Crash When Changing Theme

[couslev]

Ever since I installed GameEx, I have been unable to change the theme from within GameEx. I have been starting the Setup Wizard, going into the Theme selection, and changing my theme there. Its pretty cumbersome though.

If I change my theme using the Theme Picker under Other Games & Applications, GameEx crashes with this in the log:

14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  GameEx configuration updated, reinitialising
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Opening Configuration File
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Getting Configuration Values
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Using Theme: Default - Alpha Blue 2011
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Alpha Blue 2011
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Initialising Video/MNG DLL's
14:37:45.2  4/5/2011:  Hiding Taskbar
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Is Media Center running?
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Checking/Creating LCD Registry values
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Media Center Mode 0
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Custom Game Device Input enabled: Getting custom codes
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Snap Delay set to: 2
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Get other settings
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis
14:37:45.3  4/5/2011:  Opening Database Connection
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Retrieving resolution setting
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  MAME Path is: D:\Emulators\Mame32
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Cannot Find MAME Path: MAME Disabled
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Using 3D Alpha Blended Animations.
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Using General Font: Trebuchet MS
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Using Title Font: HandelGothic BT
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Initialising Direct3D
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Applying GameEx is Loading Image
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Setting Resolution to 1920x1080 32 bit color
14:37:45.4  4/5/2011:  Creating Surfaces
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  Creating Primary Surface - Full Screen Mode
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  Creating Back Buffer
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  Loading graphic Surfaces
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  --**--
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:  Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:     at ag.a(Boolean A_0, String A_1, Boolean A_2)
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:     at ag.c(Boolean A_0)
14:37:45.7  4/5/2011:     at ag.ad()

Is this a known issue, or just me?

EDIT: I'm using Win 7 Pro x64 if it makes any difference.

[Draco1962]

I have had similar occur and have been able to get around it in the past by deleting all cache files and starting GameEx again.

[couslev]

Can you point me to the location of these cache files? You mean the Cached-* image files found in ./GameEx/DATA/, or the contents of ./GameEx/DATA/XFILE_CACHE/?

[Draco1962]

Any of the files containing cache in the file name or extension in the gameex/data path.

[couslev]

Any of the files containing cache in the file name or extension in the gameex/data path.

I deleted all files from ./GameEx/DATA/ with cache in the name and also the contents of the XFILE_CACHE, but still no dice. Still get the same crash when trying to change themes.

04/05/2011  06:46 PM            44,085 Cached-FontBlack.png
04/05/2011  06:46 PM            46,354 Cached-GameFont.png
04/05/2011  06:46 PM            46,512 Cached-GameFontFaded.png
04/05/2011  06:46 PM         2,560,054 Cached-MenuFont.bmp
04/05/2011  05:08 PM            54,177 Cached-TitleFont1.png
04/05/2011  05:08 PM            76,689 Cached-TitleFont2.png
04/05/2011  05:08 PM            66,105 Cached-TitleFont3.png
04/05/2011  05:08 PM           116,738 DGameExthemesDefault  Alpha Blue 2011MEDIALOGOSGameExTextGameExText.x.x
04/05/2011  05:08 PM            64,920 DGameExthemesDefault  Alpha Blue 2011MEDIALOGOSGameExTextGameExText.x.x.positioncache
04/04/2011  02:34 AM                 8 EMU_10.dbcachenodata
04/04/2011  02:34 AM                90 EMU_10.map
04/04/2011  10:16 PM               548 EMU_12.map
04/03/2011  05:39 PM             8,771 EMU_5.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM            13,148 EMU_5.dbcacheini
04/03/2011  05:39 PM               645 EMU_5.map
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                51 EMU_5_Cat.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                52 EMU_5_Dev.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                42 EMU_5_Ply.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                12 EMU_5_YR.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM             1,003 EMU_6.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM             7,164 EMU_6.dbcacheini
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                69 EMU_6.map
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                14 EMU_6_Cat.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                17 EMU_6_Dev.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                12 EMU_6_Ply.dbcache
04/03/2011  05:39 PM                 6 EMU_6_YR.dbcache
04/03/2011  01:45 PM           144,345 EMU_7.dbcache
04/03/2011  01:45 PM           152,867 EMU_7.dbcacheini
04/03/2011  01:45 PM             9,979 EMU_7.map
04/03/2011  01:45 PM                99 EMU_7_Cat.dbcache
04/03/2011  01:45 PM               652 EMU_7_Dev.dbcache
04/03/2011  01:45 PM                72 EMU_7_Ply.dbcache
04/03/2011  01:45 PM                48 EMU_7_YR.dbcache

[couslev]

Well, going to the SetupWizard every time I wanted to change themes (which I'm doing a lot right now as I learn theme design) started really annoying me, so I took the liberty of attaching the VS2010 debugger to the GameEx process and then crashing it to see if I found anything useful. Well, I definitely did:

A first chance exception of type 'System.Security.SecurityException' occurred in mscorlib.dll
A first chance exception of type 'System.UnauthorizedAccessException' occurred in mscorlib.dll
A first chance exception of type 'System.NullReferenceException' occurred in GameEx.exe
The program '[3316] GameEx.exe: Managed (v2.0.50727)' has exited with code 0 (0x0).

I'm not running GameEx with administrative rights, but I have it installed at D:\GameEx (outside the protected Program Files / Program Files (x86) folders), so I figure it should be fine. Apparently when I change themes and GameEx starts to reinitialize, it gets to the "Loading graphic Surfaces" step and then it attempts to access some protected location in the ag.a(..) function?

Strangely if I run GameEx as administrator and switch themes, it still crashes at "Loading graphic Surfaces", but with different exceptions:

A first chance exception of type 'System.NullReferenceException' occurred in GameEx.exe
A first chance exception of type 'System.ArgumentException' occurred in Microsoft.VisualBasic.dll
The program '[6812] GameEx.exe: Managed (v2.0.50727)' has exited with code 0 (0x0).

Tom, you have a better idea what might be going on here?

EDIT: Additional information -

When NOT running as administator, the first SecurityException's Message is "Requested registry access is not allowed.", but I found that exception isn't critical as it is thrown even when starting GameEx normally, and it doesn't cause a crash. So, this has nothing to do with security, it is all about the NullReferenceException.

[Adultery]

Is this a particular theme and did you modify it?

[couslev]

No, it doesn't matter which theme I have selected or am switching to. Happens every time.

Probably going to save off my configs and try reinstalling soon.

[Adultery]

So this is happening when selecting a theme from the theme picker? Did you try switching themes using Advanced Config? (Sorry if this was covered already, I'm trying to duplicate the error).

[Draco1962]

I can't say that I have had quite that same issue. I am running Win 7 x64. I don't know how much trouble it will be for you to do so but can you try installing and running from c:\gameex? My gut tells me there is still some sort of access rights issue at play.

[couslev]

So this is happening when selecting a theme from the theme picker? Did you try switching themes using Advanced Config? (Sorry if this was covered already, I'm trying to duplicate the error).

I didn't even know you could switch themes using Advanced Config... I've been using the Setup Wizard, going to custom, just picking theme selection and changing the theme that way. But yes, it happens when I select a theme from the Theme Picker within GameEx.

I can't say that I have had quite that same issue. I am running Win 7 x64. I don't know how much trouble it will be for you to do so but can you try installing and running from c:\gameex? My gut tells me there is still some sort of access rights issue at play.

I currently have the install running from d:\gameex, I don't think there would be any different permissions between there and the C drive. As long as the directory is outside Program Files or Program Files (x86), it should be unprotected by Windows UAC's ACL settings. Do you run GameEx as admin?

I expected it would be an access rights issue as well (especially after seeing it throw a SecurityException when debugging the crash), so I totally expected it would work when I ran GameEx as administrator. Unfortunately it still crashes when I run as administrator, and it turned out the SecurityException was from GameEx trying to access a protected registry key, and it happens every time GameEx initializes (and doesn't cause a crash). I can't tell exactly what GameEx is trying to do when it throws the NullReferenceException because the code appears to be obfuscated.

Speaking of the registry SecurityException, is there any chance GameEx can be configured to not try and access HKLM, and instead use HKCU for storing per-user settings while running normally? It would definitely be a step toward making GameEx Windows 7 friendly.

[Draco1962]

I run it as Administrator. Can you upload a full copy of your latest log file and gameex.ini (you will need to save it as gameex.txt as the IP Board software does not allow for uploading of .ini files).

While Win 7's UAC is worlds away more forgiving than Vista, access rights are not always distributed equally. It is possible that the access rights on your D: drive are locked up a little tighter than you realize as I have encountered this with 7 on my machine with other programs.

I have seen where some users similar problems due to a bad .net install or update. You may want to try reinstalling, in order, from .net 2 SP1 to the latest.

I do not believe that option will become available as GameEx can be setup for use for multiple users with their distinct settings (themes, emulators, etc.) on the same machine (hence HKLM vs. HKCU).

[couslev]

I've attached a copy of my log when I tried to swtich themes. You can see the line where I change the theme and GameEx starts reinitializing:

19:13:42.7  4/6/2011:  GameEx configuration updated, reinitialising

Also attached is my GameEx.ini as found after I tried to switch themes.

I don't understand your response about the registry access error

I do not believe that option will become available as GameEx can be setup for use for multiple users with their distinct settings (themes, emulators, etc.) on the same machine (hence HKLM vs. HKCU).

I see that in HKCU GameEx stores the location to various Emulator INI files, so each user can create their own emulator configs, but it doesn't seem that any other settings are decentralized. I just meant to say that GameEx itself should NOT attempt to write to HKLM to store any settings. I understand the Setup Wizard and Advanced Config writing to HKLM... they are configured to run as administrator by default when installed, so this works out fine. The GameEx process itself shouldn't need to be elevated though, so it shouldn't attempt to write to HKLM.

log.txt

GameEx .txt

[Tom Speirs]

I didn't even know you could switch themes using Advanced Config... I've been using the Setup Wizard, going to custom, just picking theme selection and changing the theme that way. But yes, it happens when I select a theme from the Theme Picker within GameEx.

I currently have the install running from d:\gameex, I don't think there would be any different permissions between there and the C drive. As long as the directory is outside Program Files or Program Files (x86), it should be unprotected by Windows UAC's ACL settings. Do you run GameEx as admin?

I expected it would be an access rights issue as well (especially after seeing it throw a SecurityException when debugging the crash), so I totally expected it would work when I ran GameEx as administrator. Unfortunately it still crashes when I run as administrator, and it turned out the SecurityException was from GameEx trying to access a protected registry key, and it happens every time GameEx initializes (and doesn't cause a crash). I can't tell exactly what GameEx is trying to do when it throws the NullReferenceException because the code appears to be obfuscated.

Speaking of the registry SecurityException, is there any chance GameEx can be configured to not try and access HKLM, and instead use HKCU for storing per-user settings while running normally? It would definitely be a step toward making GameEx Windows 7 friendly.

Just wanted to point out. GameEx does access HKCU if it cant access HKLM. Dont worry about that error. It looks like a bug. Ill get it fixed.

[Tom Speirs]

Its fixed my end for the next release. Thanks for reporting.

[Tom Speirs]

Ive updated the download on the site with the fix (same version nbr) if you wanted the fix now. Just download manually and install.

Cheers.