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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: 442much on December 28, 2006, 06:49:19 pm

Title: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: 442much on December 28, 2006, 06:49:19 pm
I've finally got all of my controls wired and my cab is getting much closer.  The problem I have now is that my IPAC VE that needs to be reprogrammed everytime the computer is restarted.  I thought it would retain the default MAME settings upon power off.  The device is not recognized when I restart the computer until I reprogram it.  It shows an exclamation point in the device manager.  I've tried the Ipacfix registry file and that didn't help.

Can the reprogramming be automated at startup of the computer.

-Dan
Title: Re: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: loadman on December 28, 2006, 07:01:30 pm
A quote from the Website:

The I-PAC VE has ALL the features of the classic I-PAC2 board with the following exceptions:
When a custom codeset is used, it is stored in RAM instead of EEPROM, meaning that storage needs refreshing after power-down  (this does not apply if you always use the built-in default MAME code set of course, the settings revert to MAME on power-down)

USB connection only. Suitable for all Windows versions and Linux, Mac. (Not DOS). Your existing keyboard remains unaffected.

So it should retain default MAME  :dunno


http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html (http://www.ultimarc.com/ipacve.html)
Title: Re: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: FunWithFire on December 28, 2006, 07:06:57 pm
I've had a few USB devices that just did not like a certain USB plug on my computer. Try using a different one and see if that effects it at all since it should retain the default after powerdown.
Title: Re: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: Kremmit on December 28, 2006, 11:01:12 pm
There's two separate problems here:

1)  The device shows an exclamation mark in Device Manager after every reboot;
2)  You want to program a non-default (MAME) keyset into the device at boot.  (If you don't need to do this; ie, the default MAME keyset is what you want, then you only have one problem, and it doesn't have anything to do with programming the unit.)

I dunno what you have to do about problem #1, but the answer to problem #2 is to drop a shortcut to your Ipac config file in your Startup group, and make sure you have that filetype associated with the Ipac config program.  I rigged a CP for my brother with an IPac VE and that did the trick.
Title: Re: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: Donkey_Kong on December 28, 2006, 11:18:16 pm
I also run with the Ipac VE. I'm always changing stuff around and never sitting on default of anything so I "have to" click the "program" after each computer restart. No biggy. I suppose it would be nice if it retained it's programming from shut-down to power up though.

Thanks Kremmit, added to ever growing to do list:
Quote
drop a shortcut to your Ipac config file in your Startup group, and make sure you have that filetype associated with the Ipac config program.
Title: Re: Does IPAC VE need to be reprogrammed everytime?
Post by: 442much on December 31, 2006, 05:11:55 pm
I've added the shortcut in my startup, but I still have to hit the program button for it to work (never could get it to recognize it as a valid USB device).  Is there a way to also automate the programming.  I guess there is probably a macro program out there that would do it for me.

My ultimate goal is to have happen is to power on the machine and have it program the IPAC and then launch GameEx.

-Dan