mala crash on resume from standby

[TheShanMan]

I'd REALLY like to switch to using standby mode on my arcade for ultra fast shutdowns and startups. Unfortunately mala crashes when resuming from standby. I see like 20 cascading message boxes that appear in an instant. Incidentally I get the same thing if I ctrl-alt-delete to get to the windows dialog that lets you launch task manager. I just never got around to reporting that one because I obviously don't run into it in normal operating conditions (and I have a workaround - bring up the mala options dlg before hitting ctrl-alt-delete).

I wonder if this is related to video snaps (yes, I use xvid) since I can avoid the ctrl-alt-delete crash by opening the mala options dialog first (videos stop when you do that).

I'll do anything possible to help resolve this bug for the next version of mala (when might we see a beta or release?). Switching to use of standby mode would be a big improvement in my family's arcade experience since it's always a drag to wait for XP to boot up.

Thanks loadman!

[csa3d]

I am not using videos, and I have the same thing happen.  I've wondered if it had anything to do with LedBlinky, but never looked into seriously solving any of these issues either.

Also coming out of standby, I have a problem with my KeyWiz uploader refusing to remember my custom keymappings, which is obviously unrelated to Mala.

-csa

[TheShanMan]

I don't have LEDBlinky, so perhaps it much more basic than that. Do you have the ctrl-alt-delete crash too? If so, does it work fine if you hit ctrl-alt-delete when the mala options dialog is up?

Glad it's not just me: the more people that express experiencing this problem, the more likely to get it fixed!

[loadman]

It's on the list.. Probably not next version though 

[TheShanMan]

Bummer. Was hoping I could switch to using standby relatively soon. But at least it's on the list.

Actually, I'd be glad to debug it myself, particularly if you're willing to put in a fix for the next release. Only problem, I don't have delphi. Is the free version of delphi adequate for MaLa development? If so, would you like me to investigate this and (presumably) provide you a fix?

[loadman]

Bummer. Was hoping I could switch to using standby relatively soon. But at least it's on the list.

Actually, I'd be glad to debug it myself, particularly if you're willing to put in a fix for the next release. Only problem, I don't have delphi. Is the free version of delphi adequate for MaLa development? If so, would you like me to investigate this and (presumably) provide you a fix?

I can't give you Swindus source code and anyway the stuff I have only works Delphi 5 with a bunch of 3rd party components that only works on Delphi 5.

But what I 'might' be able to do is give you a similar section of code that has the same symptoms that can work on the free version (turbo Delphi). Then in theory you can post the solution and I can incorporate into the code. Just an idea.

[TheShanMan]

OK, if you can do that I'd be up for it. For some reason I thought I remembered you saying that your intention was mainly to "manage" the product and have a group of developers work on it.

[TheShanMan]

BTW, I confirmed tonight that it's not the running videos that cause the crash when I do ctrl-alt-delete.

[loadman]

OK, if you can do that I'd be up for it. For some reason I thought I remembered you saying that your intention was mainly to "manage" the product and have a group of developers work on it.

Yeah.. Via Plug-ins or other future Interfaces. You might want to read my statement again 

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=79974.msg834970#msg834970

BTW, I confirmed tonight that it's not the running videos that cause the crash when I do ctrl-alt-delete.

Thanks 

[loadman]

I am trying to re-create this MaLa crash on cntrl-alt-delete or XP in Standby.

It's not happening for me using the deafult layout on the mala beta 1.5.

Can some try setting up mala in another directory and let me know at what point if any this occurs now please as I can't recreate it here.

[TheShanMan]

Since I am greatly looking forward to being able to use standby, I'd be glad to work on this. Hopefully since it apparently doesn't always happen I can narrow it down to a particular configuration option.

[loadman]

Since I am greatly looking forward to being able to use standby, I'd be glad to work on this. Hopefully since it apparently doesn't always happen I can narrow it down to a particular configuration option.

Cool.

I belive that it can happen as I think it happened to me once (the cntrl-alt delete) but I can't remeber what my setup was at the time.

[TheShanMan]

Good news! I found the cause of both crashes!

The ctrl-alt-delete one happens if you have UseMouse set to 1 (for trackball/spinner navigation). Set it to 0 and the crash doesn't happen.

The standby one happens if you have a video playing. Disable videos and it resumes after standby just fine. So if you can just handle the WM_POWERBROADCAST message and turn off the video when entering a low power state, and turn it back on when resuming from a low power state, then all should be well. MaLa already does a turn off/turn back on thing for when the options dialog opens/closes, so I hope it will be straightforward to get this one fixed!

The ctrl-alt-delete one is definitely less of a priority for me - I can live without it for now, but if you can fix the standby one in 1.05 I would be eternally grateful!!!

[loadman]

Well done.... 

I can't get the cntr-alt-delete crash to occur but I did with the Videos.

Thanks for the win32 api pointer too.

I just tested and that does seem to notify when stadby is requested.

Now just need to work out what needs turning off

[TheShanMan]

What needs turning off? Do you mean from a coding perspective how to do it? If you're able to find where opening and closing of the Options dialog stops and starts the video (or more accurately, it seems to "unload" the video - you see whatever was under it while Options is open, in my case a static snap). It sounds like there's hope of this one getting fixed for 1.05?

I'm surprised you couldn't get the ctrl-alt-del crash to happen. I got it to happen with a clean ini (well, it forces you to enter paths to mame, etc, but other than that it was clean) by just turning on the mouse.

Are you maybe using a different version of windows? I'm running XP.

Well again, I could live with the ctrl-alt-delete one if need be. The workaround is to open the Options dialog before hitting ctrl-alt-del.

[loadman]

Yeah I will look at what it does when 'options' is called up for clues for the video stop start    Thanks

Does windows notify the api with a message when it resumes from stand-by so I can start video again?

I'm running XP, and so far no cntrl-alt-delete crash

[TheShanMan]

That message is for going into and out of a low power state (stand by, hibernate, whatever). The extra info indicates which. Are you familiar with the MSDN library web site? You can look up details on the message there. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/default.aspx

As for the ctrl-alt-delete crash, I'm puzzled by your inability to reproduce. I literally deleted the ini, started mala, entered the basic mame info, checked "use mouse", clicked ok, and hit ctrl-alt-delete. Boom. I guess there must be some environment configuration difference between my 2 systems and yours that accounts for our different experiences. Oh well. At least I have a workaround, so I can live without the fix if you are never able to figure it out. I only use it during maintenance anyway.

[loadman]

OK . I spent a few mins on it today.

It seems to come out of standby with videos enabled.

But if mouse is enabled in will crash upon resume..

I'm sure it's the same issue tyoe I saw with the screensaver. The mouse polling is busted in Delphi5, which probably also explains slow mouse scroll and spinner performance.

Anyway I'm sure I can work around it. PM me a e-mail if you want to test what I have done to confirm you get the same results

[TheShanMan]

I just tried both versions you sent me. The first one still crashed, but the second one didn't!!! Obviously that has me VERY excited. The only problem? You put in those message boxes, so I can't keep using it. How about a new beta with this fix minus the message boxes?

[loadman]

I just tried both versions you sent me. The first one still crashed, but the second one didn't!!! Obviously that has me VERY excited. The only problem? You put in those message boxes, so I can't keep using it. How about a new beta with this fix minus the message boxes?

Sure.... For 1 Million Dollars $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

 

...Just Kidding.

Thanks for the feedback. I will put that in my next beta release. It's not quite ready yet as to be safe I turned everything off (Mouse, Video, Screen saver etc) and back on again after stand-by even if you did not have all those things enabled. So far from ideal. It needs to use the config values etc. Not a big deal but I just need to do it before release or it will mess up somebody. In the next week or so.

But glad you confirmed what works.  The second version I sent that you say works only has a conformation box when it returns from standby right?

[TheShanMan]

But glad you confirmed what works.  The second version I sent that you say works only has a conformation box when it returns from standby right?

That's correct. The one that worked only had a message box on resume. The one that didn't had one before standby and one after resume.

Loadman, the real goes to you for all the time you're selflessly putting into MaLa. Me reporting problems and testing things to make it easier for you to fix is selfishly motivated (though I'm happy to contribute to making it a better FE for everyone).

[loadman]

Cool,

I think it works OK now. 

It seems to work if you are in the MaLa gamelist or the screensaver is on now.

Not sure what will happen if you try to put your machine in standby while playing a game, as there are so many diffrent EMU's I don't know how they will react. . Not sure if I should waste time on that part. Possibly best just not to do that. But it might be OK 

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, I don't think that's something you should worry about for now. I suppose you could add an option to the emulator settings to kill a running emulator on standby/hibernate, but for now I think this will be more than enough! I sometimes power down while in an emulator, but once I switch to using standby I certainly wouldn't expect MaLa to do anything.

[TheShanMan]

In the next week or so.

OK loadman, it's been a week or so. Sorry, I am very eagerly waiting for it!

[loadman]

In the next week or so.

OK loadman, it's been a week or so. Sorry, I am very eagerly waiting for it!

HE HE...

OK I have sent you a special 'TheShanMan' version. I hope it works for you OK

I am sure I can count on your support to other users here & beta testing for me in the future 

[TheShanMan]

Sweet! I will definitely try it out and let you know if I run into any issues. Thanks!

[TheShanMan]

Works great, except when the system comes back on I hear a "beep" (not sure if it's MaLa or something else) and then the video snap doesn't start playing. It's either "stuck", or it's actually the static snap showing instead of the video.

But that's a small price to pay to have standby support in the short term. I'm a very happy camper!

[loadman]

Great News,

The 'Beep' I added. I forgot to take that out. It was really just one of the flags I used during testing. I will remove it for next release.

Video Preview currently does not resume after windows return from stand-by  until you select another item in the list. I could add some more smarts to the code to make it auto start again but to be honest I'm not too fussed about that right now.

Thanks

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, that's fine as long as ultimately it's fixed so the video starts back up. I can live with it for now though for sure.

[csa3d]

shanman:  are you using a keywiz  by chance?  Last time i had the system using standby,I don't remember my custom key layouts working upon returning.  I'm anxious to give this new version a spin and see if that works the keywiz uploader. 

[TheShanMan]

csa3d, nope. I'm using an IPAC4.

Loadman, I found another resume issue. I'll list it and the first two here for easy reference:

• Selected game appears to be the game that was selected prior to standby, but if you do anything (launch game or move up/down in list), you realize that the internal selection got reset back to the game that was selected when mala was first launched.
• Beep on resume.
• Video doesn't restart on resume.

No big rush - I can wait until it's convenient for you to release the next beta. I have to tell you though, it is SOOOOO nice to be able to play a quick game since resuming from standby is so quick, instead of passing on it because I don't want to wait for XP to boot. This is a BIG improvement in my book!

[loadman]

Ahh,

I think I know why too 

Thanks for the nice list.

It's good to get feedback. Nice to know the rest of MaLa still works after standby,

[TheShanMan]

Today I resumed my cab and the screen was black! I tried hitting buttons and stuff, but nothing made the screen come back. I had to ctrl-alt-delete and kill mala, then restart it.

[loadman]

Today I resumed my cab and the screen was black! I tried hitting buttons and stuff, but nothing made the screen come back. I had to ctrl-alt-delete and kill mala, then restart it.

  Hmm, Gonna need more info to pursue that one. It could be anything from MaLa to just windows to hardware.

[TheShanMan]

Yeah, I know it's a tough one. Wish I could provide more info on how to reproduce or whatever. Only other thing I can say is that it WAS mala. I had to actually kill the task to get it to go away. I believe mala was hung, but I'm not sure.

Only reason for reporting it is "for the record". If others experience it then you at least need to know how widespread it is, and also in case it sparks a thought in your head as to what may be going on upon resume that would cause it to hang. Otherwise, I'm not particularly asking you to pursue it at this point. Now if I experience it regularly then it might just change into such a request!

[loadman]

10-4   

[loadman]

10-4   

Will increase the logging anyway in future versions so we can see at what point it stopped.

[TheShanMan]

Some thoughts on enhancements supporting the standby concept. I would really like to have a way to do standby AND a way to shut down fully (in case of a rare need to reboot). So I set up the exit key to be a shifted key, and set exit to do shutdown. Great, except it prompts to confirm. Not ideal since it's a shifted key anyway, and also because I have no way to say "no" (no key on my keyboard would cancel it).

* So first it would be nice if there was an option to avoid the prompt, or if it simply never prompts if it's a shifted key.

* Second it would be nice on the shutdown tab in the dropdown list to also have a "standby" option. If that option existed (and no prompt occurred!) then that would probably be my ideal solution. I'd map unshifted exit to standby, and switch my power button back to doing a normal shutdown. Of course, this would technically not be a mala shutdown, but from a user's point of view I think this is the place that makes the most sense for it.

[loadman]

csa3d, nope. I'm using an IPAC4.

Loadman, I found another resume issue. I'll list it and the first two here for easy reference:

• Selected game appears to be the game that was selected prior to standby, but if you do anything (launch game or move up/down in list), you realize that the internal selection got reset back to the game that was selected when mala was first launched.
• Beep on resume.
• Video doesn't restart on resume.

No big rush - I can wait until it's convenient for you to release the next beta. I have to tell you though, it is SOOOOO nice to be able to play a quick game since resuming from standby is so quick, instead of passing on it because I don't want to wait for XP to boot. This is a BIG improvement in my book!

This has all been fixed and will be in the next release

[TheShanMan]

Awesome! Any thoughts on my other standby suggestion (2 posts up, right above yours)?