X-Arcade disconnecting

[FlameMoth]

I am having an issue with my X-Arcade dual joystick constantly disconnecting in MAME. It is in a home-built arcade machine, running 24/7, but 3-4 times a day, the buttons stop working until I use the attached keyboard to Escape the game, and re-launch the game.

It is a 2012 Dell desktop, but I have tried a completely different computer as well (a Lenovo). I have tried both Windows 10 and a clean install of Windows 7. I have tried two different X-Arcade sticks with different cables (one is brand new).

I'm not sure what other details to provide, as I've run out of ideas of what to look for. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

[leapinlew]

It seems you did enough testing to isolate the problem but you didn't provide enough details. One of those tests should have resulted in the problem following the computer or point to the cable, or encoder. It sounds like you did a test with different x-arcades, cables, and computers.

New computer = problem persists
New computer with different cable = problem persists
New computer with different x-arcade stick = problem persists
New computer with different x-arcade stick and different cable = problem persists

Old computer = problem persists
Old computer with different cable = problem persists
Old computer with different x-arcade stick = problem persists
Old computer with different x-arcade stick and different cable = problem persists

I'm missing something...

[FlameMoth]

I agree with you, I have done every hardware thing I could think of, which leads me to believe there's a software issue or setting somewhere in Mame. I've noticed when I unplug and replug the X-Arcade or keyboard while a game is running, it no longer works until the game is quit and re-entered. Is there any way to make this not happen?

[Absoludacrous]

Could be the power saver settings in Windows shutting off the usb ports after inactivity? Then when you go back to the X-arcade it reconnects, but it's MAME doesn't like disconnecting and reconnecting a controller mid-game. Maybe try to change the setting so it doesn't ever turn off your usb ports