Please help, I'm ripping my hair out!!!

[Lacie]

I have an arcade machine running the Ultimarc J-Pac and Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a 1.7Ghz machine with 256 MB RAM - I want to use Gameex as a front end to Mame32. The arcade machine isn't on the internet so I don't know whether this could be part of the problem.

I installed Gameex fine, turning off all the downloads whilst installing. However, when i run Gameex, the nag screen comes up and after around 10 seconds goes off, the screen turns black for a few seconds and then it exits back to windows with an open Internet Explorer page directed to the gamex tips web address (obviously saying internet explorer cannot connect)

I checked the log file and it doesn't show any problems at all, it lists everything as running fine - finally saying "Gamex initialized OK" followed by a line directly after saying "Exiting Gameex". I've tried turning off all internet access in the configurations but it's still doing it. I've been on this for nearly 6 hours now and it driving me nuts - can anyone offer any advice?

[lingpanda]

I have an arcade machine running the Ultimarc J-Pac and Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a 1.7Ghz machine with 256 MB RAM - I want to use Gameex as a front end to Mame32. The arcade machine isn't on the internet so I don't know whether this could be part of the problem.

I installed Gameex fine, turning off all the downloads whilst installing. However, when i run Gameex, the nag screen comes up and after around 10 seconds goes off, the screen turns black for a few seconds and then it exits back to windows with an open Internet Explorer page directed to the gamex tips web address (obviously saying internet explorer cannot connect)

I checked the log file and it doesn't show any problems at all, it lists everything as running fine - finally saying "Gamex initialized OK" followed by a line directly after saying "Exiting Gameex". I've tried turning off all internet access in the configurations but it's still doing it. I've been on this for nearly 6 hours now and it driving me nuts - can anyone offer any advice?

Need to post the entire log file.

[chriss]

i can't really help you with this but I think it has nothing to do with not having internet access (double negative, oh my... but i hope you know what i mean) since my cab runs gameex and is not always connected to the net.

what graphics card are you using? did you install the .net framework?

[Lacie]

I have installed the net 2.0 framework and the graphics card is the ultimarc Arcade VGA

This is the log file:

23:57:38.2 15/12/2008: GameEx: Version 9.75: Starting Log

23:57:38.2 15/12/2008: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

23:57:38.2 15/12/2008: Operating System Name: Windows XP

23:57:38.2 15/12/2008: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

23:57:38.2 15/12/2008: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

23:57:38.4 15/12/2008: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

23:57:38.4 15/12/2008: Intel® Celeron® CPU 1.70GHz, 255MB

23:57:38.4 15/12/2008: 1.72Ghz

23:57:38.5 15/12/2008: Running Randomize()

23:57:38.5 15/12/2008: Loading PlugIns

23:57:39.4 15/12/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

23:57:39.4 15/12/2008: Running Misc startup tasks

23:57:39.4 15/12/2008: Setting Menu types

23:57:39.5 15/12/2008: Opening Configuration File

23:57:39.5 15/12/2008: Getting Configuration Values

23:57:39.5 15/12/2008: Using Theme: Default - BlueEx - Arcade640x288

23:57:39.5 15/12/2008: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - BlueEx - Arcade640x288

23:57:39.5 15/12/2008: Launching HideOS.exe

23:57:39.7 15/12/2008: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

23:57:40.2 15/12/2008: Arcade Mode is on

23:57:40.2 15/12/2008: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

23:57:40.2 15/12/2008: Hiding Taskbar

23:57:41.8 15/12/2008: Is Media Center running?

23:57:41.8 15/12/2008: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Media Center Mode 0

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Snap Delay set to: 2

23:57:41.9 15/12/2008: Get other settings

23:57:42.0 15/12/2008: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

23:57:42.0 15/12/2008: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

23:57:42.1 15/12/2008: Start work for Form

23:57:42.1 15/12/2008: Getting Original Screen Size

23:57:42.1 15/12/2008: Opening Database Connection

23:57:45.8 15/12/2008: Initializing Component

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: Retrieving resolution setting

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: MAME Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: MAME EXE file is: mame32.exe

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: ROM Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\roms

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

23:57:46.2 15/12/2008: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Loading Controls.ini map file

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Snap Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\snap

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Flyer Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\flyers

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Cabinet Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\cabinets

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Title Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: PCB Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Panel Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Manual Path: Not Found

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Icon Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\icons

23:57:46.3 15/12/2008: Marquee Path is: C:\Emulators\Mame32\marquees

23:57:46.4 15/12/2008: Loading Custom Emulators

23:57:47.0 15/12/2008: Using 2D Animations

23:57:47.0 15/12/2008: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS

23:57:47.0 15/12/2008: Using Title Font: Joystix

23:57:47.1 15/12/2008: Initialising DirectDraw

23:57:47.4 15/12/2008: Creating DirectDraw Device

23:57:47.4 15/12/2008: Using Device: Ultimarc ArcadeVGA2

23:57:47.8 15/12/2008: 180mb video memory available

23:57:47.9 15/12/2008: Setting Resolution to 640x288 16 bit color

23:57:48.8 15/12/2008: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces

23:57:48.8 15/12/2008: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode

23:57:48.9 15/12/2008: Creating Back Buffer

23:57:49.0 15/12/2008: Loading graphic Surfaces

23:57:49.0 15/12/2008: Display is running at: 640x288 16bit color, 60hz

23:57:49.3 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Flags

23:57:49.5 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

23:57:49.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Volume

23:57:49.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Arrows

23:57:50.2 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

23:57:50.2 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

23:57:50.3 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

23:57:50.7 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

23:57:50.7 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

23:57:50.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surface Unselected

23:57:50.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

23:57:50.9 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Snaps

23:57:50.9 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

23:57:51.2 15/12/2008: Creating Fonts

23:57:51.2 15/12/2008: Creating Game Font

23:57:52.2 15/12/2008: Creating Game Font Faded

23:57:53.4 15/12/2008: Creating Title Font

23:57:53.5 15/12/2008: Restoring Title Font From Cache

23:57:54.0 15/12/2008: Creating Menu Font

23:57:54.2 15/12/2008: Creating Font Black

23:57:54.6 15/12/2008: Creating Font Black Small

23:57:54.8 15/12/2008: Fonts Created Succesfully

23:57:54.8 15/12/2008: 169mb video memory left available

23:57:54.8 15/12/2008: Creating instance of global keyboard hook

23:58:02.1 15/12/2008: Initialization OK! Starting GameEx!

23:58:02.1 15/12/2008: Exiting GameEx!

23:58:02.1 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Flags

23:58:02.2 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs

23:58:02.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Volume

23:58:02.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Arrows

23:58:02.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text

23:58:02.8 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar

23:58:03.0 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds

23:58:03.0 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls

23:58:03.0 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo

23:58:03.0 15/12/2008: Creating Surface Unselected

23:58:03.1 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit

23:58:03.1 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Snaps

23:58:03.1 15/12/2008: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars

23:58:03.3 15/12/2008: Creating Fonts

23:58:03.3 15/12/2008: Creating Game Font

23:58:03.9 15/12/2008: Creating Game Font Faded

23:58:05.2 15/12/2008: Creating Title Font

23:58:05.3 15/12/2008: Creating Menu Font

23:58:05.4 15/12/2008: Creating Font Black

23:58:05.7 15/12/2008: Creating Font Black Small

23:58:05.9 15/12/2008: Fonts Created Succesfully

23:58:05.9 15/12/2008: 156mb video memory left available

23:58:05.9 15/12/2008: Saving Settings

23:58:07.2 15/12/2008: Disposing Plugins

23:58:07.2 15/12/2008: Closing database connection

23:58:07.3 15/12/2008: Checking for applications to Launch On Exit

[bkenobi]

Check that you don't have any stuck keys/buttons or that you aren't hitting anything manually. The nag screen usually sticks around for 20-30 seconds, so I'm guessing that a button is being pressed and GameEx is display the info about registering. If you don't press any keys, it the nag screen will go away and you will be ready to go. This should not be a problem with internet access because many people use GameEx without web access on their cabs.

[IMBerzerk]

I have an arcade machine running the Ultimarc J-Pac and Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a 1.7Ghz machine with 256 MB RAM - I want to use Gameex as a front end to Mame32. The arcade machine isn't on the internet so I don't know whether this could be part of the problem.

I installed Gameex fine, turning off all the downloads whilst installing. However, when i run Gameex, the nag screen comes up and after around 10 seconds goes off, the screen turns black for a few seconds and then it exits back to windows with an open Internet Explorer page directed to the gamex tips web address (obviously saying internet explorer cannot connect)

I checked the log file and it doesn't show any problems at all, it lists everything as running fine - finally saying "Gamex initialized OK" followed by a line directly after saying "Exiting Gameex". I've tried turning off all internet access in the configurations but it's still doing it. I've been on this for nearly 6 hours now and it driving me nuts - can anyone offer any advice?

Hello... try this...

- Disconnect the J-Pac and just plug a keyboard directly into the PC. See if that helps.

- You might be a little shy on resources. 256MB RAM is like the absolute lowest XP will operate at, it might be that GameEx combined with MAME32 is killing it your RAM.

- Use the command line version of MAME. MAME32 is a front end for MAME32, so it kinda defeats the purpose to use MAME32 if you are going to use another front end like GameEx. It might be that MAME32 is getting in the way of GameEx. GameEx will look to see if there is a correctly setup version of MAME first, if not... it crashes with an error list. It just might be overloading your PC somehow.

- Don't worry about the Internet access. I have the same thing. Not one of my 3 cabinets is on the net. This allows me to run slower PC's as I don't have to worry about XP Upates and other background checkers hogging the hell out of my resources. So you should be OK there.

Come back with your results. I'm sure it's something simple that your missing. Believe me, I did the same when I setup GameEx with all the emulators... and I had a TON of problems. But they were all fixed by taking a break, going to bed, and having at it a day later. Now it's running smooth and I can really enjoy it.

Here are the GameEx minimums... and for RAM... your right there.

Minimum System Requirements:

Pentium 3 800Mhz CPU (or equivalent)

DirectX(DirectDraw) Compatible Video card, capable of 16 bit colour at 640X480.

[Your video card does not normally need to be too special unless using videos or DVD, although older motherboard onboard video is not recommended]

DirectSound Compatible Sound Card.

256MB Ram

Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, MCE, Vista

250MB Free hard drive space

Microsoft .net framework 2

Microsoft Direct X 9.0

Windows Media Player 9 or above

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IMBerzerk

[Treign]

Also if you are using xpadder and a analog stick set with 1 for the nes emulator for saving for example, if the sensitivity is to high it may be pressing the 1 button on startup. Defentally seems like a stuck button though. Unplug the keyboard and try starting up.

Edited September 25, 2012 by Draco1962
This thread is now closed. If the problem re-occurs, please start a new thread.