Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Software Support => GroovyMAME => Topic started by: Bimmy on January 17, 2014, 11:53:42 am

Title: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 17, 2014, 11:53:42 am
My setup:
- Windows XP
- Asus HD 4350
- J-PAC with jumper on 15khz only
- arcade cab with standard res monitor, vertical

I followed cools' instructions (http://forum.arcadeotaku.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=24216) word for word.

(however I found a discrepency: the instructions say to change monitor type in VMMAKER.INI to CGA, but that isn't a valid value according to the notes. So I tried NTSC but same black screen.)

Before rebooting, I set the resolution to 640x480.
After that, I connected the PC to the J-PAC and rebooted.
I saw the Windows loading screen with terrible roll.
After that, black screen.

Note that I can remote desktop into the PC and see what I'm doing while the PC is connected to the J-PAC.
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: cools on January 17, 2014, 12:09:01 pm
Corrected. I blame http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116023.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,116023.0.html) for the discrepancy.
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: cools on January 17, 2014, 12:10:43 pm
Also, nowhere do I say to change the resolution by hand. That's probably what's screwed you up. Run vmmaker again to set the mode and try rebooting immediately after?
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Calamity on January 17, 2014, 12:17:52 pm
Hi Bimmy,

Use the DVI-I output. (with a DVI to VGA converter)
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 17, 2014, 07:54:59 pm
My PC identifies the VGA port on the 4350 as "Monitor 1". It's what I've been using to set up the PC.

When the arcade cab is connected to VGA, I can see the boot screen (with terrible H or V roll). Then goes black when Windows is loaded.

When connected to DVI, I get no picture at all, not even boot screen.

---

I ran VMMAKER.EXE again and rebooted immediately after. Same result.

---

My PC monitor continues to work fine, so that tells me there is no 15khz signal being output?

 :cry:
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Sledge on January 17, 2014, 09:33:36 pm
Is the sync light coming on on the jpac?
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 17, 2014, 09:40:21 pm
VGA:
self test = solid green
sync in = solid yellow
sync ok = not lit

DVI:
sync in = "strobing" yellow
sync ok = not lit
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 17, 2014, 11:01:23 pm
I've made progress.

Are you supposed to be able to see the Windows desktop? It's a black screen for me. But I can run and see MAME games.

But...

I can't get the damn picture to hold. I've twisted every pot on the monitor chassis. In addition to not holding, it's flickering like a fluorescent light. Something I've never seen before... not a typical hold issue.

The J-PAC SYNC light is flickering.

 :banghead:
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 18, 2014, 12:59:09 am
More progress, but it's getting stranger.

At one point, it was working perfectly. The image was holding, and Windows displayed on the monitor at 640x480.

I don't remember what I did. I was just switching back and forth from the PC monitor to arcade monitor, trying various resolutions. Once I got it, I wanted to see if I could reproduce it by rebooting. Nope.

Now I am back to black screen at Windows desktop. Furthermore, MAME no longer runs on the arcade monitor like it did before. I keep getting SwitchRes: could not find mode... error. I also saw a Direct 3D error once. Something about it couldn't write to a file.

I've run VMMAKER.EXE several times, rebooted, with same result.
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Bimmy on January 18, 2014, 01:36:55 am
I can reproduce:

1) Boot PC connected to PC monitor.
2) Switch res to 1366x768 (native)
3) Start MAME
4) Unplug PC monitor
5) Plug in arcade monitor
6) Play beautiful games

If I shut down the PC, I need to repeat these steps. Rebooting with the arcade monitor connected results in the black screen.

I guess I can just leave the PC running for extended periods of time, but damn it's annoying. Any advice?
Title: Re: Black screen on arcade monitor after Windows boots -- What am I missing?
Post by: Sledge on January 18, 2014, 02:34:58 am
Checked that the drivers are actually installed?
Nothing in device manager showing as not installed?