Ultimarc WinIPAC - lost default 'shifted' settings - SOLVED

[zorrobandito]

Short version: I have lost my J-Pac's shifted settings, how do I get them back?


Extended Version:
I have a pre 2004 J-Pac in my cabinet and I've always been reluctant to mess around with the panel config software, WinIPAC. I always left the MAME jumper selected and messed about with the emulators to force them to accept MAME controls.

Finally, I decided that I should step up and have a go. After messing about with the original software that came on the CD, I downloaded the new version and installed that. After replicating my panel, I tried adding some of the buttons but got a 'timeout' when I tried to write the changes. So, after an evening of pissing about I switched the jumper  back to MAME but found to my horror that many of the shifted keys had disappeared (Shifted 1P joystick - Enter, Tab, `, P had been replaced with x,y,z,s). How do I get them back?

[Hoopz]

Try this?

Problem: No shift functions work.

Part of the shift function design means that to avoid "stuck" keys, shift functions are disabled when any key is pressed. So loss of shift functions means you have a shorted or stuck switch. Problem is, which one? There are two ways to determine this. The on-board LED gives an indication of which input is shorted, see later in this section.
Or use the built-in test mode:
Run any text-display program such as Notepad, or if you are in DOS type "COPY CON" to turn off the command prompt. With a keyboard plugged into the pass-through port, press CTRL-ALT-P (press and hold each key in this order). You will see a menu. Enter "T" for test mode. The offending stuck input(s) will be displayed on the screen.

Or this?

Problem: Cannot program. Utility hangs at end of programming.

If you are using the PS/2 connection, and do not have any USB keyboard on your PC, you will need to check that in the PC BIOS, "USB keyboard support" or "Legacy USB Support" is DISABLED, otherwise WinIPAC will not program properly. Another cause of this is having non-switch items connected to inputs. In general, the inputs must be "open" (ie no switch pressed) for programming to work. This may not be the case if you have other things connected such as a game board connected at the same time as the J-PAC. Email for further advice on this if you must have other devices connected as there are workarounds.

[zorrobandito]

Thanks for the tips it's not the first one because the shift function still works. I just get a different, much less useful set of keys.
I checked and there is no USB support mentioned in my BIOS and my J-Pac is PS/2 only.
I also tried uninstalling the new and installing the old WinIPAC but to no avail. I get a timeout.
I have ordered the upgrade chip from Ultimarc, so hopefully I can get my settings back and get back to what I was trying to do - J-Pac specific configs per game.

[zorrobandito]

OK, problem solved. I eventually uninstalled *all* the WinIPAC software and reinstalled the version that came with my original J-Pac. I modified the controls again (incl. the shifted ones), saved it the IPAC and... success!

The great news is that I can now program the J-Pac on the fly for different emulators (even different games if I want to), which was the reason behind the original tragedy.

So, all is back to normal and I now have a whole new world of cabinet awesomeness to lose myself in!

P.S. After an email from Ultimarc Andy I discovered that the upgrade chip I ordered was for the J-Pac's video rather than the controls, so I guess I have a surplus chip now. Ah well.

P.P.S. In a previous post I thought I had uninstalled the new WinIPAC software and installed the old but I now realise that it didn't work. Even though I was running the old executable, the new version was loading!