Mala Resolution issues, OS Vista

[wetwaterwalker]

Hello guys and gals,
      I tried searching for this stuff and came up with no luck.  This is my first post so if I screw anything up let me know (Gently please ) I am by definition a noob to Mame and Mala and all of this arcade stuff.  I am however, fairly computer savvy and I pick up on this stuff quick.   So on to the point. I am starting a cabinet running Mame and Mala.  I am having a fair amount of luck so far but I am having a few issues with Mala on start up.  I am running Mala as my shell right now and when I boot the computer all goes well until Mala loads. Then I get an error saying Mala can't change the resolution (Fixed resolution layout). If I exit mala and start it from desktop it changes the resolution and works fine.  Any ideas?
Also, Are there anyways to skip the Vista log on screen? I have it set to auto logon but it still pauses on the log on screen for a few seconds before loading Mala.

Thanks in advance!!

[BadMouth]

I'm at work right now, but somewhere in Mala options (right click>options while in Mala) to have Mala switch the desktop resolution.
I'm guessing Mala does that using some windows service that isn't getting a chance to load.
Try unchecking that.

I'm also using Vista, but haven't got into shelling and hiding it yet.
I did swap out the startup screen using another program, but still have the Vista logo with the loading bars.

I'd be interested in what you figure out.

[wetwaterwalker]

Thanks for your input.
Well, I kind of goofed up... I found a walkthrough of how to hide the windows logo on the user account select screen.  I followed the walk through exactly and upon reboot I got the to user select screen (I have it set to autologon, it only pauses on this screen for a minute) and it was completely black (used another program to make it a black background.  So now when I boot my computer it goes to this solid black screen after the normal boot up stuff (I'm assuming the logon screen) and does absolutely nothing. I get the cursor and can move it and what not but, nothing else.  So I'm in the process of trying to get my computer logged on and going back and untweaking the files I tweaked. I'll keep all of you posted 

[BadMouth]

Tried another program that I downloaded a while back, but haven't messed with.

Last time I used "Vista Visual Master"
It placed a custom picture, but then still showed the Vista loading screen and a quick welcom screen.

Just now, I tried "Bootskin Vista".
It placed a custom picture, then the monitor disconnects, then a quick welcome screen (no loading screen though).
Not sure if Mala was the shell if it would skip the welcome screen.

I don't really care for the results of either one.

[wetwaterwalker]

I have tried bootskin Vista and I still had the welcome screen.  I got my computer back up and running though.  It was a long story and a lot of trial and error but now I got it back to booting and having the welcome screen again. If anyone is interested I will let you know the full story behind what I did, what happened, and stuff like that.
Have you ever tried the instant sheller badmouth?
I tried it and wasn't too fond of the outcome. I might have gotten it to work better but I didn't fool with it much.

[BadMouth]

Have you ever tried the instant sheller badmouth?
I tried it and wasn't too fond of the outcome. I might have gotten it to work better but I didn't fool with it much.

No.  I've never tried shelling any of my setups.
I don't plan on doing it with the current one either. 

I have a nice boot screen and intro video, but the welcome screen kills the effect.

I think we're screwed for having Vista, but XP doesn't do Directx11 which I want for for Demul.
I already have Vista and it does Directx11, so I'm using it!

[wetwaterwalker]

Vista is a pain, But slowly and surely I'm learning my way around it.  I ended up changing layouts getting away from the fixed layout setup so I beat the issue with resolution. Now for the welcome screen...