Launching Gameex from VMC

[LB11]

I recently installed vistax64, and have been using it as a regular PC instead of the HTPC I made it to be. I finally found some time to set it back up as an HTPC, but I am having a problem getting gameex to launch from withing VMC. If I just load it from the desktop it works great.

Gameex will load the "gameex" screen the crash showing a DX failure then load VMC up again. Has anyone experienced this? Im going to fool around with it a little more and see if I can figure it out.

[mightypeniz]

pardon my ignorance, but what's VMC?

if you meant VNC, then yeah, I've had the same problem - workaround was to not fire up GameEx via VNC

[Tempest]

pardon my ignorance, but what's VMC?

if you meant VNC, then yeah, I've had the same problem - workaround was to not fire up GameEx via VNC

I found this:

http://www.thevmc.com/start.html

I think he must be trying to set it up on his motorcycle!

You know mightypeniz, if you just Googled this stuff you could figure it out on your own...

[headkaze]

GameEx will run fine through Remote Desktop but it is a bit chuggy.

[LB11]

You dont want to play games while riding?

VMC = Vista Media Center.

[headkaze]

Ahhh okay I thought you meant VNC too.

The only thing I can think of is that your PC is loading GameEx before VMC has the chance to shut down exclusive mode of DirectX. That would mean GameEx can't start up because it's still locked by VMC. Maybe there is an option to change the delay time between closing down VMC and starting up GameEx.

Can you post a screenshot of the error?

[Tempest]

You dont want to play games while riding?

VMC = Vista Media Center.

That was my first guess, then I found that website, and I had to do it!

Hmmm... I wonder if it's this sort of thing that makes people mess with me?

BTW: If you are going to play games while riding, I recommend one of these:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/heads-up-display/

[LB11]

Here is the error log. I think you may be right. It may be starting before media center releases the display driver. I was watching a video and launched gameex while the video was playing and it took alot longer for gameex to load after it closed VMC. Gameex worked. So I tried it again with no video and it started up fast and gave the error again.

04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  GameEx: Version 9.17: Starting Log
04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  Operating System Platform: Win32NT
04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  Operating System Name: Windows Vista
04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  Operating System Version: 6.0.6001
04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  Vista Aero NOT running
04:36:42.6  3/28/2008:  Initializing Vista volume control
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  Checking for versions of .net Framework installed
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  .net Framework 1.1 Installed
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  .net Framework 2.0 Installed
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  Dual Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 170, 2046MB
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  2Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
04:36:42.7  3/28/2008:  Running Randomize()
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Loading PlugIns
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Running Misc startup tasks
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Setting Menu types
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Opening Configuration File
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Getting Configuration Values
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Using Theme: Default - Hybrid Blue - Widescreen
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Hybrid Blue - Widescreen
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Launching HideOS.exe
04:36:42.8  3/28/2008:  Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Hiding Taskbar
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Is Media Center running?
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Media Center is running
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Media Center Mode 2
04:36:42.9  3/28/2008:  Closing Media Center
04:36:43.2  3/28/2008:  Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
04:36:43.2  3/28/2008:  Snap Delay set to: 2
04:36:43.2  3/28/2008:  Get other settings
04:36:43.3  3/28/2008:  Reading MAME hall of fame
04:36:43.3  3/28/2008:  Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
04:36:43.3  3/28/2008:  Start work for Form
04:36:43.3  3/28/2008:  Getting Original Screen Size
04:36:43.3  3/28/2008:  Opening Database Connection
04:36:43.4  3/28/2008:  Initializing Component
04:36:43.5  3/28/2008:  Retrieving resolution setting
04:36:43.5  3/28/2008:  Creating Radio Station Genres
04:36:43.8  3/28/2008:  Succesfully created station genres
04:36:43.8  3/28/2008:  Initialising Windows Media Player Component
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  MAME Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Model 2 Path Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Sega Model 2\
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Multi Core/Hyper Threading detected. Looking for emulator_multicpu.exe
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Model 2 EXE file is: emulator_multicpu.exe
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Model 2 emulator with command line support detected
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Use Model 2 on. emulator_multicpu.exe will launch Sega Model 2 games
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  ZiNc Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Zinc\
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  ZiNc EXE file is: zinc.exe
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Use ZiNc on. zinc.exe will launch PSX games
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  MAME EXE file is: MAME.exe
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  ROM Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\roms
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\data\controls.ini
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\history.dat
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Loading Controls.ini map file
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Snap Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\snap
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  AVI Snap Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\Videos
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Flyer Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\flyers
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Cabinet Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\cabinets
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Title Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\titles
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  PCB Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\pcb
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Artwork Preview Path: Not Found
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Panel Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\cpanel
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Manual Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\manuals
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Icon Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\icons
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Marquee Path is: D:\Emulation\Emulator\Arcade\Mame\marquees
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Loading Custom Emulators
04:36:44.3  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 1: [Console] Nintendo NES (Nestopia)
04:36:44.4  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 2: [Console] Nintendo SNES (ZSNES)
04:36:44.4  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 3: [Console] Nintendo N64 (Project64)
04:36:44.5  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 4: [Console] Sega Genesis (Fusion)
04:36:44.5  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 5: [Console] Sega Dreamcast (nullDC)
04:36:44.6  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 6: [Console] Sony PlayStation (ePSXe)
04:36:44.7  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 7: [Arcade] Raine
04:36:44.8  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 8: [Arcade] VivaNonno
04:36:44.9  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 9: [HandHeld] Nintendo GameBoy Advance (VisualBoyAdvance)
04:36:45.1  3/28/2008:  Loading Emulator 10: [PC] Microsoft Windows
04:36:45.5  3/28/2008:  Using 2D Animations
04:36:45.5  3/28/2008:  Using General Font: Microsoft Sans Serif
04:36:45.5  3/28/2008:  Using Title Font: Microsoft Sans Serif
04:36:45.5  3/28/2008:  Attempting to load game list
04:36:45.8  3/28/2008:  Waiting for Media Center to close
04:36:46.9  3/28/2008:  Initialising DirectDraw
04:36:46.9  3/28/2008:  Applying GameEx is Loading Image
04:36:46.9  3/28/2008:  Creating DirectDraw Device
04:36:46.9  3/28/2008:  Using Device: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series
04:36:47.6  3/28/2008:  1274mb video memory available
04:36:47.6  3/28/2008:  Setting Resolution to 1024x567 32 bit color
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Cannot Set Resolution to: 1024x567 32 bit color
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Error in the application.
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Trying current windows resolution
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Creating DirectDraw Surfaces
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Creating Back Buffer
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Loading graphic Surfaces
04:36:47.7  3/28/2008:  Display is running at: 1216x660 32bit color, 60hz
04:36:47.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
04:36:47.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Volume
04:36:47.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Arrows
04:36:47.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
04:36:47.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar
04:36:47.9  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
04:36:50.4  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
04:36:50.4  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
04:36:50.4  3/28/2008:  Creating Surface Unselected
04:36:50.4  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Home & Exit
04:36:50.5  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Snaps
04:36:50.5  3/28/2008:  Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
04:36:50.5  3/28/2008:  Creating Fonts
04:36:50.5  3/28/2008:  Creating Game Font
04:36:50.7  3/28/2008:  Creating Menu Font
04:36:50.8  3/28/2008:  Creating Font Black
04:36:50.9  3/28/2008:  Creating Font Black Small
04:36:51.0  3/28/2008:  Creating Game Font Faded
04:36:51.1  3/28/2008:  Creating Title Font
04:36:52.2  3/28/2008:  Fonts Created Succesfully
04:36:52.2  3/28/2008:  1206mb video memory left available
04:36:52.2  3/28/2008:  Creating instance of global keyboard hook
04:36:52.2  3/28/2008:  Text/Language: English
04:36:52.2  3/28/2008:  Applying Language/Text
04:36:52.3  3/28/2008:  Initialising Bass Audio Library
04:36:52.4  3/28/2008:  MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo -afs
04:36:52.4  3/28/2008:  Loading last used Game List
04:36:52.4  3/28/2008:  Loading Start Page
04:36:52.5  3/28/2008:  Setting Music Volume
04:36:52.5  3/28/2008:  Creating DirectSound Device
04:36:52.5  3/28/2008:  Trying: Primary Sound Driver
04:36:52.5  3/28/2008:  Loading Sound Files
04:36:52.6  3/28/2008:  DirectSound Device Created Successfully
04:36:52.6  3/28/2008:  Creating ICONS
04:36:52.6  3/28/2008:  Restoring Cached ICONS from File
04:36:52.7  3/28/2008:  Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
04:36:52.8  3/28/2008:  Using Device Logitech Cordless RumblePad 2
04:36:52.8  3/28/2008:  Initializing MCE Remote
04:36:52.8  3/28/2008:  Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
04:36:52.8  3/28/2008:  Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
04:36:52.9  3/28/2008:  --**--
04:36:52.9  3/28/2008:  ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING
04:36:52.9  3/28/2008:  Error in the application.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	 at Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.Surface.DrawInternal(tagRECT* destRectangle, Surface sourceSurface, tagRECT* srcRectangle, DrawFlags flags, DrawEffects& bltEffects)
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	 at Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.Surface.Draw(Rectangle destRectangle, Surface sourceSurface, Rectangle srcRectangle, DrawFlags flags)
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	 at l.ds()
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	 at l.au()
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:  
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:  It was detected you experienced a DirectX error.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	Please note the following for possible solutions to your problem:
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	  1. Ensure you have the latest version of DirectX installed.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	  2. Ensure you have the latest Manufacturer provided video card drivers.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:		 NOTE: Windows/Microsoft Update does not contain the latest.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:		 NOTE: Manufacturer normally means ATI, NVidia, or Intel. Not the brand.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:			   www.ati.com   www.nvidia.com
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	  3. If you do not have a modern video card try the following. 1. Turn off advanced Graphics. 2. Try a lower resolution. 3. Try turning on and using 16-bit colour
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	  4. Ensure any required video codecs are installed.
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:	  5. Try a different theme, or try running the theme at the resolution it was designed for
04:36:53.2  3/28/2008:  
04:36:54.7  3/28/2008:  Exiting GameEx!
04:36:54.7  3/28/2008:  Saving Settings

[Tempest]

LB11,

This time I'm not joking....

Alot of these directx errors have been fixed by either changing themes (try a default one), or making sure you have directx 9.0c, (directx 10 seems to cause problems)

I'm just talking here... I wonder if VMC is loading a different version of Directx (or something), so when it is loaded first, Gameex sees it already runnuing, and doesn't load it's own version that it runs as stand alone? (that could be smart , or stupid )

Or do you have Gameex set to change resolution? I'm thinking if you don't, then maybe when VMC is running Gameex gets a different resoulution than when started by itself, causing your theme to break.

[bkenobi]

Did anyone notice the first error? I don't know if that's the problem or not, but it's definitely saying the resolution is not good...

04:36:46.9 3/28/2008: Creating DirectDraw Device

04:36:46.9 3/28/2008: Using Device: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series

04:36:47.6 3/28/2008: 1274mb video memory available

04:36:47.6 3/28/2008: Setting Resolution to 1024x567 32 bit color

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Cannot Set Resolution to: 1024x567 32 bit color

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Error in the application.

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Trying current windows resolution

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Creating Back Buffer

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Loading graphic Surfaces

04:36:47.7 3/28/2008: Display is running at: 1216x660 32bit color, 60hz

I would look at trying a different resolution/theme. It appears that GameEx doesn't like setting that theme to the resolution that you are running at.

[Tempest]

Did anyone notice the first error? I don't know if that's the problem or not, but it's definitely saying the resolution is not good...

I would look at trying a different resolution/theme. It appears that GameEx doesn't like setting that theme to the resolution that you are running at.

I wish I'd thought of that!

[LB11]

Im going to try a different theme in a minute. I have no idea what this resolution is... 1024x567 nothing on the computer uses it and I have gameex set to not change resolution.

What kills me is that gameex works great if I don't launch it from media center. Maybe toms new update will fix my dx error

[LB11]

Well, I got it working with a nonwidescreen theme and a widescreen resolution... go figure.

[Tempest]

LB11,

This time I'm not joking....

Alot of these directx errors have been fixed by either changing themes (try a default one), or making sure you have directx 9.0c, (directx 10 seems to cause problems)

I'm just talking here... I wonder if VMC is loading a different version of Directx (or something), so when it is loaded first, Gameex sees it already runnuing, and doesn't load it's own version that it runs as stand alone? (that could be smart , or stupid )

Or do you have Gameex set to change resolution? I'm thinking if you don't, then maybe when VMC is running Gameex gets a different resoulution than when started by itself, causing your theme to break.

Hmmmm.......I really thought this sounded right too....There goes my winning streak!