MAMEWAH not booting roms from menu - Getting stressed!!

[Turnarcades]

Hope someone can help me with this; I'm getting really wound up with MAMEWAH but I wanted to get into this as everyone reckons it's the best bootable frontend for arcade cabinets. This is a lengthy post as I'm trying to give you all the details I can to hopefully get this solved quickly, as all the advice I have scoured through elsewhere relates to old versions of MAME and MAMEWAH.

The problem is like this:

I have a complete list of roms showing when I boot MAMEWAH, yet when I try to launch a game, the message box crops up (the one that says 'loading rom') for a second or two, then nothing happens. It just stays on the MAMEWAH menu and nothing happens. It doesn't freeze, it just doesn't actually launch the game.

I have installed the command line version of MAME 0.107b in c:\mame folder. I have installed MAMEWAH 1.61 in it's own folder in my documents. MAMEWAH has been set up correctly (as far as I know) to identify the correct rom path and mame.exe file. MAMEWAH boots and I have managed to generate a rom list (which was at first problematic, but now works). I have tested MAME and run it from the command line successfully. The roms are all complete and ClrMAMEpro verified, all are zip files, unmerged.

I tried to use MAMEWAH 0.97 and also with the 'MAMEWAH Setup Tool' but I kept getting error messages when I tried to compile a game list, so gave up. The only documentation I have found with people having the same problem on the 'net is help with older versions of MAMEWAH, but this is no good as the config/file/ini structure is different in the newer versions. Even those people had trouble finding help.

Ideally someone else who is running MAMEWAH succesfully in their cabinet can help me by comparing my setup and actual config/ini files to theirs. If nothing else, I could re-write mine to match theirs and tweak it for my own needs. It may even help if someone could send me the EXACT files/MAME package/MAMEWAH install package they use, in case the ones I got were bad. They shouldn't be, as they were downloaded straight from their homepages. Maybe their are other files I need that are missing? One file was dodgy so I've already replaced that! What's strange is that it did load a game from the menu - once, but never again since. Maybe I changed something and didn't realise, but I've uninstalled and re-installed loads of times.

Here's what I have:

MAME folder (c:\mame\) contents:
mame.exe
mame.dat (empty)
mame.ini
jedutil
chdman
romcmp
xml2info (downloaded from the 'net. Wouldn't generate rom list without it)
+all the other MAME folders; roms, artwork etc....

The mame.ini reads as follows:
### mame.ini ###

### Frontend Related ###
clones                  1

### Windows path and directory options ###
rompath                 roms
samplepath              samples
inipath                 .;ini
cfg_directory           cfg
nvram_directory         nvram
memcard_directory       memcard
input_directory         inp
hiscore_directory       hi
state_directory         sta
artwork_directory       artwork
snapshot_directory      snap
diff_directory          diff
cheat_file              cheat.dat
history_file            history.dat
mameinfo_file           mameinfo.dat
ctrlr_directory         ctrlr

### Windows video options ###
autoframeskip           1
frameskip               0
waitvsync               0
triplebuffer            1
window                  0
ddraw                   1
hwstretch               1
resolution              800x600x16
refresh                 0
scanlines               0
switchres               1
switchbpp               1
maximize                1
keepaspect              1
matchrefresh            0
syncrefresh             0
throttle                1
full_screen_brightness   0.000000
frames_to_run           0
effect                  none
screen_aspect           4:3
sleep                   1

### Input device options ###
mouse                   1
joystick                0
lightgun                0
steadykey               0
keyboard_leds           1
a2d_deadzone            0.300000
ctrlr                   slikstik

### Mame CORE video options ###
norotate                0
ror                     0
rol                     0
flipx                   0
flipy                   0
debug_resolution        auto
gamma                   1.000000
brightness              1.000000

### Mame CORE vector game options ###
antialias               1
translucency            1
beam                    1.000000
flicker                 0.000000
intensity               1.500000

### Mame CORE sound options ###
samplerate              44100
samples                 1
resamplefilter          1
sound                   1
volume                  0

### Mame CORE misc options ###
artwork                 1
use_backdrops           1
use_overlays            1
use_bezels              1
artwork_crop            0
artwork_resolution      0
cheat                   0
debug                   0
# playback              <NULL> (not set)
# record                <NULL> (not set)
log                     0

### Configuration options ###
readconfig              1
verbose                 0

The MAMEWAH folder (c:\documents and settings\Turner's documents\MAMEWAH\) has:
ctrlr (folder)
docs (folder)
files (folder)
ini (folder)
mamewah.exe
mamewah.ini
mamewah layout designer.exe
transparent (cursor file)
xml2info (same as MAME folder one. Not sure why, but list wouldn't generate without it. Read somewhere to add this to make it work.)

The ini folder contains 3 files - mame,mame-0 and mame-1, all .ini files.
mame.ini reads as follows:
### mame.ini (mamewah v1.61) ###

emulator_title                            M.A.M.E.

### List Generation Settings ###
rom_path                                  c:\mame\roms
rom_extension                             zip
dat_file                                 
nms_file                                 
catver_ini_file                           
list_generation_method                    rom_folder_vs_listxml

### Execution Settings ###
emulator_executable                       c:\mame\mame.exe
commandline_format                        [name]{autodosbox}{nosafelaunch}
alt_commandline_format_1                  [name]{autodosbox}{nosafelaunch}
alt_commandline_format_2                  [name]{autodosbox}{nosafelaunch}
game_specific_config_path                 

### Artwork Locations ###
artwork_1_image_path                      c:\mame\snap
artwork_2_image_path                      c:\mame\marquees
artwork_3_image_path                      c:\mame\flyers
artwork_4_image_path                      c:\mame\marquees
artwork_5_image_path                     
artwork_6_image_path                     
artwork_7_image_path                     
artwork_8_image_path                     
artwork_9_image_path                     
artwork_10_image_path                     
movie_preview_path                       
movie_artwork_no                          1

### Screen-Saver Settings ###
enable_music_in_screensaver               1
saver_type                                slideshow
movie_path                               
movie_fullscreen                          1
quit_delay                                30
wrapper_executable                       
wrapper_commandline_format                [name]{nodosbox}{nosafelaunch}
scr_file                                 

### External Application Settings ###
ipc_file_or_path                         
app_1_executable                         
app_1_commandline_format                 
app_2_executable                         
app_2_commandline_format                 
app_3_executable                         
app_3_commandline_format                 
auto_launch_apps                         

### Additional Settings ###
music_path                               
lcd_display_file_path                     
lcd_fe_text                               

### Settings used by MAMEWAH ###
current_list                              0

mame-0.ini reads as follows:
### mame-0.ini (mamewah v1.61) ###

list_title                                All Games

### Games List Settings ###
cycle_list                                1

### Execution Settings ###
commandline_format                       
alt_commandline_format_1                 
alt_commandline_format_2                 

### Settings used by MAMEWAH ###
current_game                              1

mame-1.ini reads as follows:
### mame-1.ini (mamewah v1.61) ###

list_title                                Filtered

### Games List Settings ###
cycle_list                                1
list_type                                 normal
display_clone_info                        0
max_favorites                             0

### Execution Settings ###
commandline_format                       
alt_commandline_format_1                 
alt_commandline_format_2                 

### Settings used by MAMEWAH ###
current_game                              1

The mamewah.ini reads as follows:
### mamewah.ini (mamewah v1.61) ###

### (Global) Screen-Saver Options ###
delay                       300
slide_duration              3

### Audio Options ###
enable_sounds               1
sound_volume                100
music_path                 
enable_music                1
music_volume                100

### Movie Options ###
intro_movie_file           
exit_movie_file             
keep_movie_preview_aspect   game_aspect
delay_before_movie_preview  2
music_movie_mix             mute_movies
movie_volume                100

### Misc Options ###
layout                      Custom1
ctrlr                       default
wrap_list                   0
remember_current_game       1
keep_image_aspect           1
refresh_images              0
correct_orientations        horizontal
safe_mode                   0
show_cursor                 0
keyboard_led_states         -,-,-
winipac_file               
mamewah_ipc_file           
lcd_com_port                1
lcd_settings               
exit_action                 choice
app_to_run_on_exit         

### Settings used by MAMEWAH ###
current_emulator            mame
locked                      0
last_ipc                   


SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME OUT!!!!! I'd love to use this frontend in my cabinet, but I can't get it to work. Other frontends just don't cut it, and as I've never used command line MAME before (I've always used MAME32) I may be doing something wrong.

Even if it's not perfect for how I want it, if someone can send me links to the files they used to install theirs it may help! I've tried loads of other forums but just can't get an answer for the newer software or old!

[2600]

I believe you need to use the latest beta MAMEWAH release, available on the MAMEWAH forums, with the later versions of MAME. MAMEWAH sends out the romname in all caps and the later versions of MAME doesn't like that if I recall.

[Turnarcades]

I've tried MAMEWAH 1.61 with older versions of MAME though. My romset is actually a complete 0.78b set. I've tried loads of versions (0.78, 0.84. 0.93 and others) but it doesn't seem to make a difference. MAMEWAH 1.62 is mentioned a lot of places, but it isn't available from the MAMEWAH site and reports suggest it's a bit unstable, which will upset matters more.

Someone out there must be running MAMEWAH efficiently!

Throw me a bone someone!

[MiKman]

I had a similar problem except I was using mame32. click on the rom, it would start to load then nothing just woudln't run.  It was fustrating, and was after I upp'ed from 106 to 107.  Deleted the default.cfg file and blew away all my settings (reset to default). then it worked.

Long sory short, try deleting the default.cfg file (back it up first).

[Turnarcades]

You mean the default.cfg file inside the 'cfg' folder in MAME? You really need to specify cos this file just appears to not have much info in it.....

Do  you mean the .ini file or what? From what I read, new versions of MAMEWAH don't work with MAME32 anyway. I certainly couldn't get it to work with MAME32 (wouldn't generate a gamelist) and it was supposed to run really slow when it did work on older versions.....

Let me know, before I lob the thing out the window!

[brophog]

Too much information exploding our brains!

Let's start with the basics. Mamewah 1.62 is not unstable. It's great in fact and more stable than previous versions, imo. However, mamewah has even less documentation than a new video game from EA, if you catch my drift. Luckily the customer service isn't the same, or no one would use it! Minwah is on the board often and will likely pop in this thread.

Go to the mamewah board at mameworld.net and download the beta, 1.62b10. It's usually stickied at the top of the board.

Now, for mame. Use any version prior to 1.07. Read on this board about the lack of xml in 1.07 and how it affects frontends like mamewah.

[Turnarcades]

OK done that. The latest is MAMEWAH 0.62b10. Installed that, along with MAME 0.102 to be on the safe side.

Installed the lot, tested mame from the command line - works mint.

But guess what? Another error message this time!

Error: 9 Subscript out of range in Movie_Stop

I can't even launch it now!

MAMEWAH starts and this message immediately appears, closing it down.
I've checked elsewhere and loads of other people have had this too (with varying versions of MAMEWAH), but no-one could answer why. I've also now tried it on 3 different PC's, different versions of MAMEWAH and different versions of mame.

The problem is definitely MAMEWAH - mame runs fine! It stuns me that a program as complex as mame is so easy to get running and rarely has initial setup problems, yet a front-end, which is just designed to launch the program, makes so many problems for so many people. There seems to be little in the way of FAQ's or step-by-steps to help, and more annoyingly still it seems to love certain people's PC's and install straight from the off, yet mess up on others. It's not like it's a running problem, I can't even launch a game yet........

There's got to be someone out there who can send me their setup/ini files!

I'm really losing my rag with this program.

[brophog]

Post your mamewah.cfg file for us. Mamewah is a good program, it just has really poor documentation.

[brophog]

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56250.msg552763;topicseen#msg552763

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=56250.msg552763;topicseen#msg552763

Mamewah has a nasty habit of shutting down based on errors within windows, usually do to video codecs or sound errors. They can be hard to track down. If I remember right, the first time I switched to 1.62 I had to reinstall windows and that fixed my problem.

[whatisk]

Going back to when Mamewah would load, did you try the other options for dosbox and safelaunch in your mame.ini for Mamewah?

It might be that the game is loading but not getting focus.
I will need to check my settings when I get home, but I think mine is safelaunch and perhaps nodosbox.

This line is the one I mean:

Code: [Select]

commandline_format                        [name]{autodosbox}{nosafelaunch}

[Turnarcades]

 

Hooray! Got the bugger working!

Managed (with some pushing!) to get MAMEWAH installed and working.
I've discovered the biggest problem with MAMEWAH is that the compiled downloads do seem to have slight errors or are easily affected by Windows problems (as someone already said).

If Minwah is checking in on this, you and the other devs may want to club together and create a good walkthrough for MAMEWAH. Agreed, it is far better than other front-ends and now I've got it running it is visually stunning and works well. It is only through help here that I have been able to get it running at all, So when I get my MAME project put online, I will add my own section on setting up MAMEWAH.

I found that the 'MAMEWAH setup' program was also problematic, only worked with old MAMEWAH versions and the support was not easy to follow. What is needed is screenshots of the folder layouts and .ini files for the latest versions, and a bit more info on compatibility. Only by backtracking to MAME 0.102 could I get a result and then use it's .ini file as a template for other emulators.

Instructions are well and good, but examples go a lot further to helping noobs understand and use as a point of reference......

Thanks for your help guys, just need someone to send me an .ini file and folder structure for u64emu now - can't seem to get that bugger working (even with the wrapper), and jcrouse's site doesn't have an .ini file for downloading!

[brophog]

I found that the 'MAMEWAH setup' program was also problematic, only worked with old MAMEWAH versions and the support was not easy to follow.

Common problem not only in this hobby but software in general. Never use another users setup program. Visual pinball is a good example of this as well. People make setup files for it and almost all of them just make the problems worse.

[rdowdy95]

samshaw.

My Dad has same problem you had.  We have mamewah 1.61 and latest version of mame .107b.

What did you do.  I got Kricks XML file thing to get the list to generate, but when I try to launch a game the window pops up like it is going to load then nothing.

What did you do to get it to work?  Did you ever get it to work with mame .107b and mamewah 1.61?

[Turnarcades]

 

No never did straighten it out, even with the 'corrected' xmlinfo file you mentioned. Apparently it was something to do with the MAME 0.107 build that it caused the problem. I'm not technically minded enough to explain why, but it was definitely the cause.

Your best bet is to roll back a few versions. I went for version 0.102 - not for any particular reeason, but because I wanted to be on the safe side without going back to drastic program changes. By this I mean I couldn't get older versions to work either (0.78 or 0.90 in particular). As the emulator difference doesn't really mean much as far as playing is concerned, I'd recommend you do the same and shoot for a 'newer old version' and stick with it. At least until you get a decent launchable list generated. I did find though that removing EVERYTHING first before trying again also helped. Remove MAMEWAH, remove MAME and re-install the lot before progressing.

I found that after this most other emulators just fell into place, without too much hastle. One problem I am now having though is that when I choose the option to remove a game from the list, I am unable to do so. Does anyone know if I can do it with the main 'All games' list or can I only do it with a custom games list? I don't want to create another big list (I only want one list on each emulator to avoid confusion) but I'd like to delete certain versions of games from the list (for example 4-player versions and non-working games.)

I'd rather do it manually than using filters as I am very picky and can't be bothered with most of these auto-tools as I find they annoy rather than aid me.....

[rdowdy95]

Thanks for the reply man.  I have gottent he .106 version of mame, and the mamewah version 1.61 to work just fine.  I will stick with those for now.  Thanks man!

[brophog]

Does anyone know if I can do it with the main 'All games' list or can I only do it with a custom games list?

The ALL Games list is simply everything in that folder and therefore not editable. You can either make a new master list that is editable (ignore the All games list entirely) or you can manually remove roms from that folder. In the case of MAME, it may not be easy to do the latter due to parent/clone dependencies.

[Minwah]

Sorry I didn't see this one before....it seems you have it working now, but just to clarify or reiterate what has been said:

Definately use Mamewah v1.62b11 (I realise this wasn't out previously, but these beta's are without doubt better than v1.61,
Do not use 'Mamewah Setup', 'Mamewah Config' or any other similar apps - they are no longer up to date,
For Mame v0.107+, an updated xml2info.exe (such as Kricks) must be placed in your mame folder.

I think that is just about all.  The good news is very little or no re-configuring is required between b10 and b11

[Turnarcades]

Thanks to brophog for the advice. I will have to see about making new lists and just setting it up so only the custom list is viewable.

I know about the MAME parent list dependancy, but surely I can just have the game  I want showing in the custom list (after all mame will still boot it from the parent set/clone zip the same way yeah?); I won't actually be deleting any roms - just deleting it from the list?

Before I get on that though, I need to update my rom-set. Let's just hope my efforts don't go down the pan and thaT XMLINFO FILE DOES IT'S JOB!

Come on you guys at MAMEWAH - good work so far but lets try get the compatibility up without the need for extra downloads and patches!


I want to use the newer mame versions so I can get Killer Instinct running well (Damn U64 just doesn't want to play with MAMEWAH!).

Cue the Lazarus burners......

[Minwah]

I know about the MAME parent list dependancy, but surely I can just have the game  I want showing in the custom list (after all mame will still boot it from the parent set/clone zip the same way yeah?); I won't actually be deleting any roms - just deleting it from the list?

Yes, in custom lists you can have whatever game(s) you want showing, or not showing.

Come on you guys at MAMEWAH - good work so far but lets try get the compatibility up without the need for extra downloads and patches!

Well I am a little behind...I've only just updated to Mame v0.107 from ~v0.101, and I do need to add native listxml parsing.

However, I think you are blowing things way out of proportion.  xml2info.exe has been required for Mamewah since listxml was introduced back in Mame v0.84.  The only difference now is that you need to download Kricks version, and place it in your Mame folder - that's not too difficult is it??


Edit: Just a teaser...I started writing an xml parser in Mamewah today, and it's gone very well so far.  Pretty much everything works already except the driver/colour/sound status stuff.  The extra display and controller info is really nice as it makes the filtering more powerful.  I'll probably knock out another beta pretty soon....