Video bug with sample ROMs in GroovyArcade

[Muniosi]

Hi, I've been running GroovyArcade off a live CD in order to test it out before I install it, and I've been having a bug with the video whenever I try to play any of the sample ROMs. Up until I launch the ROM everything looks fine, but when I launch the ROM the picture gets off-center and weird. Here's an example:

Can anyone help me?

[Calamity]

Hi Muniosi,

We can't see your picture, try attaching it using the controls under the edit box of this forum.

[Muniosi]

Ok, I edited the OP. Can you see the image now?

[Calamity]

Is that an ATI card?

I'm thinking this might be the splash screen bug corrupting the video driver. During boot, press escape as soon as the splash screen with the logo appears. If this fixes the problem, make the change permanent by entering the Video Grub menu and disabling the splash screen.

[Muniosi]

Yes it is an ATI card. I'll try that as soon as I get home, which won't be till Friday.

[Muniosi]

Ok I tried that. When I hit escape it gives me a black screen that just says "boot:" Just hitting enter takes me back to the splash screen.

[Calamity]

The idea is to press escape and wait till the frontend appears.

[Muniosi]

The splash screen appears. I hit escape. This screen appears:

It just stays there and nothing happens. What do I do?

[Calamity]

Hi Muniosi,

I think you're pressing escape too early. I meant the splash screen once you pass the boot menu and the system starts loading, the one with the blue planet.

[Muniosi]

Thanks for all your help so far. I'm not seeing any splash screen with a blue planet. The computer boots, and after some white-text-on-black I get this:

After I choose an option I get more white-text-on-black and then this:

I hit enter then this comes up:

At what point do I hit escape?

[Calamity]

Hi Muniosi,

Unless you have an ArcadeVGA, you shouldn't be seeing the boot menu synced. Won't you be using an S-Video connection?!?!

[Muniosi]

Yes I'm using S-Video. What do you mean by seeing the boot menu synced?

[Calamity]

Hi Muniosi,

You can't use GroovyArcade/GroovyMAME with a S-Video connection, it won't work. You need to use an RGB output (e.g. VGA to SCART).

The boot menu outputs at 31 kHz when using a proper RGB connection, so your picture showing it converted to 15 kHz was why VeS suggested me you were probably using a S-Video output.

[Muniosi]

Crap really? Didn't read that anywhere.

My computer only has S-Video, DVI and VGA. My TV has S-Video and RCA. Is there some kind of VGA to RCA adapter I can get?

[Calamity]

My computer only has S-Video, DVI and VGA. My TV has S-Video and RCA. Is there some kind of VGA to RCA adapter I can get?

RCA is even worse than S-Video. The only reasonable alternative to RGB is component video (NOT composite=RCA), by means of a transcoder. If your TV does not support component video then there's nothing you can do.

[Muniosi]

Shoot. Guess I'll need a different TV then?

[Sledge]

Shoot. Guess I'll need a different TV then?

Maybe time to find a bigger TV, de-case it, and get a universal chassis to run it! it might cost a bit more, but it will be worth it.

[cyb]

Shoot. Guess I'll need a different TV then?

you could theoretically convert RGB to component and then convert the component to s-video but that's a lot of work and money and the picture quality would not be worth all of that effort. You're better off just getting a tv with component inputs. I assume you're in the USA? Check craigslist you will probably find a very nice crt tv with component inputs for little to no money. Sony TVs are best if you don't mind the flat CRT. If you prever curved screens look for SHARP tvs in a silver casing. I tried one at a friend's house with my genesis hookedup to component and it looked really  good.