Dos and windows mame problems

[Wade]

I am having problems getting either one to run properly!

I had Mame .62 running in DOS okay.  Couldn't run Windows 95 because of an IOS bug (k6-2 400 mhz).  PCI Trident 9680 video.

Last night, I downloaded a Windows 95 update which fixed the IOS bug.  I also installed an ATI 3DXpression+ PC2TV (Rage II, Mach64 chip).  I thought things would be easy now.

Now... from just DOS, I can't run mame.  The display just goes black and the entire machine hangs.  I can't even do a soft reset.  The TV-out works up until the hang.  ArcadeOS no longer finds my roms.

From Windows, Game Launcher runs (after I installed a sound card, before that it bombed) but doesn't find any roms.  I can go to the windows command prompt and run DOS mame perfectly.  I can't run the Windows mame (which is 0.63 I'm pretty sure as I just downloaded it yesterday), it bombs on a DirectVideo or DirectDraw error.  I installed DirectX 5 and it didn't help.  I am confused as to why DOS mame will run in Windows but not in DOS, and the Windows Mame won't run at all!

I'm thinking I might need some sort of DOS VESA driver to make DOS mame work with my new ATI card, but I'm not sure.  I saw a web page yesterday (and apparently didn't bookmark it) that had lots of info on setting up DOS mame, including video drivers.

Funny thing is I had no problems getting any of this stuff to work on my PIII-1000 mhz, Win2000 notebook.  I'm starting to wonder if I need Windows 98 to run the Windows Mame?  As for the DOS stuff, I'm baffled.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Wade

[Wade]

Wow, just discovered the most recent version of DirectX is 8 for windows 95... I'll try that tonight and see if it fixes the windows mame version.  Still need suggestions for DOS mame though.

Wade

[rampy]

Wow, just discovered the most recent version of DirectX is 8 for windows 95... I'll try that tonight and see if it fixes the windows mame version.  Still need suggestions for DOS mame though.

Wade

hey wade... is there a log file for dos mame? to see what it tried to load last?  My guess, dollars to donuts is it's some sort of issue with your DOS soundcard drivers (either not being setup, or being autodetected wrong by mame)

Just a hunch ... what sound card do you have in there? And are all the dos environment set blaster type thingies initialized?

rampy

[Wade]

No, my soundcard isn't set up properly in DOS yet.  It is a Sound Blaster Pro, I think.  Windows 95 says its a Soundblaster 16 or AWE32.

I disable sound when I load it from DOS.  Does that eliminate sounds as the cause?

Thanks,
Wade

[rampy]

No, my soundcard isn't set up properly in DOS yet.  It is a Sound Blaster Pro, I think.  Windows 95 says its a Soundblaster 16 or AWE32.

I disable sound when I load it from DOS.  Does that eliminate sounds as the cause?

Thanks,
Wade

Yeah... if you are really disabling it  i.e.  -soundcard 0 than that would rule it out..  I had seen simliar lock ups when i was experimenting with my crappy soundcard by forcing the wrong soundcard setting.

my other thought was a wacky video mode but that might be a long shot.

You are trying this from "true" dos right? not just a command line window in windows95?

rampy

[rampy]

I realize i didn't comprehend all of your message.   Are you able to get MAME to work in straight DOS straight from teh command line without AoS?
(ie narrow the possible points of failure)  like c:\dmame gamename -soundcard 0 or whatever...

One idea http://how.to/mame as lots of DOS setup related info if maybe that's the site you were looking at and lost.  A dos mode univibe driver may help (check the purple mame page to see if they have one handy that works with your vid card)

Good luck with the direct X install -  hopefully that helps your windows mame issue.  It should.  I'm sure people will tell you should upgrade because w95 is kinda flakey, but ...  *Shrug* use what works for you (of course it's not working for you now, but that's a differetn story)

rampy

PS I don't know anything about Arcade OS after you narrow down some of your issues (dx8, etc) maybe start a new Aos specific thread so the AoS experts will be more likely to bop in and help.  Are you going to a TV for your project or an Arc Monitor?  I  may be wrong, but you probably don't need AoS if you are NOT using an arc monitor, but I could be wrong on that.  *shrug* ymmv

[Wade]

I realize i didn't comprehend all of your message.   Are you able to get MAME to work in straight DOS straight from teh command line without AoS?
(ie narrow the possible points of failure)  like c:\dmame gamename -soundcard 0 or whatever...

Mame used to work in straight DOS but stopped yesterday.  I think it was caused by switching to the ATI vga card.

Dos Mame was working if I were in Windows...

Windows Mame wasn't working.

One idea http://how.to/mame as lots of DOS setup related info if maybe that's the site you were looking at and lost.  A dos mode univibe driver may help (check the purple mame page to see if they have one handy that works with your vid card)

That is exactly the site!  Thanks a bunch... I can't believe I didn't bookmark it!

Good luck with the direct X install -  hopefully that helps your windows mame issue.  It should.  I'm sure people will tell you should upgrade because w95 is kinda flakey, but ...  *Shrug* use what works for you (of course it's not working for you now, but that's a differetn story)

rampy

That was the problem.  At lunch, I ran home to eat and installed DirectX 8.  Windows mame works now!  I might use a Windows front end so now at least I have a possible way to make it all work.

I haven't yet decided if I'm going to run DOS or Windows for this machine.  Really, I want to evaluate the front ends and the performance of both.  It also depends on what kind of monitor I end up using.

PS I don't know anything about Arcade OS after you narrow down some of your issues (dx8, etc) maybe start a new Aos specific thread so the AoS experts will be more likely to bop in and help.  Are you going to a TV for your project or an Arc Monitor?  I  may be wrong, but you probably don't need AoS if you are NOT using an arc monitor, but I could be wrong on that.  *shrug* ymmv

I'm not too worried about Arcade OS at this point.  I have to get DOS mame working first.  But you are right, I need to sold my Dos Mame problem and start different threads for the other programs later if needed.

Right now, I'm using the TV out on the VGA card and setting it up for a TV.  If I decide to use an arcade monitor then I'll probably worry about Arcade OS then.  I might need Arcade OS if I end up doing it all DOS based, even if I use the TV out.

At this point I'm trying to evaluate several options before comitting to a monitor.  Whether or not I go with an arcade monitor mostly depends on whether or not I can find an arcade machine locally that I like (price, and style).  I am going to check out a local machine in the next couple of days (blitz 99 for $395).  I think most likely I will build a Konami (Simp, TMNT) cab and buy a 27" TV.

Thanks a bunch for the help, esp the Purple Mame link...  I'd have never found that again!

Wade

[Wade]

More info...

As far as I can tell, everything in Windows mame works okay now.  Except the performance is noticably worse on my machine in Win compared to Dos.

Figured out how to get DOS mame to work.  Unplug the TV!  If I boot up without the TV connected, dos mame works fine.  But if I boot up with the TV out connected, the system hangs when I run DOS mame.  I found the dos VESA drivers and set all that up, it seemed to have no effect on anything. :/

If money were no object, I'd buy a 27" happ VGA and be done with the video issues for good.  But if I want to use the TV out I'd be forced to upgrade my PC.  Decisions...

Wade

[rampy]

More info...

As far as I can tell, everything in Windows mame works okay now.  Except the performance is noticably worse on my machine in Win compared to Dos.

Figured out how to get DOS mame to work.  Unplug the TV!  If I boot up without the TV connected, dos mame works fine.  But if I boot up with the TV out connected, the system hangs when I run DOS mame.  I found the dos VESA drivers and set all that up, it seemed to have no effect on anything. :/

If money were no object, I'd buy a 27" happ VGA and be done with the video issues for good.  But if I want to use the TV out I'd be forced to upgrade my PC.  Decisions...

Wade

Hey Wade,

I posted something in the thread on the mainboard (dunno if it will help)

But wanted to comment on something you touched on above...

I think that's part of what happens when you have a finite budget for something like a Mame arcade cabinet/conversion  you can either spend money to do things quicker and easier or toil in DOS configs using the stuff you have on hand in order to eak out a few more FPS.

I'm currently in that camp.  I tend to spend time/elbow grease on my cabinet instead of money (not counting the 100 ducket yoke I just won on ebay *ouch*) so... I dick around with TSR's, autoexec.bat's, sidewinder hacks etc to get the most muscle out of my meager machine (celery 366 @ 550mhz) in DOS.

You may want to try a different TV out capable card (even if it's only a loaner to try) or get a new one (but at that point -> why not upgrade the whole machine =P )

*shrug* decisions decsioins...

good luck,

rampy

[Wade]

rampy,

   You might have seen my post in the performance thread, but in case you didn't... I switched my 450mhz machine to an older version of mame (0.36 I think) and several games run MUCH faster!  From 18fps up to a full 60fps!  You might try that if you haven't already.  I might be able to squeeze by without a PC upgrade for longer than I thought.

Wade

[rampy]

rampy,

   You might have seen my post in the performance thread, but in case you didn't... I switched my 450mhz machine to an older version of mame (0.36 I think) and several games run MUCH faster!  From 18fps up to a full 60fps!  You might try that if you haven't already.  I might be able to squeeze by without a PC upgrade for longer than I thought.

Wade

I've been meaning to try that... but it's more work to keep different builds of mame with sometimes specific rom needs (if you want to try the latest additions to mame or lightgun action)... i did try a ton of different older versions of mame but it didn't help in some of the games I was hoping for (mKII/NBA jams etc..)

*shrug* It is a good idea though - just more work to configure if you want to mix and match MAME versions/romsets.  I'll just be happy with the 1000 (or whatever) romsets that do run well on my setup until I do splurge for a new mobo/chip/ram etc...

Glad you found something that's working for you though Wade... that's what it's all about eeking out every last fps on some old box=)

rampy