Mala Focus Problem

[kaptainsteve]

I have a cabinet w/Mame and Mala installed.

I have Mala set to open upon start of windows.  The problem is that after Mala pops up and it sets, I have to take out the mouse and click it.

In other words, instead of just using the buttons and the joystick, I have to dig out the mouse and click it.

How do I adjust things so the Mala comes out "on top and I don't have to click the mouse first to select a game?

Thanks in advance.

K-Steve

P.S.  I know this has nothing to do with Mala but I just slapped together another cabinet (#2) and Mame runs real slooooow on it.  I dabbled with the mame.ini settings today for a couple hours and couldn't fix it.  Any suggestions?

Thanks again.

[loadman]

There are a couple of posts on this. Have a quick search.

Basically it is a windows issue some people experience.

MaLa can't be controlled unless it's window is in 'focus' hence you have to click on it.

So something else that is starting up is stealing focus after mala starts.

[kaptainsteve]

I did read another post (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76882.0) on the focus issue, but to be honest I did not see a solution mentioned there, so I asked it (again) here. 

Thanks for your reply.

[TheShanMan]

Yep. A solution is there. I'm leaving though so I don't have time to point it out specifically.

[kaptainsteve]

I just read the whole thread again and I can't find any real solution there.

If anyone would be so generous as to what might be a few simple tricks to try to solve the Mala focus issue, please feel free to post them here.


Thanks to all.

Steve

[kaptainsteve]

I'm still battling with the focus issue if anyone has any suggestions please!?

[loadman]

What else is launching upon startup?

Does the Icons in the bottom right give any clues?

[kaptainsteve]

I went into the start folder and removed almost everything.  I even uninstalled my antivirus and that did not solve it.   

I'm gonna mess with it today, so I'll get back.

Thanks.

[Space Fractal]

Did you tried the MaLa focus plugin?

It might been the same issue Future Pinball have?

Try Download the FP wrapper from http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Wrappers, and adjust the Autohotkey script to do the same with MaLa. It might work.

[kaptainsteve]

Thanks Space Fractal.  You've helped me in the past with the old jukebox manytimes.

I tried it, but modifying that script is way beyond my intelligence, but then again, many things are.

There really just needs to be something written into Mala that keeps it focused in and on top , especially at start up.

funny, I just slapped together another cabinet over the past few days, XP/Mame & Mala, and i was running it and testing it, and not only had the same focus probem at start up, but when exiting a game and re-entering the selection menu.

Not that I'm complaining, but it really is just a bug in the Mala program and virtually renders it pretty useless in a mame cabinet cuz you can't keep reaching in and pulling out the mouse every time this thing happens as it ruins the whole scheme of things and the point of having a video reproduction arcade cabinet in the first place.  I mean I got a dynamo cabinet and control panel, operating coin doors that light up, but every 10 minutes I gotta reach in and pull out the mouse to set the focus.

Let me leave it like this, I'm sure this happens to Many (if not most) users of Mala and while I love the software, it's simply a bug that I hope they correct soon.   

I installed the logger plugin and it showed something with the Wireless adapter configuration thingee, but what I do from here I have no clue.

Thanks all.

[loadman]

From reports the Focus issue happens to 'some' users in 'some' circumstances and yes the fix is on the list...

I have MaLa set to start on start-up and it does not happen to me on my cab.

But I'm not sure if anything can be done if another program is stealing focus? 

Does the issue happen to you if you start MaLa manually?

[SGT]

kaptainsteve,

Are you using Mala as your shell instead of explorer.exe?  If not how are you starting Mala, using the startup folder?  What happens if you load Mala manually instead of starting up automatically? 

Also if you're not using Mala as your shell, have you ran msconfig and disabled all startup items (except for Mala), and then rebooted?

[kaptainsteve]

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I solved the problem, for now, in one cabinet... the hard way!

I tried to remove the trendnet wireless program and when I did, it took windows xp w/it.  So, I used that opportunity to install tiny XP (bare essentials) and then Mame and Mala. 

So far Mala boots up in focus and the PC is nice and quick.  Now I have to get to work on the other Cabinet/Pc.  I think I'll have to reinstall EVERYTHING.

This is the way it goes when you are not a computer geek, I have to throw everything out and start from scratch all the way back to the beginning, new windows install and the whole 9 yards.

Thanks.

Steve

[loadman]

Hey man,


We have all been there I think. That is how we learn new stuff.  ...well me anyway 

Enjoy 

[Space Fractal]

I guess in this problem could been fixed let Mala start a bit later with a speciel utility, so that wireless can been started first, since that propenty take focus where it should not been that.

Somelike this untested utility (but I have tried a simular utility I cant remember, but could been this):
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Delayed-Startup-And-Program-Manager.shtml

I simply think Mala might start too early.....

[kaptainsteve]

Space Fractal, once again I think you are right on the money.  Thanks for the clue.  I will download this program and use it, if needed of course, in the future.

Mame runs a bit slow on the second cabinet w/a fresh install of micro xp (highly recommended by the way) and I think it's a poor and underpowered video card.  I ordered a new one and will report back.

By the way, if you are a windows xp user I HIGHLY recommend "ExPerience XP, 50 in 1 install" if you want a dynamite disc for fresh installs.   Love the disc and you can do the full install or micro (which I use for mame now!), it has a ton of drivers and a bunch of other installs.  I know that this thread is supposed to be about Mala, and it is as this disc  works great w/Mala!

Funny, My solution to these problems is always the same thing, brute force and a complete re-install of everything.