How do I slow down the launching of ArcadeOs in the start up menu?

[Dave_DND]

Please help, I`m a Newbie here.

I have finally got a version of Mame/ArcadeOS running on an old PC and ended up using a windows version to overcome the usual sound issues.

I want the computer to auto boot into Arcadeos, but when put into the start menu it launches a few seconds before windows has finished doing its thing and Arcadeos often ends up as a small minimised Icon on the bottom of the screen. I`ve heard that there is some form of WAIT command or batch file I can use, but all links I have been sent are just to pages of people endlessly waffling instead of providing a solution.

Does anybody know how I can delay for a few seconds the launching of a program in the start up menu.

I`m running a P233 with Windows 98, Mame 0.36 and ArcadeOs 2.47

[dabone]

Make a batch file that calls this then arcadeos.

http://www.afreego.com/Categories/Utilities/Automation/006450.php



Later,
dabone

[Dave_DND]

Thanks for the link - great little program, however it did not solve my problem. It gave me a delay that allowed me to see what was going on, but I think my thought about delaying the start of arcadeos was in the wrong direction.

Thanks anyway - help was appreciated - I have posted a new question, and if you can help, please do !!

[elvis]

Instead of trying to delay ArcadeOS, why don't you find out what's being executed after it and turn that off?

Look in your startup folder and system registry for unnecessary utilities and remove them.  Often third-party volume control software and whatnot are loaded when the default Windows tools do fine, and don't need to load as a "startup" item.

[Dave_DND]

Thanks for helping!

The computer is only running windows 98 with bare minimum settings, Mame and Arcadeos - nothing else. Apart from Arcadeos the startup menu is empty. I have just tried another front end (Gamelauncher) and had a similar result making me think I have a conflict somewhere, but just not sure where.

When Arcadeos or gamelauncher is run from the desktop, all is just fine, works and sounds a treat. However, if either are dragged into the start up menu the machine will boot up, show a window indicating that the program has been loaded and then simply flick back to the windows page with the program shown as a minimised box on the bottom left toolbar. Any attempt to click on this box simply freezes the computer. With gamelauncher, I had a similar experience, but did once see a square message box appear on the monitor briefly that said Signal out of range
FH23.7
FV37.7
I don`t know what these mean, but I am using standard on board sound and graphics, both of which work very well when used after windows has loaded fully, hence my initial thoughts of slowing down the loading of the program to allow something else to load first, but this obviously isn`t the case.
Any further thoughts greatly appreciated

[SirPeale]

ArcadeOS is a *DOS* application.  Why aren't you running it from DOS?   You mention sound drivers, but on a machine that old you should be able to find the DOS drivers fairly readily.  What kind of sound set up do you have?

[Dave_DND]

Problem solved !  The muppet who told me to run Arcadeos in windows was wrong. When the computer boots up with Arcadeos in the startup menu it defaults to an arcade monitor, when in windows, a PC monitor.

Reconfigured all to DOS, called Bill Gates a few names and am nw happily playing games. Thanks for everybodies help and input, very much appreciated!!