Author Topic: *SOLVED* Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)  (Read 5699 times)

Joe737

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Hi All, I have search high and low and can't diagnose this issue.  It seems to be with how Nevato launches - other themes work fine.

Problem: Attract Mode works great, using the Nevato theme. When launching a game in AM (enter), the screen flashes, but the game doesn't launch.  When I directly launch using MAME, it plays fine.  All the rompaths are correct as far as I can see (AM config, mame.ini), and the roms are present, and versions match the version of MAME.  I am trying this on a new computer, the only thing I can think of that changed is the processor, I upgraded to a 64-bit processor but I'm still using 32-bit Windows XP updated to SP3.  When I try in console mode, it only says "***Running..." no errors given.

I'm sure it's something simple,  hoping someone can help!

Below is my config file for AM and my Mame.ini:

# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.0
#
display   mame
   layout               nevato
   romlist              mame
   in_cycle             yes
   in_menu              yes
   global_filter       
      rule                 CloneOf not_equals .*
      exception            Name equals chplft
      rule                 Title not_contains Mahjong
      rule                 Title not_contains Trivia
   filter               All
   filter               Favourites
      rule                 Favourite equals 1

sound
   sound_volume         100
   ambient_volume       100
   movie_volume         100

input_map
   configure            Tab
   prev_letter          LControl+Up
   next_letter          LControl+Down
   filters_menu         LControl+Left
   next_filter          LControl+Right
   configure            Escape+Up
   edit_game            Escape+Down
   add_favourite        Escape+LControl
   prev_letter          Joy0 Up+Joy0 Button0
   next_letter          Joy0 Down+Joy0 Button0
   filters_menu         Joy0 Left+Joy0 Button0
   next_filter          Joy0 Right+Joy0 Button0
   configure            Joy0 Up+Joy0 Button1
   edit_game            Joy0 Down+Joy0 Button1
   add_favourite        Joy0 Button0+Joy0 Button1
   back                 Escape
   back                 Joy0 Button1
   up                   Up
   up                   Joy0 Up
   down                 Down
   down                 Joy0 Down
   left                 Left
   left                 Joy0 Left
   right                Right
   right                Joy0 Right
   select               Return
   select               LControl
   select               Joy0 Button0
   custom1              Space
   default             back   exit
   default             up   prev_game
   default             down   next_game
   default             left   prev_display
   default             right   next_display

general
   language             en
   exit_command         
   default_font         arial
   font_path            C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
   screen_saver_timeout 600
   displays_menu_exit   yes
   hide_brackets        no
   startup_mode         default
   confirm_favourites   yes
   confirm_exit         yes
   mouse_threshold      10
   joystick_threshold   75
   window_mode          window
   filter_wrap_mode     default
   track_usage          yes
   multiple_monitors    yes
   smooth_images        yes
   accelerate_selection yes
   selection_speed_ms   40
   scrape_snaps         yes
   scrape_marquees      yes
   scrape_flyers        yes
   scrape_wheels        yes
   scrape_fanart        yes
   scrape_videos        yes
   scrape_overview      yes
   hide_console         no
   video_decoder       
   menu_prompt          Displays Menu
   menu_layout         

layout_config   nevato
   param                cabScreenType video
   param                divider1
   param                divider2
   param                divider3
   param                divider4
   param                divider5
   param                divider6
   param                divider7
   param                enable_bg_art flyer
   param                enable_mask medium
   param                enable_scanlines light
   param                enable_static_bkg black
   param                lcdRight filter
   param                marquee_type marquee
   param                mute_videoSnaps no
   param                spinwheelArt wheel
   param                transition_ms 80

layout_config   flat_blue
   param                crt_shader Disabled
   param                game_info_1 Year
   param                game_info_2 Played Count
   param                layout_rotation None
   param                menu_art_type Flyer
   param                menu_video Disabled
   param                scanline_strength Weakest
   param                shadow_strength Medium
   param                show_wheel Enabled

layout_config   Game Station
   param                blue 110
   param                enable_strip Yes
   param                enable_time Yes
   param                green 67
   param                mode Expert
   param                ratio No
   param                red 5
   param                sound Yes
   param                wheel_logo Wheel Only

intro_config
   param                detect_aspect Yes
   param                layout_rotation none
   param                play_intro No
   param                video_16x9 intro.mp4
   param                video_3x4 intro_3x4.mp4
   param                video_4x3 intro_4x3.mp4
   param                video_9x16 intro_9x16.mp4
   param                video_default intro.mp4


plugin   KeyboardSearch
   enabled              yes
   param                results_mode Show Results
   param                trigger Custom1

plugin   AudioMode
   enabled              no
   param                dir
   param                info_button
   param                skip_button



MAME INI

<UNADORNED0>             

#
# CORE CONFIGURATION OPTIONS
#
readconfig                1

#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath                   C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\MameUnpackedROMS121
samplepath                samples
artpath                   artwork
ctrlrpath                 ctrlr
inipath                   .;ini
fontpath                  .

#
# CORE OUTPUT DIRECTORY OPTIONS
#
cfg_directory             cfg
nvram_directory           nvram
memcard_directory         memcard
input_directory           inp
state_directory           sta
snapshot_directory        snap
diff_directory            diff
comment_directory         comments

#
# CORE FILENAME OPTIONS
#
cheat_file                cheat.dat

#
# CORE STATE/PLAYBACK OPTIONS
#
state                     
autosave                  0
playback                 
record                   
mngwrite                 
wavwrite                 

#
# CORE PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
autoframeskip             0
frameskip                 0
seconds_to_run            0
throttle                  1
sleep                     1
speed                     1.0
refreshspeed              0

#
# CORE ROTATION OPTIONS
#
rotate                    1
ror                       0
rol                       0
autoror                   0
autorol                   0
flipx                     0
flipy                     0

#
# CORE ARTWORK OPTIONS
#
artwork_crop              0
use_backdrops             1
use_overlays              1
use_bezels                1

#
# CORE SCREEN OPTIONS
#
brightness                1.0
contrast                  1.0
gamma                     1.0
pause_brightness          0.65

#
# CORE VECTOR OPTIONS
#
antialias                 1
beam                      1.0
flicker                   0

#
# CORE SOUND OPTIONS
#
sound                     1
samplerate                48000
samples                   1
volume                    0

#
# CORE INPUT OPTIONS
#
ctrlr                     
mouse                     0
joystick                  0
lightgun                  0
multikeyboard             0
multimouse                0
steadykey                 0
offscreen_reload          0
joystick_map              auto
joystick_deadzone         0.3
joystick_saturation       0.85

#
# CORE INPUT AUTOMATIC ENABLE OPTIONS
#
paddle_device             keyboard
adstick_device            keyboard
pedal_device              keyboard
dial_device               keyboard
trackball_device          keyboard
lightgun_device           keyboard
positional_device         keyboard
mouse_device              mouse

#
# CORE DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
log                       0
verbose                   0

#
# CORE MISC OPTIONS
#
bios                      default
cheat                     0
skip_gameinfo             1

#
# WINDOWS DEBUGGING OPTIONS
#
oslog                     0

#
# WINDOWS PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
#
priority                  0
multithreading            1

#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video                     d3d
numscreens                1
window                    0
maximize                  1
keepaspect                1
prescale                  1
effect                    none
waitvsync                 0
syncrefresh               0

#
# DIRECTDRAW-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
hwstretch                 1

#
# DIRECT3D-SPECIFIC OPTIONS
#
d3dversion                9
filter                    1

#
# PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen                    auto
aspect                    auto
resolution                auto
view                      auto
screen0                   auto
aspect0                   auto
resolution0               auto
view0                     auto
screen1                   auto
aspect1                   auto
resolution1               auto
view1                     auto
screen2                   auto
aspect2                   auto
resolution2               auto
view2                     auto
screen3                   auto
aspect3                   auto
resolution3               auto
view3                     auto

#
# FULL SCREEN OPTIONS
#
triplebuffer              0
switchres                 0
full_screen_brightness    1.0
full_screen_contrast      1.0
full_screen_gamma         1.0

#
# WINDOWS SOUND OPTIONS
#
audio_latency             2

#
# INPUT DEVICE OPTIONS
#
dual_lightgun             0
« Last Edit: August 10, 2018, 08:01:05 PM by Joe737 »

progets

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms in AM - not a rompath issue
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2018, 10:33:27 PM »
Check your /attract/emulators/mame.cfg to make sure your argument is correct. MAME arcade games use "[name]" which is different from most systems that use ""[romfilename]"".

It should look like this
Code: [Select]
args                 [name]

and not like this
Code: [Select]
args                 "[romfilename]"

If this isn't your issue post the mame.cfg file from AM.

Joe737

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms in AM - not a rompath issue
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2018, 07:05:59 PM »
Thanks for the idea, it didn't work - however, I changed themes to Attrac-Man and all seems to work fine, so it's something wht Nevato theme.  Does anyone know if I need .Net installed to use Nevato? - I'll try to figure it out based on that lead.  But open to ideas!

# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.4.0
#
executable           C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe
args                 [romfilename]
rompath              C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms
romext               .zip;.7z;<DIR>;Compressed (zipped) Folder
system               Arcade
info_source          thegamesdb.net
artwork    flyer           C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\flyer
artwork    marquee         C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\marquee
artwork    snap            C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\snap
artwork    wheel           C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\Attract Mode 2.4 XP\menu-art\wheel
« Last Edit: August 06, 2018, 07:12:55 PM by Joe737 »

iOtero

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2018, 07:56:27 AM »
leaving aside your problem and without trying to offend you, I'll tell you that your paths seem the worst choice that can be made on a PC:  8)

On disk C:, only the operating system. The data always in another. The viruses damage the system in C:, but your data, and in this case, your AM system would survive.

If you only have one hard drive, make two partitions, the s.o. to C: and data to D: (For example the aimp music player in C:\Program files\aimp\aimp.exe and the music in D:\my_music\files.mp3. The first site where a malware will go to erase your music will be in C:\Users\user\music and C:\my music  ;D).

And if you do not know how to do it, or do not want to, at least do not put anything on the desktop other than shortcuts. Your system will thank you and go more fluid. The desk is the worst place in the world to store anything. It is as if all the furniture in your house you put in the hall of the house

Best choice: D:\Attract

Worst choice: C:\Attract

Bad idea C:\users\user\desktop\Attract

Very bad idea C:\Documents and Settings\user\Desktop\Attract

Now, everyone in their house does what they want...  ;)
« Last Edit: August 07, 2018, 08:12:25 AM by zlagos »
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Joe737

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2018, 08:09:47 PM »
No offense taken - willing to give it a try. This computer lives in a MAME upright cabinet, so I just set it up quickly.  The exact same configuration (paths, OS, etc) worked before - stumped as to why Nevato (and Robospin) won't start games anymore..

iOtero

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2018, 02:38:37 AM »
No offense taken - willing to give it a try. This computer lives in a MAME upright cabinet, so I just set it up quickly.  The exact same configuration (paths, OS, etc) worked before - stumped as to why Nevato (and Robospin) won't start games anymore..

I use relative paths ... maybe it would be a solution, but it is not easy and less with your configuration, see an example:

For MAME (Data East Classics), the attract mode path: E:\arcade\attract\attract.exe

Normal Paths:
Code: [Select]
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.0.0
#
executable           E:\arcade\systems\mame\mamearcade64.exe
args                 [name]
rompath              E:\arcade\systems\mame\roms
romext               .zip;.7z;<DIR>
system               Data East Classics
info_source          arcade.accdb
# exit_hotkey        Escape
artwork flyer        E:\arcade\systems\mame\flyer;E:\arcade\systems\mame\titles
artwork marquee      E:\arcade\systems\mame\marquee
artwork snap         E:\arcade\systems\mame\snap
artwork wheel        E:\arcade\systems\mame\wheel

Relative paths:

Code: [Select]
# Generated by Attract-Mode v2.0.0
#
executable           \arcade\systems\mame\mamearcade64.exe
args                 [name]
rompath              ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\roms
romext               .zip;.7z;<DIR>
system               Data East Classics
info_source          arcade.accdb
# exit_hotkey        Escape
artwork flyer        ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\flyer;..\..\arcade\systems\mame\titles
artwork marquee      ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\marquee
artwork snap         ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\snap
artwork wheel        ..\..\arcade\systems\mame\wheel

With the relative paths i can use AM on the disk i want.
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hermine.potter

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms in AM - not a rompath issue
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2018, 10:32:18 AM »
@ Joe737
windows and commandline got problems with spaces in folder and filenames.
Are you able to start game directly from commandline?
Code: [Select]
"C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe" "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms\enter_name_of_any_example_game.zip"
Probably this works to you:
Code: [Select]
executable           "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\mame.exe"
args                 "[romfilename]"
rompath              "C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\mame121b\roms"
Generate the romlist again

@ zlagos
risk of virus attack becomes smaller when data are outsourced? Not really. Sorry ^-^
With a simple dos commandline command you see all connected drive letters. and this is a easy peasy stupid dos command.
a simple virus or an encryption trojan is more powerful and complex. so this will be checked certainly too ^-^
Code: [Select]
wmic volume get driveletter
AM Version : 2.6.1
Input : Mad Catz Brawlstick; Mouse; Keyboard; Xbox360 Wireless
Cabinet : Yes
OS : Windows10 Pro
System : Dell Precision T3500 ; Intel X5650 ; 12GB RAM

verion

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2018, 09:27:47 AM »
Guys, guys!
Keep your eyes on the road. You've wandered too far from the OP question.

The problem is:
- the same game
- the same emulator (and path, config, etc.)
- runs ok in ATTRAC MAN theme
- does not run in NEVATO theme

I'm NEVATO theme author - and I can't help that guy. It seems not theme related - buy somehow it is because switching theme helps.

Maybe you can help.

progets

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2018, 09:00:29 PM »
@Joe737 - Do you have DirectX installed? Is a current version even available for XP? In your mame.ini you have it set to use it.

Line from your mame.ini telling mame to use DirectX
Code: [Select]
#
# WINDOWS VIDEO OPTIONS
#
video                     d3d


To test and pin point your issue. I recommend...
1. rename your mame.ini to mame.ini.old
2. run mame.exe from Windows or the command line (not from AM) and then exit mame. it will create a new mame.ini
3. edit the new mame.ini "rompath" line only to include the the path to your roms and save the file
Code: [Select]
#
# CORE SEARCH PATH OPTIONS
#
rompath                   roms;C:\Documents and Settings\Joe\Desktop\MameUnpackedROMS121
4. run mame.exe from Windows or the command line (not from AM) and make sure a game works.
5. run the same game used in step 5 using AM and let us know the results.
« Last Edit: August 09, 2018, 09:03:30 PM by progets »

verion

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2018, 12:51:24 PM »
But he says it can run games perfectly fine - with ATTRAC MAN theme. But not with Nevato and Robospin.

progets

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Re: Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2018, 02:46:35 PM »
But he says it can run games perfectly fine - with ATTRAC MAN theme. But not with Nevato and Robospin.

I understand but you have to start somewhere. Clearly there is a piece that isn't right. If it truly is a layout issue it can only be a screen resolution or a windowed mode type of problem. The steps I provided would take less than 5 minutes to try and would be easy to put back  if it doesn't work. Sometimes people move or upgrade mame and don't account for the changes needed in the mame.ini.

Joe737

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Re: *SOLVED* Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2018, 08:06:41 PM »
Everyone, thank you so much for your thoughts and ideas.  I don't know the exact fix, but I upgraded my graphics card from an ATI X300 to an ATI HD 4670.  I had previously updated the drivers to the latest available.   I installed the drivers (Catalyst 14.4) that also included C++ updates?  Anyway, after only changing the graphics card and installing drivers, I can now launch all MAME games from Nevato once again, I'm so happy!  Hope this helps someone else, and maybe it can narrow down requirements for AM and wheel-based themes.   I don't know if it was a missing bit of software, or the old hardware couldn't handle it..  Hopefully this makes sense to those who understand the code.  PS, I'm humbled that Verion stopped in to show support - very impressive! What a great community.  Thanks for helping this ancient MAME machine breath new life!

verion

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Re: *SOLVED* Unable to launch MAME roms from Nevato (WinXP 32-bit)
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2018, 01:19:24 PM »
I'm glad you have resolved it.