A couple of Mamewah questions

[gust0208]

Hello everyone,

I am in the process of setting up my MAME computer and I am running into a few hitches setting up Mamewah with MAME.

I have everything installed with appropriate ini files, can run Mamewah and run games successfully.  My questions are:

1) For the generated game list, it is listing the internal name for the game, is there a way to make it display the full game name? (showing "yard", want it to show "10-yard attack").  My mame.ini list generation parameter is "rom_list_vs_dat_file" or similar.  I am not sure what this mame.dat file is, do I need to download it, generate it?  I am guessing this is what supplies the full name to map to internal name.

2) Is there a way to have some sublists of games?  I am interested in making a "Favorites" list that has the 20-30 games I play most often

3) Right now, mamewah is not displaying the snaps of each game.  I have the directories correctly set up with the snaps unzipped in c:\mame\snap and that folder in the mame.ini for mamewah

Thank you for your time and any help.

Cheers,
Tom

[sc1103]

1) For the generated game list, it is listing the internal name for the game, is there a way to make it display the full game name? (showing "yard", want it to show "10-yard attack"). My mame.ini list generation parameter is "rom_list_vs_dat_file" or similar. I am not sure what this mame.dat file is, do I need to download it, generate it? I am guessing this is what supplies the full name to map to internal name.

Assuming your using a newer version of MAME, use -listxml vs. Rom Folder to get the proper name to appear. 

2) Is there a way to have some sublists of games? I am interested in making a "Favorites" list that has the 20-30 games I play most often

If you use Screaming's MAMEWAH config program, you can just select the emulator, add a new list, then click and drag games over by selecting edit game list.  I highly recommend it-MAMEWAH was too confusing for me beforehand but htis makes it easy. 

3) Right now, mamewah is not displaying the snaps of each game. I have the directories correctly set up with the snaps unzipped in c:\mame\snap and that folder in the mame.ini for mamewah

Hmmm...not real sure, but I do know that through Config, its just a check-a-box-and-enter-a-directory basically so Id guess try that. 

Hope this helps! 

[gust0208]

Thanks for the quick reply!

I will give those a try right now, especially that Screaming Config, that should be a great help.

Cheers,
Tom

[gust0208]

Hello everyone,

The Screaming MAMEWAH Config was a godsend!  I actually used it to "re-install" all of my emulators and layouts in Mamewah and most things are working great, including making custom lists.  I am still having a couple of issues though:

1) Still can't get Mamewah to display the screen shots installed in my c:\mame\snap folder, I have the checked box "refresh images" and make sure to have the snap directory included in the artwork directories.  Any ideas would be great here

2) Since using the Mamewah config, I am getting problems with Mamewah hanging (going to a solid grey screen which I have to cltr-alt-del out of) when switching platforms.  I will be mostly playing MAME, but I would like to be able to switch to a couple of other emulator with confidence.

Thanks again for any help!  And for the tip to Mamewah config.

Cheers,
Tom

[whatisk]

1) Still can't get Mamewah to display the screen shots installed in my c:\mame\snap folder, I have the checked box "refresh images" and make sure to have the snap directory included in the artwork directories.

[gust0208]

I had downloaded and installed the System file package, but I re-ran it and you were right!  It wasn't finding regsvr32 to register that paintx, so I did the same, typed it in by hand and now the screen shots work! Nice!

For my other problem with mamewah crashing when switching platforms, I did some testing and can add some more information.  It will always crash to the grey/white screen when I switch platforms for the third time.  I.E. Starts up in Mame, I can switch to SNES no problem, then try to go back to MAME, crash.  I have tried all the permutations, and the only constant crash is when I switch for the third time.  Any ideas on this one?  Before it crashes, it will show the layout for about 1/2 second, go to black screen for ~3 seconds then to grey/white when I have to ctrl-esc-delete.  I am running Windows ME and using the layouts and ini files from the CPViewer website.

Any help on my last problem would be most appreciated.

Have you downloaded and run the System file package from http://mamewah.mameworld.net/downloads.htm?
If so, make sure that the file paintx.dll is getting registered correctly. When first setting up Mamewah, I also had the problem of the snaps not showing (even after running the install). I re-ran the System file install again and noticed that I was getting an error when the batch file was registering paintx.dll.

I'm pretty sure the problem ended up being that the location of Regsvr32 wasn't in my path. So, I ended up manually typing in that line at a command prompt using the full path to where Regsvr32 and the dll were located. Registered okay and the snaps then showed up.

[sc1103]

I am running Windows ME and using the layouts and ini files from the CPViewer website.

Dont use ME- its the worst Windows Version ever...switch IMMEDIATELY if possible to 98, 200, XP, theyre all better.  ME is the most buggy unstable version of Windows ever, so that may be causing your issues.

[screaming]

For my other problem with mamewah crashing when switching platforms, I did some testing and can add some more information.  It will always crash to the grey/white screen when I switch platforms for the third time.  I.E. Starts up in Mame, I can switch to SNES no problem, then try to go back to MAME, crash.  I have tried all the permutations, and the only constant crash is when I switch for the third time.  Any ideas on this one?  Before it crashes, it will show the layout for about 1/2 second, go to black screen for ~3 seconds then to grey/white when I have to ctrl-esc-delete.  I am running Windows ME and using the layouts and ini files from the CPViewer website.

  Windows ME is definitely the most unstable OS I've ever had the displeasure of troubleshooting.  If you can, I'd recommend switching to something else.

  My first guess as to what your problem is, is that MAMEWAH Config somehow messed up your layouts->emulators mapping.  Would you mind zipping up your MAMEWAH folder and emailing it to me?

-sab

 

[gust0208]

Hello Screaming,

I have zipped it up as "toms_mamewah.zip" and emailed it to the email address you have listed here on the forum.  If any problems, I uploaded it my webspace and here is a direct link to download it:

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~gust0208/zip_files/toms_mamewah.zip

I am interested in putting Win XP on the mame box, but $90 is tough to swallow.  If there is a special or discount, I will put XP on there and save everyone (including myself) some headache.

Thank you for the help, and I am going to try reinstalling mamewah and all the layouts/ini's to see if that makes a difference.  I will keep my old mamewah folder if you find anything you want to check/test out.

Cheers,
Tom

  Windows ME is definitely the most unstable OS I've ever had the displeasure of troubleshooting.  If you can, I'd recommend switching to something else.

  My first guess as to what your problem is, is that MAMEWAH Config somehow messed up your layouts->emulators mapping.  Would you mind zipping up your MAMEWAH folder and emailing it to me?

-sab

 

[screaming]

Thank you for the help, and I am going to try reinstalling mamewah and all the layouts/ini's to see if that makes a difference.  I will keep my old mamewah folder if you find anything you want to check/test out.

  Tom,

  I took a look at your MAMEWAH settings and everything looks ok!  It even runs fine switching between the emulators!  The only non-standard thing I noticed was there wasn't any artwork in your Sega Genesis layout (0002)?

   There are a number of directions to go in, but for starters try setting a layout with artwork for your Sega Genesis lists and see if that fixes your crash?

  If it does, there might be a problem with the default art images (mamewah-logo.gif and mamewah-art.png) in mamewah\layouts. You can try and replace these with known-working-through-MAMEWAH images.

  Which version of DirectX do you have?
  Which version of Windows Media Player do you have?

-sab

[gust0208]

Hello,

Screaming, I put Win XP on the box to see if things ran smoother and that seemed to fix the problem.  I will have to break down and go buy a copy for my box, thanks for all the help and the great config tool.  Once I have a decent OS, I think I will be good to go!

On that note, anyone have any tips on where to pick up Win XP Home for cheap?  Looks like Newegg has it for ~$92 OEM after shipping and I always like to give them my business, but I am open to suggestions.

Cheers,
Tom

[screaming]

Screaming, I put Win XP on the box to see if things ran smoother and that seemed to fix the problem.

  Great!  I'm sorry Windows ME was giving you so many problems...

On that note, anyone have any tips on where to pick up Win XP Home for cheap? 

  I find that Vio Software has some pretty good prices.  You can get non-OEM XP Home upgrade for $85.  Other than that, I'd suggest befriending a college student or teacher and use them for their academic discount (15%, I think on MS software).

  Remember too that lots of people have great success with Windows 98SE!  It's not that much cheaper than XP Home from Vio Software but I have a feeling you could find it a lot cheaper.

-sab

[gust0208]

Hey Screaming,

Thanks for the Vio link, $82 for OEM Win XP Home is the best I have seen for price.  I am a student, and that beats the price that I see from my bookstore!

I have an original Win 98 SE disc from my old computer, but I am planning on using some USB peripherals (spinner, trackball) and wasn't sure if I would run into problems on that end.  Overall, I have been pretty impressed with XP.

Thanks for all the help and for showing the errors of Win ME! :^)

Cheers,
Tom

  Great!  I'm sorry Windows ME was giving you so many problems...

  I find that Vio Software has some pretty good prices.  You can get non-OEM XP Home upgrade for $85.  Other than that, I'd suggest befriending a college student or teacher and use them for their academic discount (15%, I think on MS software).

  Remember too that lots of people have great success with Windows 98SE!  It's not that much cheaper than XP Home from Vio Software but I have a feeling you could find it a lot cheaper.

-sab

[screaming]

I just found out that PriceWatch does software now, so you might find a good deal from there.

  I'm pretty sure that you'd be okay with Windows 98SE.  If you have the time to install it just to see if it will work, you might end up saving yourself $80.  I say it's worth a shot!

-sab

[gust0208]

Hello again!

You have convinced me (and my wallet) to give Win 98 SE a shot.  I will install it either tonight or tomorrow, put mame/mamewah on and let you know how it goes!  Does the .NET installer work for Win 98 SE since mamewah needs it?  I will give it shot and, as always, thanks for the help.

Cheers,
Tom

I just found out that PriceWatch does software now, so you might find a good deal from there.

  I'm pretty sure that you'd be okay with Windows 98SE.  If you have the time to install it just to see if it will work, you might end up saving yourself $80.  I say it's worth a shot!

-sab

[whatisk]

.NEt should work under 98SE fine. I was originally planning on running 98SE, however I came across issues with 98 and running Visual Pinball through Mamewah with a wrapper. Installed XP and is now running fine. Up until that problem, I didn't have any others with 98 and .Net was installed.

What would happen is that when exiting tables, it would still show the dialog box asking whether you wanted to quit to the editor, etc.

[gust0208]

Hello everyone,

Well, I installed Win 98 SE, all my roms, mame, mamewah, layout files.  And I am getting the EXACT same problem as before!  Can switch between platforms once, try a second time and crash.  Really don't know what to do now, this was a clean install from a formatted hard drive.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Tom

[gust0208]

I decided to just break down and go with XP.  Everything runs flawless and worth the time saved with all the debugging.  Thanks for all the help and time to get my MAME on!!!

Cheers,
Tom

Hello everyone,

Well, I installed Win 98 SE, all my roms, mame, mamewah, layout files.  And I am getting the EXACT same problem as before!  Can switch between platforms once, try a second time and crash.  Really don't know what to do now, this was a clean install from a formatted hard drive.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Tom

[Keller888]

I am running into some of the same problems.  Where can I find Screaming's MAMEwah config link??  I would like to try it and see if I can't fix some of my problems.  Thanks as always.

[sc1103]

I am running into some of the same problems. Where can I find Screaming's MAMEwah config link?? I would like to try it and see if I can't fix some of my problems. Thanks as always.

http://www.bluecamel.org/2005/02/26/mamewah-config-1611

[screaming]

Thanks sc1103