GameEx startup behavior or key stuck

[armedmetallica]

When GameEx starts up (and even afterwards) the menu automatically scrolls all the way to the bottom menu.

Its as if the keyboard is stuck on the down arrow. I can't make any other selections or do anything if i mouse over i can select something, if i am quick, otherwise it scrolls right back down the bottom.

I've tried doing the setup wizard again with no luck.

i don't have a joystick or anything plugged in just yet. I wanted to see how GameEx is first, before I get going with other stuff.

Thanks - sorry for the newby post.

[stabe]

Questions...

Did you resolve your problem?

Is this just in GameEx?

Do you have a Touchpad? (Try to disable the Touch pad)

Dirty keyboard perhaps?

[Draco1962]

I had a similar occurence - turned out that one of my arrow keys was stuck and it kept scrolling to the bottom of the list. I spent 15-20 minutes trying to figure it out... it's always the simple things that confuzzle...

[armedmetallica]

thanks - i'll check - i don't think it's the physical keyboard since the menu-ing works A-ok in 7MC. While I've been in HTPC for a long time, i'm new to the whole MAME arena. I was hoping to get a good jumpstart but right now this arrow thing is killing me.

i'll swap out the keyboard and try another. oh perhaps noteworthy, it IS an RF Wireless keyboard. But then again, it works flawlessly on all the other software on this brand newly built Windows 7 beast.

hopefully after this snafu i'll be good again. This thing seems a bit overwhelming (all the setup pages on the wizard drove me batty all afternoon!)

[Tempest]

If that doesn't work, you will also want to disable any software with keyboard hooks. I was going to give you an example, but I am coming up blank. Guys?

[armedmetallica]

thanks.

tried killing the keyboard and no dice. the only think i can think of is the Antec Veris Basic ir controller that's on this machine. It is wired in through a mobo USB header. I use that plus my Harmony 890 to control my HTPC experience. I'd really hate to have to unwire this to even test if it is the root cause.

i'm going to try plugging in an xbox 360 usb/wireless controller. I want to see if the lack of a usb or other controller on the system is causing GameEX to somehow use the wrong information out of the Antec Veris? I don't see how or why it should be, but i mean other than this hunch, i've got nothing else to go on.

If this doesn't work, then i just might have to walk away from the Wow of arcade gaming on my htpc and relegate my emulation strategy strictly to nesticle on my laptop.

[Draco1962]

thanks.

tried killing the keyboard and no dice. the only think i can think of is the Antec Veris Basic ir controller that's on this machine. It is wired in through a mobo USB header. I use that plus my Harmony 890 to control my HTPC experience. I'd really hate to have to unwire this to even test if it is the root cause.

i'm going to try plugging in an xbox 360 usb/wireless controller. I want to see if the lack of a usb or other controller on the system is causing GameEX to somehow use the wrong information out of the Antec Veris? I don't see how or why it should be, but i mean other than this hunch, i've got nothing else to go on.

If this doesn't work, then i just might have to walk away from the Wow of arcade gaming on my htpc and relegate my emulation strategy strictly to nesticle on my laptop.

I had a reccurence of this lastnight - turned out to be mechanical once again. My PC is on a cart with a pullout keyboard/mouse drawer. I am using a Logitech Dual Action controller. It was sitting just in back of my mouse and, when I noticed the scrolling again when starting GameEx. Turns out that the drwaer was not fully extended and the left thumb controller was being pressed against by the top surface of the desk.

Regarding your issue, however, it sounds like you may possibly have an IR/RF conflict. From what I have read, the Harmony 890 transmits both. Have you ruled-out any sources of conflct on its frequencies?

[armedmetallica]

I had a reccurence of this lastnight - turned out to be mechanical once again. My PC is on a cart with a pullout keyboard/mouse drawer. I am using a Logitech Dual Action controller. It was sitting just in back of my mouse and, when I noticed the scrolling again when starting GameEx. Turns out that the drwaer was not fully extended and the left thumb controller was being pressed against by the top surface of the desk.

Regarding your issue, however, it sounds like you may possibly have an IR/RF conflict. From what I have read, the Harmony 890 transmits both. Have you ruled-out any sources of conflct on its frequencies?

lol @ ur keyboard punk'in ya.

hmm haven't looked at any interference related issues. yes the 890 shoots RF at wireless extender that is sitting 5 feet from the PC, which then reblasts that info out via IR to htpc, xbox, tv, and avr. as of yet, i haven't had any issues from the controller or even it's notoriously bundled software (iMon SoundGraph). up until this point everything is controlled exactly how i like it, with little or no hiccups.

i just dug up the xbox's usb receiver. Later when I get a chance i'm going to install the software and try fire up GameEx. I still hope that a lack of a "real" controller is what's making this thing go batty.

if that doesn't work - i can try uninstalling GameEx and re-installing so that a controller is present on the system DURING the install.

and if THAT doesn't work hang my head in shame and walk away - mumble something about nice concept but just couldn't get it to work.

[armedmetallica]

SOLVED!

okay - so i installed the xbox drivers, and it was the same. then i unplugged the veris and it was STILL then same.

then stepped though the set-up wizard again - and this time, on the controllers to use option, i specified the Xbox controller instead of the default "all" (which wierdly included GRemote plus - something I use to control my TV through my WinMo phone). I think that Gremote has a game controllers option. Since i am not connected all the time it must've been sending out the wrong signals.

Now - something unrelated that i will post in the Mame section here is that when I go to run a game it attempts to load, the screen flashes and then nothing happens, i'm back to the "play game" menu. I will need to re-do all the emulator setups i think. but at least now i can navigate the menus!

[Draco1962]

lol @ ur keyboard punk'in ya.

hmm haven't looked at any interference related issues. yes the 890 shoots RF at wireless extender that is sitting 5 feet from the PC, which then reblasts that info out via IR to htpc, xbox, tv, and avr. as of yet, i haven't had any issues from the controller or even it's notoriously bundled software (iMon SoundGraph). up until this point everything is controlled exactly how i like it, with little or no hiccups.

i just dug up the xbox's usb receiver. Later when I get a chance i'm going to install the software and try fire up GameEx. I still hope that a lack of a "real" controller is what's making this thing go batty.

if that doesn't work - i can try uninstalling GameEx and re-installing so that a controller is present on the system DURING the install.

and if THAT doesn't work hang my head in shame and walk away - mumble something about nice concept but just couldn't get it to work.

It's more frustrating when ya punk yourself! Glad to see that you were able to resolve the issue!