Weird startup problem in MAME32 and Windows2000

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

Okay.  I have MAME32 set to startup with windows 2000.  I have nothing else set to startup (that i know of), and I have MAME32 set to start up in a maximized window....everything is fine at first..mame starts up maximized, as to be "up front"...but then a few seconds later, for reasons unbeknownst to me, it minimizes, and the bar at the top of MAME32's window goes gray (thus preventing navigation in mame32), as if something else has been selected.

I've hidden the taskbar, and set volume controls and the clock to NOT come up...so I'm not sure what could be taking the focus off of the MAME window!


So frustrating.  Any suggestions?

[patrickmaher]

If you think it is another program causing it rather than Windows, you can try using msconfig to disable all startup programs and non-Microsoft services except for MAME32 and see if the problem still happens. If the problem goes away you can narrow done which is causing it, if the problem remains then it is Windows doing it.

msconfig for Windows 2000

I don't think many people use MAME32 as a front end on a cabinet unless they use a mouse or trackball. Is it easy to navigate in it using arcade controls?
You may want to look into other front ends and find one that will run in fullscreen.

[ArtsNFartsNCrafts]

Y'know, I didn't even consider that...I will have a trackball on the cab.   

What would I use to "click" if necessary?

[patrickmaher]

Most optical interfaces that you would need for your trackball should allow you to hook up arcade buttons as mouse buttons. This would mean you would have to place dedicated mouse buttons somewhere on your panel. If you don't want to add more buttons to your panel, I would suggest looking into another front end.