GameEx starting with last state?

[bkenobi]

Just a quick background. My cabinet uses a TV, so when I turn it on, I have it send remote codes via WinLIRC. I have it shut off the same way. To accomplish this, I use a batch file set to run with the after start and before quit commands in GameEx.

Okay, so here's my question. When I need to shut down GameEx, I have to kill it ungracefully via task manager. When I launch task manager, I use ctl-alt-del which minimizes GameEx. The next time I start up GameEx, it seems to start up minimized. I know this is true for starting up during the same Windows session, and I am pretty sure this is the case with a new session as well (restart, then launch GameEx). I guess my question is, is there a command line option to force starting GameEx in fullscreen?

[Tom Speirs]

Just a quick background. My cabinet uses a TV, so when I turn it on, I have it send remote codes via WinLIRC. I have it shut off the same way. To accomplish this, I use a batch file set to run with the after start and before quit commands in GameEx.

Okay, so here's my question. When I need to shut down GameEx, I have to kill it ungracefully via task manager. When I launch task manager, I use ctl-alt-del which minimizes GameEx. The next time I start up GameEx, it seems to start up minimized. I know this is true for starting up during the same Windows session, and I am pretty sure this is the case with a new session as well (restart, then launch GameEx). I guess my question is, is there a command line option to force starting GameEx in fullscreen?

Im not entirely sure I understand this. GameEx will startup fullscreen if it exited full screen and the same with windowed. Hoever if GameEx does not exit gracefully it wont have a chance to save what state it was in. I dont understand what you mean about the ctrl-alt-delete. This should not change the windowstate GameEx will start up in. Also do you mean windowed instead of minimzed. Minimized means you cant see it at all. You can use the Exit plugin to exit Gameex gracefully with a code by the way.

[bkenobi]

So when I start my cab, GameEx starts up in full screen mode (the only mode I have ever used). If I want to go back to windows, I use a ctl-alt-del to bring up the screen where you can choose to logoff, shutdown, task manager, etc. I pick task manager so that I can kill GameEx (quiting normally will launch the "run on exit" batch file which turns off the TV and shuts down the computer). When task manager comes up, GameEx goes to minimized (I can still hear arcade ambiance, so it's still down there running correctly).

Anyway, If I then kill GameEx and do whatever it is I needed to do (change configurations in GameEx or whatever), sometimes (I haven't really paid attention to whether it's every time or every xx times, etc) GameEx starts up minimized. I can alt-tab back in or just pick it with the mouse, so it seems to just be starting up minimized. I was just thinking if there was an easy command line argument I could pass to make sure it was launched in full screen, this could be avoided.

I suppose it would be more helpful if I could narrow down what was causing the problem (probably on my end ), but I was just too lazy up until now

[Brian Hoffman]

So when I start my cab, GameEx starts up in full screen mode (the only mode I have ever used). If I want to go back to windows, I use a ctl-alt-del to bring up the screen where you can choose to logoff, shutdown, task manager, etc. I pick task manager so that I can kill GameEx (quiting normally will launch the "run on exit" batch file which turns off the TV and shuts down the computer). When task manager comes up, GameEx goes to minimized (I can still hear arcade ambiance, so it's still down there running correctly).

Anyway, If I then kill GameEx and do whatever it is I needed to do (change configurations in GameEx or whatever), sometimes (I haven't really paid attention to whether it's every time or every xx times, etc) GameEx starts up minimized. I can alt-tab back in or just pick it with the mouse, so it seems to just be starting up minimized. I was just thinking if there was an easy command line argument I could pass to make sure it was launched in full screen, this could be avoided.

I suppose it would be more helpful if I could narrow down what was causing the problem (probably on my end ), but I was just too lazy up until now

I use Gameex in my cab aswell. I also have Gameex as my shell.(meaning gameex.exe replaces explorer. Iam assuming you run it the same way cause you state you have to ctrl alt del) I just set the RUN ON EXIT or close to EXPLORER.exe this way when I exit gameex it loads windows automaticly.

Just make sure you dont have the ablility to close gameex disabled.

This will work.

Have fun

Brian Hoffman

[bkenobi]

No, I use explorer as the shell since I don't think I can do a remote login with GameEx as the shell (I could be wrong though). Also, when I start up and shut down, I need WinLirc to fire commands to turn on and off the TV. I don't know if that can be done without explorer.

Anyway, the reason I can't just exit GameEx normally is that it launches my script to turn off the TV and shutdown the pc. I have to abnormally kill GameEx so that it doesn't process that "run on exit" script.

[Brian Hoffman]

No, I use explorer as the shell since I don't think I can do a remote login with GameEx as the shell (I could be wrong though). Also, when I start up and shut down, I need WinLirc to fire commands to turn on and off the TV. I don't know if that can be done without explorer.

Anyway, the reason I can't just exit GameEx normally is that it launches my script to turn off the TV and shutdown the pc. I have to abnormally kill GameEx so that it doesn't process that "run on exit" script.

Well you can always create a logoff script.(within windows) this way when you shutdown correctly it will run your script and you can use gameex normally

I would type "gpedit.msc" in the run dialog box goto windows settings logon/logoff scripts.

Maybe this will work

Windows opens up the Group Policy editor.

In the left part of the screen, navigate to Computer Configuration->Windows Settings and select "Scripts (Startup/shutdown)".

In the right part of the screen, right-click "Shutdown" and select "properties"

In the shutdown properties dialog, click the "add button"

Enter "c:\ importantdir\copyimportantdir.bat" (without the quotes) in the script name field (leave the script parameters field empty for this example)

Click ok

Click ok once more

You can now close the Group Policy editor, your Windows shutdown script is ready and will be executed each time you shut down your Windows

[bkenobi]

So you are suggesting that I enable "Exit GameEx" and "Shutdown Computer" in GameEx. Then, if I exit, it doesn't shutdown and run the script...probably a good idea. I'll have to make sure it works with WinLirc, but this looks really promising. Thanks!

Still doesn't answer the question about the state, but it might solve the problem causing the incorrect state so I guess this is really better anyway.

[Brian Hoffman]

So you are suggesting that I enable "Exit GameEx" and "Shutdown Computer" in GameEx. Then, if I exit, it doesn't shutdown and run the script...probably a good idea. I'll have to make sure it works with WinLirc, but this looks really promising. Thanks!

Still doesn't answer the question about the state, but it might solve the problem causing the incorrect state so I guess this is really better anyway.

Well Tom can correct me if I'am wrong but I believe gameex doesnt shutdown windows directly it just sends the command to shutdown. Windows should still run any scripts as defined in the shutdown procedure. Meaning you can just shutdown directly shutdown from gamex and still have it turn off your TV. YAY no Exploder err.. I mean explorer.

[bkenobi]

I got this working last night wigth explorer still as the shell. Do you know if I can still login remotely (terminal services) if I use GameEx as the shell? If so, then I can get rid of explorer once and for all (well, except for maintenance). Actually, I got everything working, but then I messed up my network card in the process, so I'll have to fix that soon...

[Brian Hoffman]

I got this working last night wigth explorer still as the shell. Do you know if I can still login remotely (terminal services) if I use GameEx as the shell? If so, then I can get rid of explorer once and for all (well, except for maintenance). Actually, I got everything working, but then I messed up my network card in the process, so I'll have to fix that soon...

Well Toms instant sheller has an option to only change the shell for specific user. So set auto logon on the acct that is used primarly eg.. you gamer acct. (make sure this acct auto logs in first..) change the shell for this acct. Now upon poweron Gameex will run insted of explorer. Remotedesktop or terminalservices RUNs as a windows service and is inpependant of the shell you use. I would assume it would work ok. Since Instant sheller is only configured for one user acct. create another acct for remote desktop. eg... maintence so when you remote in use this acct and it will load explorer.

This is all theoretical. But instant sheller is reversable. So try it and let me know.

Im glad you got it working.

How did you mees up your NIC?

Brian Hoffman

[bkenobi]

I was changing settings in the the group policy editor to make the scripts work better (I thought). I ended up changing most things back, but it didn't fix the networking. It's a USB nic, so I'll probably just pull it and reinstall the drivers. Hopefully that should get it working again.