GameEx is windowed

[sty151]

Hello,

GameEx is running windowed. I'm not sure what I did to make it do this but it was running fine and then suddenly I'm having this problem. I checked the configuration settings and I don't have it set to run windowed and told it not to change resolutions. Any help would be appreciated. I'm attaching my log file.

Thanks,

Sty151

log.txt

[Tom Speirs]

Hello,

GameEx is running windowed. I'm not sure what I did to make it do this but it was running fine and then suddenly I'm having this problem. I checked the configuration settings and I don't have it set to run windowed and told it not to change resolutions. Any help would be appreciated. I'm attaching my log file.

Thanks,

Sty151

It might be that resolution settings are set in theme.ini for the theme you are using. What happens when your click maximize?

[sty151]

I'm sorry I should have provided more info. GameEx is only occupying the upper left of my screen and the rest is almost a double image of GameEx and my desktop flickering. There is no option to maximize the screen so I windowed GameEx and then maximized it with it still going to the top left 1/4 of the screen. I also tried a new theme but with the same results. I did recently change my monitor from a 4:3 display to widescreen display. But it worked for a couple of weeks after I changed displays. Any specific theme or anything else I can try to narrow the problem?

[Tom Speirs]

Not 100% sure, but what I noticed in your log is that GameEx is trying to set the display to 1280 x 720, but ends up at running at 1920 by 1080. What is odd is that there should be a warning message in the log that says it cant set resolution to 1280 x 720 but theres not one. Youve also told GameEx not to set resolution so thats even more odd, as its trying to do it.

Maybe that info will give you a few ideas?

[sty151]

I tried a few things last night. In GameEx config I changed display settings from don't change resolution 1920 x 1080 to keep below 1920 x 1080. This helped a little, now the splash video still starts windowed in the upper left corner but it expands to fill the screen except that the task bar and Vista gadgets are flickering through. Any mouse click and GameEx is minimized. When selected from the task bar it expands to fill the screen and all is fine, runs as it should. I also thought I had found it once by changing from a Vista "dream screen" to just a single color background but this only fixed it once after that I still had the same problems. I'll try reinstalling my video drivers tonight. Any other suggestions? Thanks again for the help.

[sty151]

I reinstalled my video drivers with no luck. I also went through and fiddled with display options and tried a few more themes (first time to try a V3 theme; I really like them). I'm going to uninstall and reinstall GameEx unless someone has a better idea. Is there a file I can keep to save my settings?

Thanks,

Sty151

[sty151]

I uninstalled GameEx and installed it fresh. I did no configuration, left everything default and I'm still getting the same problem. Am I missing something? I don't have much else installed on this machine (it's a HTPC) but I haven't noticed any other program not utilizing the full screen.

[Tempest]

Tom mentioned above:

It might be that resolution settings are set in theme.ini for the theme you are using. What happens when your click maximize?

Did you try a different theme?

What happens when your click maximize?

[fRequEnCy]

There is no option to maximize the screen so I windowed GameEx and then maximized it with it still going to the top left 1/4 of the screen. I also tried a new theme but with the same results.

I reinstalled my video drivers with no luck. I also went through and fiddled with display options and tried a few more themes (first time to try a V3 theme; I really like them). I'm going to uninstall and reinstall GameEx unless someone has a better idea. Is there a file I can keep to save my settings?

Thanks,

Sty151

Tom mentioned above:

Did you try a different theme?

What happens when your click maximize?

Looks like yes and yes!

[bkenobi]

If you uninstall GameEx, it doesn't remove your config files AFAIK. If you didn't delete the "C:\Program Files\GameEx" directory, then you will have the same config you did before.

[fRequEnCy]

Take a snap shot of your screen so we can see exactly what's going on.

[Tom Speirs]

If you uninstall GameEx, it doesn't remove your config files AFAIK. If you didn't delete the "C:\Program Files\GameEx" directory, then you will have the same config you did before.

Yes exactly as BK says. Please try a completely "fresh" install. From when you posted your log before as I said it did look like a screwy config as it was trying to set the resolution when you said youd told it not to do that.

In fact I know whats happening. Its setting the resolution, failing but not erroring for some reason. So gameex is displaying at the resolution, but actually really running at the desktop resolution, hence why its showing only in the top left corner.

[Tempest]

Looks like yes and yes!

Well let's take a lok at this...

Sty151 made 3 posts in 5 days without anybody trying to help him.

Now You, BK, and Tom are all jumping in.

My work here is done.

[sty151]

Thanks for your help. I uninstalled GameEx again and this time deleted the GameEx folder in Program Files. I am still getting the same result. I tried to get a screen shot to show you what it's doing but the only thing that pasted was what is displaying in the upper left corner (GameEx). I only have one display hooked up to this computer and I have the resolution set to the displays default settings (1920 x 1080). I went through the Nvidia control panel and Vista's Personalize settings but I didn't see anyting out of the ordinary. Of course I'm not very tech savy (I had to go onto the internet to find instructions on how to take a screenshot). Thanks again for all your help and please let me know if there's aything else you would like me to try.

[Tempest]

If you will upload your gameex.ini from the gameex > config folder, I will try it, and see what happens. You will need to zip it first to upload it.

To upload a file, click on the browse button below the window that you type in, browse to the file, click upload, and after it uploads, you have to click on the green icon in the "manage current attachments" drop-down menu.

[sty151]

Thank you for offering your time. I've attached the ziped GameEx.ini file. Just for reference there was also a custominput.ini, gameex.default.ini, and a GameEx.UpgradeBackup file in there.

GameEx.zip

[Tempest]

I used your Gameex.ini, the only changes I made were to the Mame paths. I set my desktop resolution to 1920 x 1080. Gameex fired right up... Here is my LOG:

08:42:51.3  10/22/2008:  GameEx: Version 9.62: Starting Log
08:42:51.3  10/22/2008:  Operating System Platform: Win32NT
08:42:51.3  10/22/2008:  Operating System Name: Windows Server 2003
08:42:51.3  10/22/2008:  Operating System Version: 5.2.3790
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Checking for versions of .net Framework installed
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  .net Framework 2.0 Installed
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Intel® Pentium® D CPU 3.20GHz, 2046MB
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  1.6Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Running Randomize()
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Loading PlugIns
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Running Misc startup tasks
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Setting Menu types
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Opening Configuration File
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Getting Configuration Values
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Using Theme: Default - Dark Gloss
08:42:51.4  10/22/2008:  Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Dark Gloss
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Launching HideOS.exe
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Hiding Taskbar
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Is Media Center running?
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Media Center Mode 2
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Snap Delay set to: 2
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Get other settings
08:42:51.5  10/22/2008:  Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
08:42:51.6  10/22/2008:  Start work for Form
08:42:51.6  10/22/2008:  Getting Original Screen Size
08:42:51.6  10/22/2008:  Opening Database Connection
08:42:51.7  10/22/2008:  Initializing Component
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  Retrieving resolution setting
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  Initialising Windows Media Player Component
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  MAME Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  MAME EXE file is: vmame64.exe
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  ROM Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\roms
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\data\controls.ini
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\history.dat
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
08:42:51.8  10/22/2008:  MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files (x86)\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Loading Controls.ini map file
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\snap
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  AVI Snap Path is: C:\Extras\Emumovies\M.A.M.E. (SQ .120) (06.07.08)
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Flyer Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\flyers
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\cabinets
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Title Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\titles
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  PCB Path: Not Found
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Artwork Preview Path: Not Found
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Panel Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\cpanel
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Manual Path: Not Found
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Icon Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\icons
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Marquee Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame64.127\marquees
08:42:51.9  10/22/2008:  Loading Custom Emulators
08:42:52.3  10/22/2008:  Using 2D Animations
08:42:52.3  10/22/2008:  Using General Font: Trebuchet MS
08:42:52.3  10/22/2008:  Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS
08:42:52.3  10/22/2008:  Attempting to load game list
08:42:52.4  10/22/2008:  Initialising DirectDraw
08:42:52.4  10/22/2008:  Applying GameEx is Loading Image
08:42:52.5  10/22/2008:  Creating DirectDraw Device
08:42:52.5  10/22/2008:  Using Device: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT
08:42:52.5  10/22/2008:  486mb video memory available
08:42:52.6  10/22/2008:  Setting Resolution to 1920x1080 32 bit color
08:42:52.6  10/22/2008:  Creating DirectDraw Surfaces
08:42:52.6  10/22/2008:  Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
08:42:52.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Back Buffer
08:42:52.8  10/22/2008:  Loading graphic Surfaces
08:42:52.8  10/22/2008:  Display is running at: 1920x1080 32bit color, 75hz
08:42:53.0  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Flags
08:42:53.0  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
08:42:53.1  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Volume
08:42:53.1  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Arrows
08:42:53.1  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
08:42:53.1  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar
08:42:53.2  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
08:42:53.7  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
08:42:53.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
08:42:53.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Surface Unselected
08:42:53.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Home & Exit
08:42:53.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Snaps
08:42:53.8  10/22/2008:  Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
08:42:54.0  10/22/2008:  Creating Fonts
08:42:54.0  10/22/2008:  Creating Game Font
08:42:54.2  10/22/2008:  Creating Game Font Faded
08:42:54.3  10/22/2008:  Creating Title Font
08:42:54.4  10/22/2008:  Restoring Title Font From Cache
08:42:54.6  10/22/2008:  Creating Menu Font
08:42:54.6  10/22/2008:  Creating Font Black
08:42:55.0  10/22/2008:  Creating Font Black Small
08:42:55.2  10/22/2008:  Fonts Created Succesfully
08:42:55.2  10/22/2008:  369mb video memory left available
08:42:55.2  10/22/2008:  Creating instance of global keyboard hook
08:42:55.2  10/22/2008:  Text/Language: English
08:42:55.2  10/22/2008:  Applying Language/Text
08:42:55.3  10/22/2008:  Initialising Bass Audio Library
08:42:55.5  10/22/2008:  MAME CMD options: -nowindow -joy -skip_gameinfo
08:42:55.5  10/22/2008:  Loading last used Game List
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  Setting Music Volume
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  Creating DirectSound Device
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  Trying: Primary Sound Driver
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  Loading Sound Files
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  DirectSound Device Created Successfully
08:42:55.6  10/22/2008:  Creating ICONS
08:42:55.7  10/22/2008:  Recreating ICONS
08:42:56.3  10/22/2008:  Initialising DirectInput for Gamepad support
08:42:56.4  10/22/2008:  Using Device Ultimarc Ultra-Stik Player 1
08:42:56.5  10/22/2008:  Initializing MCE Remote
08:42:56.5  10/22/2008:  Playing intro sound file
08:42:56.5  10/22/2008:  Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!
08:42:56.5  10/22/2008:  Testing Main Loop Once: Processing Frame
08:42:57.5  10/22/2008:  Testing Main Loop Once: Main Loop ran successfully
08:44:07.0  10/22/2008:  Exiting GameEx!
08:44:07.0  10/22/2008:  Saving Settings
08:44:08.8  10/22/2008:  Disposing Plugins
08:44:08.8  10/22/2008:  Closing database connection
08:44:08.9  10/22/2008:  Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

[sty151]

So does this mean it's most likely a Vista or graphics driver issue? I can try to set all graphics and preferences to default if we think it would help.

GameEx continues to set resolution to 1280 x 720 even though the display is at 1920 x 1080. Like I said I did recently change displays, and I think the old display was set to 1280 x 720. But I ran GameEx for several weeks without any issues after the switch, and I've completely reinstalled GameEx since then.

[Tempest]

I'm just the legs for this body, You'll need the brain to think about it, and the fingers to type it in...

Seriously, I don't know alot about this. I was just hoping that it would fail for me too, and then maybe I could change something in the .ini to fix it, or if it didn't, to provide extra information to the brain.

As you can see by my log, it successfully ran at the resolution you want. You said that you updated drivers, I know that there is something in the FAQ at Gameex.net about drivers, but I don't know if it applies to you. You may want to check it out.

[sty151]

Thanks again for your help. Iâ??ll fiddle with the settings some more. If anyone has any more ideas feel free to post them. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time fixing my computers than enjoying them.

I'm just the legs for this body, You'll need the brain to think about it, and the fingers to type it in...

Seriously, I don't know alot about this. I was just hoping that it would fail for me too, and then maybe I could change something in the .ini to fix it, or if it didn't, to provide extra information to the brain.

As you can see by my log, it successfully ran at the resolution you want. You said that you updated drivers, I know that there is something in the FAQ at Gameex.net about drivers, but I don't know if it applies to you. You may want to check it out.

[wahoo]

Thanks again for your help. Iâ??ll fiddle with the settings some more. If anyone has any more ideas feel free to post them. Sometimes I feel like I spend more time fixing my computers than enjoying them.

I just had this same problem and fixed it on an HTPC, running Vista Ultimate SP1. Nnidia GeForce 9600 GT. Resolution was set to 1920X1080. Everything was working fine. It was a little hard to read the text when using Internet Explorer and other programs, so I decided to increase the DPI from where I had it which was 120.

So I selected 150% (144 DPI,) this automatically unchecked the selection box for "Use Windows XP style DPI scaling"

After rebooting, GameEx was running in a small area in the upper left hand corner. When navigating through the menus, it would fill up the screen briefly during the animated transition and go right back to the small area in the upper left hand corner.

I changed the resolution back to 120 rebooted and tried GameEx again. That it that just made the GameEx display area larger but it still did not fill up the screen. I enabled the option "Use Windows XP style DPI scaling," rebooted and GameEx fills the entire screen again.

[sty151]

Wow, I don't know how I missed your post Wahoo but I just figured the same thing out (without the "Use Windows XP style DPI scaling" solution). Ignore the internet for a few days to get some work done and pay the consequences.

I was having issues with a PC game overfilling the screen and figured the problem with GameEx was a Windows Vista issue. So I started setting everything back to defaults and when I switched the font in Windows back to the default everything fit the screen again. Thanks for your help. It is hard to read the text in Windows from more than a few feet away even with a 50" display. Hopefully I can find a custom DPI that works and allows me to keep my vision.

Thanks again for everyone's help,

Sty151