gameex won't launch

[platdaddy]

I have reinstalled my video drivers (fresh...uninstall then reinstall)...

below is my log text

13:00:00.0 5/15/2011: GameEx: Version 11.71: Starting Log

13:00:00.4 5/15/2011: Operating System Platform: Win32NT

13:00:00.4 5/15/2011: Operating System Name: Windows XP

13:00:00.4 5/15/2011: Operating System Version: 5.1.2600

13:00:00.7 5/15/2011: Checking for versions of .net Framework installed

13:00:00.9 5/15/2011: .net Framework 1.1 Installed

13:00:00.9 5/15/2011: .net Framework 2.0 Installed

13:00:00.9 5/15/2011: .net Framework 3.0 Installed

13:00:00.9 5/15/2011: .net Framework 3.5 Installed

13:00:01.5 5/15/2011: AMD Athlon XP 2100+, 511MB

13:00:01.6 5/15/2011: 1.73Ghz

13:00:01.6 5/15/2011: Running Randomize()

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Loading PlugIns

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Checking for applications to Launch On Startup

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Running Misc startup tasks

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Setting Menu types

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Opening Configuration File

13:00:03.2 5/15/2011: Getting Configuration Values

13:00:03.4 5/15/2011: Using Theme: Default - Dark Gloss

13:00:03.5 5/15/2011: Checking for alternate Image Directory for Theme: Default - Dark Gloss

13:00:03.5 5/15/2011: Launching HideOS.exe

13:00:03.5 5/15/2011: Initialising Video/MNG DLL's

13:00:03.5 5/15/2011: GameEx will check for media insertion (may affect performance)

13:00:03.5 5/15/2011: Hiding Taskbar

13:00:04.2 5/15/2011: Is Media Center running?

13:00:04.2 5/15/2011: Checking/Creating LCD Registry values

13:00:04.4 5/15/2011: Check Media Center Exit/Start Mode

13:00:04.4 5/15/2011: Media Center Mode 0

13:00:04.6 5/15/2011: Video previews on. Warning: Only recommended on modern systems

13:00:04.8 5/15/2011: Snap Delay set to: 1

13:00:04.9 5/15/2011: Get other settings

13:00:04.9 5/15/2011: Desktop set to Hide ICONS and set Background to Black

13:00:04.9 5/15/2011: Set: Find emulator artwork on best match basis

13:00:04.9 5/15/2011: Start work for Form

13:00:04.9 5/15/2011: Getting Original Screen Size

13:00:05.7 5/15/2011: Opening Database Connection

13:00:14.0 5/15/2011: Initializing Component

13:00:15.7 5/15/2011: Retrieving resolution setting

13:00:15.7 5/15/2011: MAME Path is: C:\Mame32

13:00:15.8 5/15/2011: daphne Path is: C:\Emulators\daphne

13:00:15.8 5/15/2011: daphne EXE file is: daphne.exe

13:00:15.9 5/15/2011: Use daphne on. daphne.exe will launch games

13:00:15.9 5/15/2011: MAME EXE file is: Mame32.exe

13:00:16.0 5/15/2011: ROM Path is: C:\Mame32\roms

13:00:16.0 5/15/2011: Catver.ini Not Found

13:00:16.0 5/15/2011: controls.ini Not Found

13:00:16.0 5/15/2011: History.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\history.dat

13:00:16.1 5/15/2011: nplayers.ini is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\nplayers.ini

13:00:16.1 5/15/2011: command.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\command.dat

13:00:16.1 5/15/2011: MAMEinfo.dat is located at: C:\Program Files\GameEx\DATA\mameinfo.dat

13:00:16.2 5/15/2011: Loading Controls.ini map file

13:00:16.3 5/15/2011: Snap Path is: C:\Mame32\snap

13:00:16.3 5/15/2011: AVI Snap Path: Not Found

13:00:16.3 5/15/2011: Flyer Path is: C:\Mame32\flyers

13:00:16.4 5/15/2011: Cabinet Path is: C:\Mame32\cabinets

13:00:16.4 5/15/2011: Cabinet 3D Path: Not Found

13:00:16.5 5/15/2011: Title Path is: C:\Mame32\titles

13:00:16.5 5/15/2011: PCB Path: Not Found

13:00:16.5 5/15/2011: Artwork Preview Path: Not Found

13:00:16.5 5/15/2011: Panel Path is: C:\Mame32\cpanel

13:00:16.6 5/15/2011: Manual Path: Not Found

13:00:16.6 5/15/2011: Icon Path: Not Found

13:00:16.6 5/15/2011: Marquee Path is: C:\Mame32\marquees

13:00:16.7 5/15/2011: Loading Custom Emulators

13:00:16.8 5/15/2011: Using Version 3 Themes Animations

13:00:16.8 5/15/2011: Using General Font:

13:00:16.8 5/15/2011: Using Title Font:

13:00:16.9 5/15/2011: Initialising Direct3D

13:00:17.5 5/15/2011: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

13:00:18.0 5/15/2011: Setting Resolution to 800x600 16 bit color

13:00:18.1 5/15/2011: Creating Surfaces

13:00:19.0 5/15/2011: Applying GameEx is Loading Image

13:00:20.3 5/15/2011: Setting Resolution to 800x600 16 bit color

13:00:20.4 5/15/2011: Creating Surfaces

13:00:20.4 5/15/2011: --**--

13:00:20.5 5/15/2011: Error: Error in the application.

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.Device..ctor(Int32 adapter, DeviceType deviceType, Control renderWindow, CreateFlags behaviorFlags, PresentParameters[] presentationParameters)

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at o.a(Form A_0, Int32 A_1, Int32 A_2, Boolean A_3, Boolean A_4, Boolean A_5, Boolean A_6)

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at o..ctor(Form A_0, Int32 A_1, Int32 A_2, Boolean A_3, Boolean A_4, Boolean A_5, Boolean A_6)

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at ag.a(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, Boolean A_2, Boolean A_3, Int32 A_4)

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at ag.a(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, Boolean A_2, Boolean A_3, Int32 A_4)

13:00:21.0 5/15/2011: at ag.b(Boolean A_0, Boolean A_1, Boolean A_2)

13:00:21.1 5/15/2011: at ag.a(Boolean A_0, String A_1, Boolean A_2)

13:00:21.1 5/15/2011: at ag..ctor()

13:00:21.1 5/15/2011: Closing database connection

13:00:21.1 5/15/2011: Disposing Plugins

13:00:21.2 5/15/2011: GameEx is exiting with errors

13:00:21.2 5/15/2011: Deleting search cache

13:00:24.7 5/15/2011: ERRORS DETECTED: EXITING

log.txt

[Draco1962]

Several questions for you:

1 - What type GPU and Monitor do you have?

2 - Have you tried installing anew the latest version of DirectX that your system will handle?

3 - What is the range of color and resolution that your GPU and Monitor are able to handle?

Appears that you may either be exceeding the supported resolution limits and/ or have a bad D3D install.

[platdaddy]

Several questions for you:

1 - What type GPU and Monitor do you have?

2 - Have you tried installing anew the latest version of DirectX that your system will handle?

3 - What is the range of color and resolution that your GPU and Monitor are able to handle?

Appears that you may either be exceeding the supported resolution limits and/ or have a bad D3D install.

Thanks for the response.

Geforce GTX400 on a standard television so 640x480 mayabe??? not sure on the tv.

I believe i have the latest DirectX but will try to look again

Not sure on the TV's color range.

[Draco1962]

You may need to confirm via your PC display setup what the minimum range is for the graphics card. Most newer support a minimum of 800x600. Try that resolution and see if the problem resolves along with reinstalling D3D.

[platdaddy]

You may need to confirm via your PC display setup what the minimum range is for the graphics card. Most newer support a minimum of 800x600. Try that resolution and see if the problem resolves along with reinstalling D3D.

I have tried every resolution that is available with this driver set, including 800x600 and higher. I also thought it may have been a problem with the gameex theme or background so I've tried all of them to no avail. The desktop shows fine and I only see errors when using gameex.

I have used this hardware with gameex for 4 plus years. Was there a recent update to D3D or DirectX.... maybe a windows update ran and broke something? This machine is not on all the time so it is possible that updates were stacked up ready/needing to install....

[Draco1962]

Could be. Have you tried a system restore to see if this might resolve the issue?

[Tom Speirs]

Try turning off 16 bit colour.

[platdaddy]

Try turning off 16 bit colour.

Tried 32 and 16 bit color at all available resolutions. I've confirmed I have the latest DirectX. My restore points are for a much much much older version of gameex. I just paid for and updated the newest version....hate to restore to a 4 year old version but I can try I guess.

After reading some, I'm guessing I was using an older version of gameex that used something other than D3D. As I said, I hate to install an older version of gameex when I just paid for the newest version.

[Tom Speirs]

To answer your questions though - Yes GameEx was upgraded to direct 3d from directdraw at version 11. It should still work though with any card that supports direct 3d 9. Some times drivers need to be updated/reinstalled etc and the other known issue is if GameEx is trying to run in 16 bit colour. Be aware it can run in 16 bit colour because it is set on the destkop or because it is set in GameEx config.

You can try running dxdiag see if that brings up any issues. In the past these issues have been because of what I said above but on really ancient hardware very occasionally people are just out of luck but that should be REALLY ancient hardware.

[platdaddy]

Thanks for the response Tom. Where in the gameex setup is the 16/32 bit setting? I will run dxdiag as well.

[Draco1962]

Using the Advanced Configuration utility, go to Display settings, click Next Page, and 3rd entry from the top. Select No a for Display 16 Bit colour, then click Save. The other place to check is in you Display settings for Windows to make sure that 32-bit color is selected.

[platdaddy]

Using the Advanced Configuration utility, go to Display settings, click Next Page, and 3rd entry from the top. Select No a for Display 16 Bit colour, then click Save. The other place to check is in you Display settings for Windows to make sure that 32-bit color is selected.

Ok...another note in the saga.... I found a backup copy of gameex 7. something. It loads and runs fine. So, is the nvidia gtx400 not a supported piece of hardware? Anyone else by chance have this card working in XP with gameex? Fairly sure it's D3D issue....not sure why...

[Draco1962]

Ok...another note in the saga.... I found a backup copy of gameex 7. something. It loads and runs fine. So, is the nvidia gtx400 not a supported piece of hardware? Anyone else by chance have this card working in XP with gameex? Fairly sure it's D3D issue....not sure why...

First of all, I would suggest try the troubleshooting steps as outlined so that you can hopefully take full benefit of the latest version of GameEx and, if it turns out that there is a bug in the current version, it can be anylized and fixed.

Second, you may want to go to the Nvidia forums for your video adapter to see if there are any reported issues with the cards in this series regarding DX/D3D. There may be a setting in the GPU software or D3D that needs to be adjusted and may resolve your issue.