[RESOLVED] MAME game gives me a blank screen

[GoTheBunnies]

Hi guys, bit of a weird one - running some MAME games gives me a blank screen.  The weird part is that I can run one game without issue, but as soon as I exit it and try to run another I get the blank screen.  I can hear the game sound though.  I can run all of the games without issue in the MAME emulator.

I've attached log and ini files - in the example, I ran Frogger no issues - exited and tried to run Galaga and get the blank screen.  The only way out then is to re-boot - so I did that and tried Galaga first and it runs no problems.  But exit Galaga and try to run another - blank screen.

Thanks in advance.

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

A few questions as Windows 11 updates have been causing some issues related to display for other systems, non-GameEx related. I did note that you are using Intel graphics so no Nvidia weirdness to worry about.

• What MAME version are you running?
  • Do your MAME ROMS match your version?
• When did you last update Windows 11?
  • Was this issue noticed before your last update?
  • Under "Check for Updates > Update History" can you identify what updates (KB# and date) were installed?

Not sure if this will help @Tom Speirs if he needs to intervene, but it's where I would start to triage my own issue.

I did note within noted in the log.txt file, yours shows as MAME 265 per the path observed, so you are a bit out of date. The latest official MAME release is version 0.284, which was released on December 31, 2025. You may wish to upgrade both MAME and your ROM set to the latest and test again.

[GoTheBunnies]

Thanks Draco - you may be onto something with the Windows Update theory.....

This PC is a new build, but is duplicating another cab I have (the only difference being that this is upright and the other is cocktail). The other cab is running fine, the difference though is that it hasn't had a Windows update for a few weeks. The problem cab has had recent updates.

To answer your specific questions, yes I'm running MAME 265 but as I said so is the other cab successfully, so I'm reluctant to update MAME unless it's the specific problem. Just to reiterate, this problem does not occur when I run games in MAME itself, only when I run in GameExAE.

I didn't notice the issue before the last Windows Update, BUT I was still in building phase, so I wasn't really testing a lot. It could have been there but I wasn't using/testing enough to notice.

Latest updates 2 Feb .NET Framework Preview Update KB5074828

                    25 Jan  Update KB5078127

                    23 Jane Security Update KB5074109

It's no longer connected to the internet, so whilst I can see there are more recent updates they haven't downloaded/installed. Perhaps I should instal them to see if the problem fixes itself?

[Draco1962]

I don't think it could hurt to update.

[Tom Speirs]

no. this is fixed in recent versions of gameex.

[GoTheBunnies]

Oh ok, thanks Tom. Just so I’m clear, it’s currently using the Arcade standalone version (before you had combined Arcade with the full version). How do I update my Arcade version without losing all my settings etc?

Thanks

[GoTheBunnies]

I'm pretty sure I've now updated GameEx (I checked install updates in the SetUp Wizard and it seemed to do something when I loaded GameEx), and I've also updated all the Windows files, but the problem persists.   Have attached new txt and ini files.

Keep in mind I had originally installed the former GameEx Arcade edition, and so I'm not sure if it's updating the way it should be?  But aside from that, I've done as suggested.   Any other ideas?

I thought I may have to do a clean install of GameEx (hoping not), but if I do that can you tell me what I need to do to keep my existing GameExAE config please?

Thanks

GameEx.ini log.txt

[Draco1962]

KB5074109 has been associated with display issues. Perhaps it would be worth a try uninstalling it to see if any possible positive impacts?

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/windows/yet-another-windows-update-is-wreaking-havoc-on-gaming-rigs-worldwide-nvidia-recommends-uninstalling-windows-11-kb5074109-january-update-to-prevent-framerate-drops-and-artifacting

[GoTheBunnies]

Thanks Draco,

It wont let me unistall KB5074109 - and unfortunately I dont have a restore point.  I'm still researching options, but I think I'm going to have to install Windows 10 (instead of Windows 11) and start again.   Question - if I copy all of my Arcade files including GameEx onto an external drive, and then do my Windows 10 build - will I be able to copy those files back onto the PC and have them working?

[Draco1962]

You should be able to copy first, then perform an "over the top" installation for GameEx to that path. Not sure that, given the issues you are encountering, going to Windows 10 is going to be much different.

[Draco1962]

P S Ultimately it is your decision but if Tom is investigating this and there's a way to fix it, I would be patient and wait. 

[GoTheBunnies]

Oh ok, thanks again - I got the impression from Tom's post that it wasn't a GameEx issue, and so he wasn't actually taking any action?  But happy for Tom to advise otherwise.

From my reading of the KB5074109 issue, the only way to solve the graphics problem is to remove the update, and the only way I can see to do that at this stage is to go back to Windows 10 and start again.  But I'll wait for Tom's thoughts.

[Draco1962]

He was stating that the issue was addressed in latest versions beyond what you had installed when first reporting the issue.

[GoTheBunnies]

Yes I understand, but if I've since turned on the GameEx updates, shouldn't I have the version where the issue has been addressed?  So if the problem therefore still exists, isn't it a Windows issue?

[Draco1962]

Not necessarily is this a Windows problem. If you want to proceed, stay the course with the latest version of GameEx on Windows 11.

[GoTheBunnies]

So I've resolved this issue - it was likely KB5074109 causing it, so the obvious solution was to remove KB5074109. Unfortunately I couldn't do that for a few reasons, but mainly because I didn't have a restore point to go back to.

Researching the problem, it was unlikely I was ever going to resolve it in Windows 11, because I couldn't get rid of KB5074109. So my only option was to -

- back up all of my Arcade and GameEx files

- do a complete reinstall on the PC, but of Windows 10

- Install GameEx from the download page so that it installs all of the necessary Windows files

- install DirectX9 so the SNES files would run

- renistate all of my backed-up files, and point my PC to the previous GameEx Arcade version that I had and was working fine before KB5074109 came along.

So now its running fine, no display issues, with the old GameEx Arcade version and on Windows 10.