Trackball Problems, HELP!!! **Problem re-emerged***

[Kaytrim]

I need some help or suggestions to fix a problem trackball.  I have a Imperial Beston trackball that is mounted in my bartop.  The trackball is connected to a PS/2 Opti-Wiz.  The problem seems to be the rollers.  If one of the rollers is spun it seems to work fine.  If I use the ball it goes haywire.  I have used a regular PS/2 mouse and there is no issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Kaytrim

[psik0tik]

lubrication...

[Kaytrim]

I just connected my Happ trackball and had the same issue.  I am using DOS and DMAME from SpyStyle's CD.

lubrication...

The rollers spin nice and easy so lubrication is not the issue.

[theCoder]

Driver problem?  Does it work if you move the ball very slowly?

[Kaytrim]

It is intermintant, some times it works and others it goes haywire.  It might be a driver issue but I am not sure.  I have the DOS setup on a CF card so I swapped it out for a regular HD that I have installed TinyXP.  The trackball worked fine in Windows but was not recognized in MAME.  I may not have mouse support setup in MAME I'll have to check.

[Kaytrim]

I was finally able to track it down to certain roms.  I am using MAME .85 and the roms were compiled to that verson.  At least Centipede and Millipede work fine.  I was also able to get Capcom Bowl and Krazy Bowl to work so there is some selection.  I still have to do some final tweaking on the joystick game lists but I think I am in the home stretch and will be able to deliver tomorrow.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[Kaytrim]

Just when I thought I had this issue licked it raises it's ugly head at time of delivery.   The machine has to be rebooted multiple times to get it to work and then it only works for a short time before it starts to act up again.

As the machine is no longer in my possession fixing it will be a pain.  I don't know if it is a software or hardware issue.  I have eliminated the trackball and Opti-Wiz being the problem.  That leaves the motherboard and OS.

To bring everyone back up to speed here are the symptoms and what I have tried to diagnose the problem.

Using MAME and roms version .85

Symptoms: OS DOS While playing Centipede the gun will move mostly in a lower left to a upper right line no matter which way the trackball is moved.  While playing Cristal Castles the character moves erratically.  This happens with either mouse or trackball connected to the PC.  OS TinyXP  Trackball is recognized in Windows and moves properly.  MAME doesn't see the trackball or mouse whichever is connected.

Diagnostic Attempts:  Changed the trackball from the Bestons to a Happ, no difference.  Used a mouse no difference.  Used Trackball and Opti-Wiz on another computer, worked perfectly.

Does anyone have any suggestions that can be tried to fix or diagnose the issue further?

[northerngames]

try the mame config file maybe it work as one direction fine on one roller and fine on another single roller but both together cuase this key stroke when 2 rollers are moving at the same time perhaps dunno just a thought.

[ahofle]

For one thing, I would stop using MAME to diagnose the problem.  If it's a hardware/driver issue you should see the problem easier in Windows.

[stuckpixel]

Maybe it's something with TinyXP that's fouling it up?

I mean you've pretty much eliminated the hardware from being the problem at this point. Does this happen when you're in windows normally, or only in games?

Could be a wacky USB issue or something too.

[Kaytrim]

try the mame config file maybe it work as one direction fine on one roller and fine on another single roller but both together cuase this key stroke when 2 rollers are moving at the same time perhaps dunno just a thought.

This I was able to do.  When I moved one or the other roller it worked fine.

For one thing, I would stop using MAME to diagnose the problem.  If it's a hardware/driver issue you should see the problem easier in Windows.

The problem only occurs in MAME.

Maybe it's something with TinyXP that's fouling it up?

I mean you've pretty much eliminated the hardware from being the problem at this point. Does this happen when you're in windows normally, or only in games?

Could be a wacky USB issue or something too.

This is a PS\2 connection.

[northerngames]

try the mame config file maybe it work as one direction fine on one roller and fine on another single roller but both together cuase this key stroke when 2 rollers are moving at the same time perhaps dunno just a thought.

This I was able to do.  When I moved one or the other roller it worked fine.

try 2 and see if it happens in mame then try it in windows if it works in windows then it should not be a software or driver issue if it does it in mame only then it would be a config file error I would think

if it does it in both windows and mame then it is a hardware issue I would asume.

[ahofle]

Didn't you say that it works fine for a while then suddenly stops working?  This statement:

The machine has to be rebooted multiple times to get it to work and then it only works for a short time before it starts to act up again.

Can you elaborate on this?  Do you mean it works perfectly in MAME for a while, then suddenly 'acts up'?  Does it ever act up in Windows?  Does it ever work fine in MAME?  Did you check your MAME analog and input settings?

[RandyT]

Look into the driver side of things.  DOS needs a mouse driver to be run before any mouse devices may be used.

Do you have a mouse driver set up in your Autoexec or Config.sys?  If so, which one?  Have you tried others?


RandyT

[psychotech]

Well.. trackball trouble?

A good question ..so, you know the answer already

DOS:
- You have a DOS driver for the TB/mouse in your autoexec.bat, YES?! Works in DOS ..for a while..
? What version of DOS are you actually using?
? What are the machine specs? Memory? .. Memory all counted & conventional memory available for programs..? (type MEM at the DOS prompt..)
? Have you tried other (DOS) mouse drivers?
? IRQ conflicts? -> Printer port (usually irq 7) comes to mind; that was the root of all evil in the "Dos time". Shouldn't really affect mouses in any way (anyway)...

Tiny XP:
- Yeah, I've heard of that way to waste your time
- Still, have you at least double checked your PS2 connectors..?
- Again, running out of memory?


Well, trackballs/mouse controllers, who knows:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66155.0


Actually, I think that if you can't get it working with two or three different open source/whatever drivers it must be the motherboard - or the PS2 connector - that is faulty.

No real help here I'm afraid.

psycho.

[Kaytrim]

No real help here I'm afraid.

psycho.

Actually you have been a big help in giving me a plan of action. I am using Spystyle's latest DOS disk and the mouse driver included there.  Do you have any other mice drivers that I can try?  How do I check the PS/2 connectors?  There is 512mb of RAM on the machine so I shouldn't be running out.  The CPU is a PIII 760 mhz.

Thanks again,
Kaytrim

[Kremmit]

If it ONLY happens in MAME, and NEVER in Windows, and you're running MAME under Windows, then isn't MAME the culprit?

[psychotech]

Well..

No mouse drivers, but you'll find several free mouse drivers with Google on the various drivers sites etc.

To check the PS/2 connectors I'd just try a couple different mouses for a longer period of time ..Does that erratic behavior emerge at any point with any of them?

Yeah, probably not a memory issue.

If it ONLY happens in MAME, and NEVER in Windows, and you're running MAME under Windows, then isn't MAME the culprit?

- Quite a coincidence if it was MAME in both cases.. DOS & Windows.. Or do you use the same MAME version on both with the absolutely same roms? If that's the case, I'd also try a different MAME build and/or different roms....

Hope you'll get it working

p

[Kaytrim]

If it ONLY happens in MAME, and NEVER in Windows, and you're running MAME under Windows, then isn't MAME the culprit?

- Quite a coincidence if it was MAME in both cases.. DOS & Windows.. Or do you use the same MAME version on both with the absolutely same roms? If that's the case, I'd also try a different MAME build and/or different roms....

Hope you'll get it working

p

Interesting point there Psyco.  The roms are the same and the MAME version number is the same (.85)  just DMAME vs. MAME.  I can't say it is the rom files because this happens in all the trackball games I tried.  I was thinking about using a different version down the road anyway because Galaxian didn't work.  the game would start up but it wouldn't respond to any keypresses.  This may be another reason to setup a different version of MAME and see if there is any other issues.  Just wish I had the time right now to mess with it.  Got to get the basement finished first now that the cab is delivered.  Then clean a few things off the honey-do list.  Then I can really sit down and trouble shoot this and start building some custom sticks.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[psychotech]

To save time you could always download the next version (086?) of MAME (for either platform) and read the "whatsnew.txt" file.. Might be the problem is mentioned there in the fixed bugs section ..or the next build ..?

How about trying something like 075 ..just in case. If the games on the bartop are supported there should be no harm in trying an earlier version - might get a slight speed advantage even.

Just thoughts..

psycho