GroovyUME Won't Launch

[ArcadeAction]

Hi - I've set up several systems successfully with Groovy and Hyperspin, but with this system:

GroovyUME won't launch when double-clicked. Initially when I boot my system, GroovyUME will launch, but then if I try to launch GroovyUME through Hyperspin it won't launch, and after if I try to launch GroovyUME on its own it also won't launch until after restarting.

I've tried deleting the ume.ini file and generating a new one with the run command -cc etc, but it still won't launch.

Thanks for your input.

My configuration:
-My system was working perfectly with GroovyUME through Hyperspin, but then my video card went bad and I replaced it with another ATI 4650 (but third party brand) This one uses 512MB RAM vs the former 1GB.
-I reinstalled the CRT_emudriver for WinXP64 and did the VMMaker lines when installing the new card. Initially I generated 120 lines with the original card and Hyperspin ran fine. With this card I need to reduce the modelines to about 100 to get Hyperspin to launch.
-In ume.ini I set it to monitor arcade_15
-Using GroovyUME .149

Hardware specs:
Using a Makvision 27/29 trimode
WinXP 64 bit
ATI 4650 video card.

[Calamity]

Hi ArcadeAction,

If it doesn't launch, it's probably crashing, so a log will show at what point the crash happens. Please get a log.

On the other hand, make sure you're using Hyperspin properly to launch GroovyMAME/UME. Search this board for the issues regarding Hyperlaunch.

[ArcadeAction]

The error log simply says:

physical width 640, height 480

This happened when I tried to launch GroovyUME by itself without Hyperspin.

My system/setup had been working great with the Hyperspin/GroovyUME earlier. It was only after installing a different video card and reinstalling the CRT_emudriver and running VMMAker 1.3 that I began having issues.

Upon boot I can run GroovyUME, but if I try in Hyperspin it won't work, and then after GroovyUME also won't launch on its own outside of Hyperspin.

Hi ArcadeAction,

If it doesn't launch, it's probably crashing, so a log will show at what point the crash happens. Please get a log.

On the other hand, make sure you're using Hyperspin properly to launch GroovyMAME/UME. Search this board for the issues regarding Hyperlaunch.

[Calamity]

Get a proper log: groovymame.exe romname -v >romname.txt

Also, make sure you have a look at the Hyperlaunch known problems I mentioned above.

[ArcadeAction]

I'll try to generate another log using that command line you provided.

I'm not actually using Hyperlaunch with GroovyUME. I'm running it directly with Hyperspin and in HQ have it set to disable Hyperlaunch.

[ArcadeAction]

I've tried putting that exactly in my command line and it splashes up a screen quickly and then disappears. I'm not sure where it would be writing the file.

I also substituted the "romname" with an actual name of a rom and it ran quite a while and then also closed.

Get a proper log: groovymame.exe romname -v >romname.txt

Also, make sure you have a look at the Hyperlaunch known problems I mentioned above.

[Calamity]

Well obviously "romname" had to be substituted. Look in the folder where groovymame.exe is, there should be a .txt file for us.

[ArcadeAction]

Fixed!

Here's what I did and I have no idea why this fixed it. I simply:
-Went into HyperHQ and changed it from normal to enable Hyperlaunch.
-Then went into HyperLaunchHQ and attempted to configure a module for it and saved this.
-Went back into Hyperspin and tried running a MAME game. It didn't work and I got a path error.
-Went back into HyperHQ and turned off using Hyperlaunch by going back to normal.
-Opened Hyperspin and tried a game, now everything works.

I don't know why, but it now works. It must have cleared something out switching Hyperlaunch on and then back off again, but it's back to good. On my several systems here I try not to breathe or it seems they can get messed up.

I was trying to get it to output that error file, but didn't get it to output a file I could find in the folder containing GroovyUME.

Thanks for your replies, Calamity, it is appreciated.

[Calamity]

I'm happy you fixed it.

Maybe you didn't type the command in the actual command line but from the run dialog? If you launch cmd.exe, go into the mame folder, and type the command there, you will get the file for sure. Anyway...

[ArcadeAction]

I'll try that as I should figure out the error log process.

1)  One other issue I never solved on this Makvision 27/29 monitor:
On Pacman/Galaga I don't seem to have enough vertical height on my monitor to fit the game on the screen. I'm attempting to use the vertical height on my monitor's remote board to adjust the size, but I still don't have enough height.

Is there a way to customize the resolution so I will have enough room without resorting to hitting TAB and distorting the game video size? If not, I guess I'll live with it.

On a 19" vision pro also running horizontally I do not have this issue and can adjust the vertical height to see all the pixels of the game on my screen.

[ArcadeAction]

After restarting it's no longer working again.

Error log attached.

It will load one game in Hyperspin, and then if I exit out and try another game it won't work. It also then won't work if launching GroovyUME by itself.

Thanks for your help

[Calamity]

Hi ArcadeAction,

Try disabling -multithreading in mame.ini.

Newer versions of GroovyMAME already have multithreading disabled by default. It shouldn't be necessary to turn it off if it has worked for you before. But I bet the interaction among multithreading and HS closing GM in a dirty way is what's corrupting everything. So even if it gets fixed by disabling multithreading, check your HS configuration again, to make sure the escape key is not being captured and forcing GM to close. GM needs to close by its own means in order to restore its registry configuration.

[ArcadeAction]

Hi Calamity,

Multithreading has been set to 0, though I'm getting the same results. Hyperspin will launch the first game in GroovyUME, but if I exit back to Hyperspin by hitting ESC it won't relaunch for another game and then I also can't open GroovyUME outside of Hyperspin.

Are you saying that I shouldn't have the ESC key function as the exit button from GroovyUME to go back to Hyperspin? I wanted to make sure that's what you meant. Currently I am still hitting ESC to exit a game in GroovyUME to return to Hyperspin and other emulators are set the same way. When running GroovyUME alone without Hyperspin, I am also hitting ESC to go back to the selection list.

Hi ArcadeAction,

Try disabling -multithreading in mame.ini.

Newer versions of GroovyMAME already have multithreading disabled by default. It shouldn't be necessary to turn it off if it has worked for you before. But I bet the interaction among multithreading and HS closing GM in a dirty way is what's corrupting everything. So even if it gets fixed by disabling multithreading, check your HS configuration again, to make sure the escape key is not being captured and forcing GM to close. GM needs to close by its own means in order to restore its registry configuration.

[Calamity]

Hi ArcadeAction,

I mean this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,135314.msg1398471.html#msg1398471
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,117935.msg1250279.html#msg1250279
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405.msg1154063.html#msg1154063

Just wondering if it may be related to your issue, not sure. Have you succeeded at running GroovyMAME *several times* from command line, not touching HS? If this was the case, then we should focus on your HS configuration.

[ArcadeAction]

Hi,

I've read those provided links through. When running in Hyperspin, Hyperlaunch is not being used, it is being run with the "normal" selection in HQ. Other emulators which are using Hyperlaunch through Hyperspin as well as ones that are not and are running with the "normal" selection, are all working. It's just GroovyUME that is not able to load/reload a game through Hyperspin. Currently it is actually no longer even loading the first game after a restart.

After a fresh restart though, I am able to run GroovyUME by itself outside of Hyperspin, launch a game or two, close it, and then rerun it again without issues. It must be something with Hyperspin/GroovyUME and the replacement video card now being used. It's an ATI 4650. I have a few other ATI cards of different model numbers I could try as well if you think that might work.

Thanks

Hi ArcadeAction,

I mean this:

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,135314.msg1398471.html#msg1398471
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,117935.msg1250279.html#msg1250279
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,106405.msg1154063.html#msg1154063

Just wondering if it may be related to your issue, not sure. Have you succeeded at running GroovyMAME *several times* from command line, not touching HS? If this was the case, then we should focus on your HS configuration.

[Calamity]

Hi ArcadeAction,

By looking at your log, I'd say GM is crashing right at the point where it switches the video mode. This would happen if DirectX was not available for some reason, maybe because the functionality has got corrupt in the previous GM session.

Just to make sure, when you tested disabling multithreading, you tested it right after start, didn't you? This is important. It would be good to see a new log with multithreading disabled.

It would be a good idea to test GM v0.152 too.

BTW, if GM can start multiple times when run from command line that means it's perfectly fine. It's how HS interacts with it what's messing things up.

The fact that the new card has exposed this issue doesn't mean the video card is to blame, maybe the initializacion process of this chipset takes a slightly different amount of time and things happen in a way that result in the crash you're seeing but the actual cause of the crash was previous. Of course there's a remote possibility that the card as actually faulty but I don't believe so.

[ArcadeAction]

Hi,

Yeah, I had tested it right after a restart as well.

I'll try the newer version of GM and post a new log.

I do also notice this video card taking some pauses to switch resolutions that didn't appear with the former card. Currently with VMMaker I installed resolutions for 15/25/31, though maybe I'll go back to just 15. With the current setup it didn't give me a 640x480 15 option, but a 641x480. I'll have to learn how to manually add resolutions and edit them. Using Winmode I've deleted some so Hyperspin would launch.

Just to make sure, when you tested disabling multithreading, you tested it right after start, didn't you? This is important. It would be good to see a new log with multithreading disabled.

It would be a good idea to test GM v0.152 too.

I'll try the newer version of Groovy 0.152 and

[ArcadeAction]

Hi, I just got back at this.

Attached is a new log file. This is using GroovyUME .152. I am currently experiencing the same issues with Hyperspin as earlier.

Also, the first time I launched this new version of GroovyUME after immediately copying it into my MAME folder and on a fresh restart, I did get a popup message about switchres and modeline 1. The ume.ini file does have switchres set to 1. I didn't see this message later though. I am using the same ume.ini file as with the previous GroovyUME version.

This video card does seem to take a couple seconds longer to switch to the game resolution after selecting it using just GroovyUME than my previous video card.

Thanks

[ArcadeAction]

Not sure which step to take next, but maybe I will try another video card if need be.

[Calamity]

Hi ArcadeAction,

Your log looks fine. However I notice you have 100 custom modes. Even if HS is launching fine, I'm wondering if this could be true just partially and maybe you should reduce the list even more, just an idea. Have you tried by using magic modelines? (in vmmaker.ini: ModeTableMethod_XML = 2).