GameEx starts with error "Error: Not a valid bookmark."

[mr.ratburn]

Hello,

Although I've always had GameEx installed in my arcade, a couple months ago I decided to donate the money and receive the full version. It's been working wonderfully since then. However, recently after updating to the latest version, I launch GameEx and the "GameEx is now Loading" screen pops up and then it quits with the error window saying "Error: Not A Valid Bookmark." amongst other things. Oh, and I havent changed ANY settings on GameEx for a while now and messing with the options is probably not the cause. I have looked for someone having the same problem but I have found no one. Please reply if you have any information regarding this error.

Here's the complete error code:

03:12:26.4 8/14/2009: Operating System Platform: Win32NT
03:12:26.4 8/14/2009: Operating System Name: Windows Vista
03:12:26.4 8/14/2009: Operating System Version: 6.0.6000
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: Vista Aero running
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: Initializing Vista volume control
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: .net Framework 2.0 Installed
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+, 1982MB
03:12:28.0 8/14/2009: 2Ghz - 2 Cores or CPU's
03:12:29.7 8/14/2009: Running Randomize()
03:12:29.8 8/14/2009: Loading PlugIns
03:12:29.8 8/14/2009: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup
03:12:31.3 8/14/2009: Running Misc startup tasks
03:12:32.9 8/14/2009: Setting Menu types
03:12:33.0 8/14/2009: Opening Configuration File
03:12:33.0 8/14/2009: Getting Configuration Values
03:12:33.1 8/14/2009: Using Theme: Default - Media Center
03:12:33.1 8/14/2009: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Media Center
03:12:33.1 8/14/2009: Using Images from theme: Default - Media Center V1\MEDIA\
03:12:33.2 8/14/2009: Launching HideOS.exe
03:12:33.5 8/14/2009: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
03:12:33.6 8/14/2009: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)
03:12:33.8 8/14/2009: Hiding Taskbar
03:12:33.9 8/14/2009: Is Media Center running?
03:12:33.9 8/14/2009: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
03:12:34.0 8/14/2009: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
03:12:34.0 8/14/2009: Media Center Mode 2
03:12:34.1 8/14/2009: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
03:12:34.1 8/14/2009: Custom Keyboard Input enabled: Getting custom codes
03:12:34.2 8/14/2009: Snap Delay set to: 7
03:12:34.2 8/14/2009: Get other settings
03:12:34.2 8/14/2009: Mouse Input is disabled
03:12:34.3 8/14/2009: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black
03:12:34.3 8/14/2009: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
03:12:34.3 8/14/2009: Using DirectInput for keyboard input
03:12:34.4 8/14/2009: Start work for Form
03:12:34.4 8/14/2009: Getting Original Screen Size
03:12:34.5 8/14/2009: Opening Database Connection
03:12:34.8 8/14/2009: Initializing Component
03:12:35.0 8/14/2009: Retrieving resolution setting
03:12:35.0 8/14/2009: MAME Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame
03:12:35.1 8/14/2009: daphne Path is: C:\Emulators\Daphne
03:12:35.1 8/14/2009: daphne EXE file is: daphne.exe
03:12:35.1 8/14/2009: Use daphne on. daphne.exe will launch games
03:12:35.2 8/14/2009: ZiNc Path is: C:\Emulators\Zinc
03:12:35.4 8/14/2009: ZiNc EXE file is: zinc.exe
03:12:35.6 8/14/2009: Use ZiNc on. zinc.exe will launch PSX games
03:12:35.6 8/14/2009: MAME EXE file is: mame.exe
03:12:35.6 8/14/2009: ROM Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\roms
03:12:35.8 8/14/2009: Catver.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\catver.ini
03:12:36.0 8/14/2009: controls.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\data\controls.ini
03:12:36.0 8/14/2009: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: Loading Controls.ini map file
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: Snap Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\snap
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: AVI Snap Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\avisnap
03:12:36.1 8/14/2009: Flyer Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\flyers
03:12:36.2 8/14/2009: Cabinet Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\cabinets
03:12:36.2 8/14/2009: Title Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\titles
03:12:36.2 8/14/2009: PCB Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\pcb
03:12:36.2 8/14/2009: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found
03:12:36.2 8/14/2009: Panel Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\cpanel
03:12:36.3 8/14/2009: Manual Path: Not Found
03:12:36.3 8/14/2009: Icon Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\icons
03:12:36.3 8/14/2009: Marquee Path is: C:\Program Files\Mame\marquees
03:12:36.4 8/14/2009: Loading Custom Emulators
03:12:36.4 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 1: Nintendo SNES
03:12:36.5 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 2: Nintendo NES
03:12:36.6 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 3: Nintendo 64
03:12:36.7 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 4: Sega Genesis
03:12:36.7 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 5: Neo-Geo
03:12:36.8 8/14/2009: Loading Emulator 6: HyperSpin
03:12:37.1 8/14/2009: Using Version 3 Themes Animations
03:12:37.2 8/14/2009: Using General Font: Trebuchet MS
03:12:37.2 8/14/2009: Using Title Font: Trebuchet MS
03:12:37.3 8/14/2009: Initialising DirectDraw
03:12:37.4 8/14/2009: Applying GameEx is Loading Image
03:12:37.7 8/14/2009: Creating DirectDraw Device
03:12:37.8 8/14/2009: Using Device: NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)
03:12:38.0 8/14/2009: 329mb video memory available
03:12:38.3 8/14/2009: Setting Resolution to 1280x1024 32 bit color
03:12:38.5 8/14/2009: Creating DirectDraw Surfaces
03:12:38.6 8/14/2009: Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
03:12:38.9 8/14/2009: Creating Back Buffer
03:12:39.1 8/14/2009: Loading graphic Surfaces
03:12:39.5 8/14/2009: Display is running at: 1280x1024 32bit color, 60hz
03:12:39.8 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Flags
03:12:41.5 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Misc and Dialogs
03:12:43.1 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Volume
03:12:43.2 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Arrows
03:12:43.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces GameEXlogo Text
03:12:43.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Toolbar
03:12:44.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Backgrounds
03:13:16.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Toolbar Controls
03:13:16.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces GameEx Logo
03:13:16.6 8/14/2009: Creating Surface Unselected
03:13:16.7 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Home & Exit
03:13:16.7 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Snaps
03:13:16.7 8/14/2009: Creating Surfaces Menu and List Bars
03:13:16.8 8/14/2009: Creating Fonts
03:13:16.8 8/14/2009: Creating Game Font
03:13:17.2 8/14/2009: Creating Game Font Faded
03:13:17.3 8/14/2009: Creating Title Font
03:13:17.3 8/14/2009: Restoring Title Font From Cache
03:13:19.4 8/14/2009: Creating Font Black
03:13:19.6 8/14/2009: Creating Font Black Small
03:13:19.8 8/14/2009: Fonts Created Succesfully
03:13:19.8 8/14/2009: 244mb video memory left available
03:13:19.8 8/14/2009: Creating instance of global keyboard hook
03:13:19.8 8/14/2009: Attempting to load game list
03:13:20.4 8/14/2009: --**--
[b]03:13:20.4 8/14/2009: Error: Not a valid bookmark.
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteCommandTextErrorHandling(OleDbHResult hr)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteCommandTextForSingleResult(tagDBPARAMS dbParams, Object& executeResult)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteCommandText(Object& executeResult)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteCommand(CommandBehavior behavior, Object& executeResult)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteReaderInternal(CommandBehavior behavior, String method)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior behavior)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbCommand.System.Data.IDbCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehav
ior behavior)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.FillInternal(DataSet dataset, DataTable[] datatables, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, String srcTable, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataTable[] dataTables, Int32 startRecord, Int32 maxRecords, IDbCommand command, CommandBehavior behavior)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at System.Data.Common.DbDataAdapter.Fill(DataTable dataTable)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at ar.a(OleDbConnection& A_0, String A_1)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at ar.b(Int32 A_0)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at u.a(String A_0, String A_1, String A_2, Boolean A_3)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at u.a(Boolean A_0, String A_1, Boolean A_2)
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: at u..ctor()
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: Closing database connection
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: Disposing Plugins
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: GameEx is exiting with errors
03:13:20.6 8/14/2009: Deleting search cache
03:13:23.5 8/14/2009: ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING[/b]

03:12:26.3  8/14/2009:  GameEx: Version 10.19: Starting Log

Thanks in advance!

SOLUTION FOUND! (Thanks to TSpeirs):

To fix this problem, delete the GameEx\data\data.mdb and reinstall GameEx. It should work now

[bkenobi]

GameEx is complaining about a problem with a database for some reason. There are 3 files that contain the database cache that Tom often recommends deleting when there are similar problems. Unfortunately, I don't recall which files these are.

The other thing you can do is to turn off all of your emulators, web stuff, etc. to make sure you can get GameEx loading. Then, turn stuff on one at a time (or in groups) to narrow what the problem is.

If you think it's a config issue, then one other option would be to rename the gameex.ini file and try using a backed up version. If you look in the c:\program files\GameEx\CONFIG directory, you will see some backed up versions. One of these indicates that it's a backup made after the last update (I forget the file name).

Just be sure to make backups in case you need to go back!

[Tom Speirs]

I think the issue is with \data\data.mdb

It looks like the database is corrupted.

You can just delete that file, then install GameEx again, or try to fix the database file somehow.

Note: you will loose favorites, most played, and last played data if the file is deleted.

[mr.ratburn]

Thanks Tom, deleting the data.mdb did the trick quite nicely. Although it's a shame that I'll have to track down all my faves again.