with Windows dependencies (e.g. .Net Framework, video drivers - Windows default vs. manufacturer's, etc.). Some suggestions to consider:

- Run Windows Update to insure the latest updates are installed

- Looked into Event Viewer to see if anything stands out odd

- Confirm that you do not have more than one instance of GameEx installed

- Ensure that your video drivers are up to date from the manufacturer

 

And regarding the games not launching, I had a similar issue not long ago. For whatever reason, I had to delete the MAME Options in the Advanced MAME settings, save the change and launch GameEx, then input them back one at a time to see if any of them "broke" the games launching. Strangely enough, I ended up putting them all back in.

Your Advanced MAME Options may need to be changed within the gameex.ini via text editor from:

ADVANCEMAMEOptions=-device_video_output fullscreen -quiet -dir_rom "C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms"

To:

ADVANCEMAMEOptions=-video d3d -noswitchres -triplebuffer -nowindow -skip_gameinfo

 

But, I think you are not as current with your MAME ROMS as you think and your gameex.ini shows multiple versions you have it set to look at 

ROMPath=Z:\ROM Sets\MAME\MAME .78;Z:\ROM Sets\MAME\MAME .139;Z:\ROM Sets\MAME\MAME 0.37b5;Z:\GameEx\Emulators\MAME\roms

Having a ROM set that matches your MAME version is a must.

[Games001]

It seems I may have solved one of the issues:  Games not launching, simply going to black screen and then returning to GameEx Menu.  I deleted and reinstalled the various Bios files and that seems to have sorted the problem on most of the tested items.

As to the Videos and SnapVids showing only a black screen or black box in the Games Menu.. no luck thus far after checking and updating drivers and Windows.

[Draco1962]

31 minutes ago, Games001 said:

As to the Videos and SnapVids showing only a black screen or black box in the Games Menu.. no luck thus far after checking and updating drivers and Windows.

Did you set LAV codecs as suggested? Are the LAV codecs the only ones installed? If not, you may want to try uninstalling them.

[Games001]

54 minutes ago, Draco1962 said:

Did you set LAV codecs as suggested? Are the LAV codecs the only ones installed? If not, you may want to try uninstalling them.

LAV was removed, reinstalled, and are the only codecs in this fresh PC install.

[Draco1962]

Have you reviewed Event Viewer to see if anything shows amiss?

At this point, I am out of ideas and punting to @Tom Speirs to provide additional insights, dependencies, etc. that need to be investigated.

[Games001]

After a short delay I now have the latest, at this time, ROM Set and associated MAME Program (both v.258_b).  That said.. games I got running overall but still, even with every codec these Forums speak about, I can still get no Video and no SnapVid to run inside of GameEx.  Audio is there during the black screens, but no images. They run fine in any other players I have tried.

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

Try downloading and installing version 18.51 over the top of your current install of v18.50 and report back. 

As noted before, there may be a dependency that could be causing a compatibility problem  - bad .dll file (which could be fixed with the upgrade installation suggested above), .Net Framework issue, anything Windows.

You should also try running from a command prompt sfc /scannow to scan your Windows install and repair corrupt files.

I am sure @Tom Speirswill respond when he gets time between his travels.

[Games001]

18.51 is only available in GameEx Arcade Edition currently?
It also shows black screens for the SnapVids.  I have even starting converting the Mp4 Vids down to old style AVI.  At this point I am about to simply reinstall the entire machine back to its Windows 11Pro restore. (GameEx Arcade ini files attached)

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

It may be a version naming error as AE and regular GameEx are usually released with the same core revisions, but again, something Tom will need to address - or not if there is legit deviation from the past.

That you are experiencing this in both GameEx and AE tells me that this is likely not a GameEx issue.

Did you attempt the sfc /scannow (or even DISM /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth) from an elevated command prompt?

[Games001]

Tried it just now and got back Must be an Admin running a Console Session error.  Ran Command Prompt as an Admin and got confirmation that the system found and repaired corrupted files.  Yet, still no video in GameEx versions.  I have ordered a new PC to test if this is a hardware issue or poor driver setup.  Will advise in a day.

[Draco1962]

Ok. Thanks for the update and good luck!

[Games001]

Small miracles do happen.  It was the mini PC I was using as a base for this cabinet build.  Replaced it with another, slightly better mini PC that does not have an integrated video chip, instead an onboard AMD specific one, and now everything finally shows up in the videos and VidSnaps.  Thanks for the help.

[Draco1962]

I am glad to have been of help but actually, you had to do the lifting. I am happy you were able to get it sorted.

We have seen some issues over the years with various integrated GPUs through the years but usually with older systems and not lately. Do you happen to know the chipset specifics. The log.txt file reported it as Intel(R) UHD Graphics but that might not be accurate? It might help someone else along the way.

[Games001]

For those looking into miniPCs to drive arcade cabs in the future.. this is the system that could not run videos in GameEx:

KAMRUI AK2 Plus Mini PC, Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake- N100(up to 3.4GHz) Micro Computer, 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD Mini Desktop Computer Support 4K HD/WiFi 5/BT4.2/Gigabit Ethernet for Home/Office
Amazon.com: KAMRUI AK2 Plus Mini PC, Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake- N100(up to 3.4GHz) Micro Computer, 16GB DDR4 RAM 500GB SSD Mini Desktop Computer Support 4K HD/WiFi 5/BT4.2/Gigabit Ethernet for Home/Office : Electronics

[Draco1962]

Thanks for the share. Not all NUC style or mini PCs are created equal so do your research. You may spend more buying more but in the end worth it in the end.