cannot get ArcadeVGA 3000 to work in Windows XP-64bit/7-64bit

[kendjet]

Hi all,


I've been trying to get the AVGA 3000 card work in Windows XP/7 64-bit/Groovyarcade, without success thus far on any of these… I think I rebooted/reseated the card about 50 times already and I'm about to give up… The reason I bought this card is because I bought a new motherboard/processer (Z87-Haswell-LGA1150) and I thought I would not be able to run Windows XP 64-bit on it (since the CRT emudrivers do not support Windows 7 yet). Turns out I can run Windows XP-64 bit on this motherboard...

1) general questions
====================
1.1 I found this page, but I'm unsure what drivers to use, VGA as upper port or VGA as lower port? http://www.ultimarc.com/avgadrivers.html. How come there's no Windows XP 64-bit drivers for the "VGA as UPPER port" version of the card? Can we just use the version for the "DVI as UPPER port" instead?
1.2 I have an Ultimate SCART adapter (UMSA). Should I connect the VGA side of the UMSA to the VGA port on the AVGA card or use the VGA-to-DVI dongle to connect it to the DVI port on the AVGA card?
1.3 I received the installation CD, but I am unable to locate the .exe setup files for Windows XP or Windows 7 64-bit. Should I use the ones from the ultimarc website only?

2) Window XP 64-bit questions
=============================
2.1 When I connect my UMSA to the ArcadeVGA VGA port, I get a "non-15Khz screen" on my SCART PAL TV. When I connect my UMSA to the ArcadeVGA DVI port using the "DVI to VGA adapter", the initial Windows boot-screen is split in half, as I saw in the past using the CRT emudriver. Once Windows asks me to login however, the screen goes black on my PAL SCART TV. When I RDP in, I'm not seeing any popups from the trisync utility as somebody mentioned in the past as a potential fix
2.2 is there anything special I need to do in Groovymame to get it to work with this AVGA card? Groovymame gives me that error saying it can't find a working resolution

3) Windows 7 64-bit questions
 ========================
3.1 I have the ArcadeVGA version with the blue fan with the VGA port closest to the motherboard. I tried to use the drivers on the supplied CD but I can't get them installed. The installer itself allows me to press next -> next -> ... finish..., but afterwards when I got to the directory in which everything is supposed to be installed, it's empty... I'm logged in as the administrator. A reboot doesn't change anything and I keep seeing the Arcade VGA in device manager listed as "standard vga graphics adapter"
3.2 under device manager, the AVGA card is listed as "standard vga graphics adapter" (although I disabled the onboard graphics card in the BIOS). Is this normal? I guess this means the drivers are not installed correctly?

4) Groovyarcade questions
=========================
4.1 Since I was not able to get the AVGA 3000 working in Windows, I decided to try Groovyarcade (the Linux bootable CD version). Games run fine here, so I guess this proves there's nothing wrong with the ArcadeVGA card itself


Thanks in advance to anyone who would be able to answer 1 of these questions!!!

[Sledge]

Best thing to do is fire Andy off an email and he will direct you to the correct drivers for your card.

I recommend Windows 7 x64 for best compatibility with newer hardware.

[jtslade]

Yes that is what I had to do to get mine working in XP-64bit. Andy is the way, the truth and the light.

[jtslade]

From Andy and worth a try. Remember remove any part or micro bit of CRT emu driver from your system.

you may need to install the drivers two or three times for them to take:

http://www.ultimarc.com/avga3000_xp64a1.zip

"JT Slade,
 
XP64 is a nightmare to support because I never know whether to use 32 or 64 bit versions of code. Some types of code require 32 and some 64. The trisync utility is likely the issue here and the 64 bit version gives an error stating the Windows version is incompatible.
 
I advised 2 other customers to try this but never heard anything back, can you try:
 
Download the 32 bit XP drivers and copy the Trisync.exe program from them
 
Download these drivers: www.ultimarc.com/avga3000_xp64a1.zip and unzip them and copy the above file over the one in these drivers.
 
Try installing.
 
Can you let me know what happens as I will then know whether to upload this version to the site properly.
 "

[JamesC]

I'm hoping that someone might be able to help me out before I smash my computer.  I have windows 7 64 bit, arcade vga 3000, a k7000 monitor and mameui64 .152.  I can't seem to do anything to not have the windows error pop up telling me it can't initialize direct draw.  I installed the vga driver I tried the res switch.  I tried using nircmd to change the start up and exit for hyperlaunch but it still pops up.  When I asked Andy at Ultimarc he had these suggestions:
Always run in a non-interlaced resolution so it does not need to switch, or
Configure the front end to run the appropriate exe file to switch the resolution across before Mame initializes DirectDraw.
I'm not too technical...at all really.  I know a lot of people have had these issues with windows 7 I'm just hoping that someone can give me any help on this. 

[Calamity]

GroovyMAME targets this issue, consider trying it.

[JamesC]

I'll give groovymame a try.  I've heard good things about it.

[Sledge]

GroovyMAME targets this issue, consider trying it.

And use D3D, not ddraw with GM

[retrometro]

From Andy and worth a try. Remember remove any part or micro bit of CRT emu driver from your system.

you may need to install the drivers two or three times for them to take:

http://www.ultimarc.com/avga3000_xp64a1.zip

"JT Slade,
 
XP64 is a nightmare to support because I never know whether to use 32 or 64 bit versions of code. Some types of code require 32 and some 64. The trisync utility is likely the issue here and the 64 bit version gives an error stating the Windows version is incompatible.
 
I advised 2 other customers to try this but never heard anything back, can you try:
 
Download the 32 bit XP drivers and copy the Trisync.exe program from them
 
Download these drivers: www.ultimarc.com/avga3000_xp64a1.zip and unzip them and copy the above file over the one in these drivers.
 
Try installing.
 
Can you let me know what happens as I will then know whether to upload this version to the site properly.
 "

@jtslade,

I found your post from quite a while back as I'm having almost the same challenges as OP but have gotten further.

I've started a new thread at:  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,162154.0.html

In short, I've gotten the drivers installed and working in Windows XP x64 with the drivers you linked here:  http://www.ultimarc.com/avga3000_xp64a1.zip
However, "working" means that resolutions change but the frequency is locked at 31khz instead of varying. 

I emailed Andy and he was quick to respond as have been known for years.  One thing he suspects is the TriSync.exe utility but more interestingly is that he sent me this link for XP x64 drivers.   Looking inside, I see that some files are older than the one you linked but others are newer.   

http://www.ultimarc2.com/avgadrivers.html

I've since reverted to my X700 with Soft15khz but am willing to try again with his new info.  Hopefully you or others have suggestions for me.  Please visit that other thread for more info about what I've tried.  Thanks in advance.