B2S server not starting in PinballX frontend

[heir06]

Hi,

Tearing my hair out with this. I've read a lot of topics on this from the last few years and cannot seem to get it working - I have checked 'Use DirectB2S in front end' but the B2S server will not begin when PinballX is running. The B2S files are named the exact same as the tables in my table folders, and load fine once I start a table. It's just in PinballX when choosing tables I will either get a black screen or it will just stay stuck on the static image of another file. 

Tried so far - adding <FormToFront>1</FormToFront> to BS2TableSettings.xml (no change as B2S server/exe is not kicking in when choosing tables on front end), moving/renaming table folder to see if that worked (as seen in another thread) but neither are making it work. When unchecking 'Use DirectB2S in front end' images work fine but I would prefer to load the B2S as it looks a lot nicer.

I've attached my log and ini, as you can see in the log no mention of B2S so is there something glaringly obvious I'm missing here? Annoyingly this all came after updating my system and all the software (Windows update, latest PinballX and B2Sserver) - I bought the virtual pin cab pre-made and all software was years out of date but it did work originally.

Thanks for any help/solution in advance!

log.txt PinballX.ini

[Mike_da_Spike]

Your logfile is incomplete. Can you browse through your vox files and launch one , quit table and quit pinballx and post your logfile again.

According to your ini, it is indeed enabled 

[heir06]

Thanks @Mike_da_Spike - Updated log attached

log.txt

[scutters]

1 hour ago, heir06 said:

after updating my system and all the software (Windows update, latest PinballX and B2Sserver)

When you updated B2SServer did you install it in the Visual Pinball\Tables folder?

I think PinballX assumes that it is installed there (as it always was in the old days), and if you updated the B2S exe files into their own folder somewhere (as in now allowed in later B2S exe versions) then PinballX probably can't find it. If that is the case try adding a copy of the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe file back into that folder.

 

Edit - the Visual Pinball\Tables folder location in your case might be C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VPXnew from your log file.

[heir06]

6 minutes ago, scutters said:

When you updated B2SServer did you install it in the Visual Pinball\Tables folder?

I think PinballX assumes that it is installed there (as it always was in the old days), and if you updated the B2S exe files into their own folder somewhere (as in now allowed in later B2S exe versions) then PinballX probably can't find it. If that is the case try adding a copy of the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe file back into that folder.

 

Edit - the Visual Pinball\Tables folder location in your case might be C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VPXnew from your log file.

Thanks @scutters I do indeed have the B2S exe added in that folder as well. It's bizarre.

[Mike_da_Spike]

18 minutes ago, heir06 said:

Thanks @scutters I do indeed have the B2S exe added in that folder as well. It's bizarre.

Did you see Scutters his 'edit' ? 

[heir06]

1 hour ago, Mike_da_Spike said:

Did you see Scutters his 'edit' ? 

I did, I have it in the original install location and in all of my table folders

[scutters]

1 hour ago, heir06 said:

I did, I have it in the original install location and in all of my table folders

Damn, i was thinking that was probably it.

When you're in PinballX (and have a table selected that you know you have a backglass file for) can you try ALT+TAB and see if there is any window open with a title like 'B2s Backglass Server', that will at least prove if B2S is running but just hidden somewhere.

Edit - and if B2S isn't being started from PinballX can you open a Command Prompt window and then run;

cd "C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VPXnew"

Followed by

"C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VPXnew\B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe" "Judge Dredd (Bally 1993) VPW v1.1" "0"

and let us know if that shows a backglass or not (or errors).

(i have assumed you have a Judge Dredd (Bally 1993) VPW v1.1.directb2s backglass file)

[heir06]

ALT+TAB when PinballX open - no B2S window open. Also nothing in Task Manager. 

Running command prompt, absolutely fine (attached)

[scutters]

Ok.. so what i think is happening is that PinballX will try to use B2SBackglassServer exe and the B2S backglass file in the table path of your main Visual Pinball system, rather than the path you have for the VPX system you have added (under Other Systems)

So in your case it's looking for the B2S files in the table path from;

[VisualPinball]
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=C:\Visual Pinball
TablePath=C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VP

Rather than;

[System_2]
Name=Visual Pinball X
WorkingPath=C:\Visual Pinball
TablePath=C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VPXnew

To test this try copying a B2S file into C:\Visual Pinball\Tables\VP, and ALSO re-enable the Visual Pinball system (i suspect that having the main VP system disabled also disables the use of B2S in the front end.

[heir06]

Thought that may have done the trick as it took PinballX a little longer to load on first try… but sadly not. Same issue still persists. 
 

Appreciate all the help so far, sure the mystery can be solved!

[scutters]

51 minutes ago, heir06 said:

Thought that may have done the trick as it took PinballX a little longer to load on first try… but sadly not. Same issue still persists. 
 

Appreciate all the help so far, sure the mystery can be solved!

Please attach new copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files after making those changes, maybe they'll show something new. I was pretty sure that would work as it's the only way i could get B2S working in the front end when using a combinations of different sub-folders for tables by each VP system.

[heir06]

10 minutes ago, scutters said:

Please attach new copies of your pinballx.ini and log.txt files after making those changes, maybe they'll show something new. I was pretty sure that would work as it's the only way i could get B2S working in the front end when using a combinations of different sub-folders for tables by each VP system.

Here you go

log.txt PinballX.ini

[scutters]

4 minutes ago, heir06 said:

Here you go

log.txt 4.12 kB · 0 downloads PinballX.ini 9.46 kB · 0 downloads

Thanks.. but sadly nothing new there.

Are the B2S files working in PinballX for any of the VP systems you have? (e.g. the re-enabled Visual Pinball system)

I know the B2S can work in PinballX 6.88 as i've tested it, but if you haven't guessed it yet most people don't use different sub folders to split the VP tables by system so i'm not 100% on how it should work with regards to which paths are used and when. It would need @Tom Speirs to confirm the expected behaviour for your use case.

[heir06]

I did wonder if there may be some conflict - but this is how it always has been on the system (back when it was originally working also). Worth noting this error isn't new to 6.88, it actually stopped working prior to updating PinballX and B2SServer after a Windows update, and I tried to resolve via updating everything. I don't have any B2S files for any other system - I use backglass images for PinballFX etc. 

I will try moving everything into the 'default' table path and removing the 'VPXnew' system to see if that has any effect.

[heir06]

No luck doing that either sadly, just a frozen PinballX attract video (that kicks back in to the attract video correctly playing when I scroll to a table I don't have a B2S file for) - and again no sign of B2Sserver running anywhere in the background

[Draco1962]

2 hours ago, heir06 said:

No luck doing that either sadly, just a frozen PinballX attract video (that kicks back in to the attract video correctly playing when I scroll to a table I don't have a B2S file for) - and again no sign of B2Sserver running anywhere in the background

Can you provide an updated log.txt file from when you ran it after the suggested change?

[Mike_da_Spike]

Hey Guys,

I just tested it on W11 24H2 with latest update and PinballX Core - Version 6.88 x64
I can get it to work on 2 different ways :

• copy the screenres.txt and the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe to the table file folder 
• copy the screenres.txt and the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe to the PinballX root folder (where PinballX.exe is located)

and off course the in the setting.exe in the  , but that was already set
I can see that B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe is running when Visual Pinball system is selected

if this is not working for you, something fishy is going on, on your system.
I can't find anything in my logfile that it is using b2s or not
here's my logfile where B2S is working

PinballX.ini log.txt
 

Also a screenshot that B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe is running from the PinballX folder

[scutters]

38 minutes ago, Mike_da_Spike said:

copy the screenres.txt and the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe to the PinballX root folder (where PinballX.exe is located)

I like that idea as a workaround. Good thinking!.

Hopefully that alternative get's things up and running for @heir06

[heir06]

Thanks both, will give this a try over the weekend and report back - off the top of my head don’t recall having any files in the PinballX root so hopefully this will be the ticket

[heir06]

Didn't have the B2SBackglassServerEXE.exe or the screenres.txt in the PinballX root and thought we may have cracked it but unfortunately not. Same again with no B2S program running in the task bar or in Task Manager.

I've added my latest log file but think I may have to try a complete uninstall and fresh install of PinballX now.

log.txt

[heir06]

Oh and just another note to say thanks to both of you for helping to look into this, definitely think something weird is going on with the system that isn't allowing the B2S exe to run via PinballX in it's current state - pretty sure we've ruled out anything else now

[Mike_da_Spike]

10 hours ago, heir06 said:

 

That's not the b2sserver process, but pinballx directx window to show a video.

Can you open a command prompt in your pinballx root directory and do :

dir /b>pbxdir.txt

And post the pbxdir.txt here as well?

[heir06]

Directory output attached. This was after an uninstall of 6.88 and fresh install of 6.89, still no luck - like you say PinballX Backglass process running but no BS2 processes running until I load a table

pbxdir.txt

[Draco1962]

Can you attach copies of your latest pinballx.ini and log.txt files (always a best to do after an update or reinstall)? You may need to zip them together if the forum does not allow for the pinballx.ini file to upload. Thanks.