For those who use windows in cabinet...

[crashdmj]

Are their any real drawbacks(compared to dos) as long as your computer is somewhat fast....
Also what is your setup like: Frontend, Emu's, how it starts up...
Any good advice for future cabinet builders
Thanks

[atog]

I used to use Win98 in my cab.  This was nice because the ugly Windows loading screen can be removed in Win98, and replaced with a custom graphic.  My cab has a marvel comics theme, so I replaced it with a nice marvel pic.  

When I added laserdisc games to my cab, I had to upgrade to XP because Win98 cannot play mpegs smoothly enough.  The XP loading screen cannot be replaced like the Win98 one, so every time my cab boots now, I have to look at that ugly screen, which takes you out of the arcade "feeling" and makes you feel like it's just a computer.

[Minwah]

You CAN get rid of the XP loading screen, but it's somewhat more difficult than in '98.  Sorry I do not have a URL but try a search on Google, or someone else may know a link (?).  Actually, someone on here gave me a link once so you could try a search on here...

It basically involved downloading a 'resource hacker' and editing an .exe file.  You can add graphics of your choice (or remove the graphics altogether).  I do not know if it is possible to remove the 'welcome' screen too tho - that screen SUCKS!

[Jakobud]

Your best bet is Windows 2000 or XP.  2000 is a little bit better, although from what I hear XP loads up a little faster.  The biggest advantage to Windows over DOS is that you WILL get much better Mame performance.  As much as I hate Windows and hate using WIndows in my cabinet, it DOES give better performance than DOS.  Oh well.  I just have my cabinet boot up and then it starts Game Launcher (the best FE for a cabinet).  You can use any emulator with Game Launcher too.  I'm running Mame, VirtualNES, ZSNES, Gens, Magic Engine, Daphne, etc...  It works beautifully.

Whatever you do, don't run Windows 98 or ME.  They suck compared to 2000 or XP for what you need it for.  If you have ever used 98 before, you will notice that if the computer it used and not reset for too long (like a day) then the OS will start to slow down.  This will not happen with 2000 or XP because the architecture is different and the NT kernel doesn't want to cache every single little thing like 98/ME.

[beek]

You CAN get rid of the XP loading screen, but it's somewhat more difficult than in '98.  Sorry I do not have a URL but try a search on Google, or someone else may know a link (?).  Actually, someone on here gave me a link once so you could try a search on here...

It basically involved downloading a 'resource hacker' and editing an .exe file.  You can add graphics of your choice (or remove the graphics altogether).  I do not know if it is possible to remove the 'welcome' screen too tho - that screen SUCKS!

Here is the link to BootXP....works with 2000 & xp

http://www.fvip.net/bootxp/

[atog]

Wow beek that is awesome!  Thanks for the link, that dragons lair example will be way better than the stock xp loader screen.

[Mike]

I wouldn't use that software if you use the computer for anything else important. To clarify what that type of software does, it basically hacks the nt kernel. I don't trust replacing one of the most important system files with a hacked one I downloaded from the web. Just my 2 cents.

[Minwah]

Well I gave BootXP a go, seems to work very well.  Certainly a lot quicker+easier than altering ntoskrnl.exe yourself...

But I guess if you're worried then leave it well alone.

[SirPoonga]

You CAN get rid of the XP loading screen, but it's somewhat more difficult than in '98.  Sorry I do not have a URL but try a search on Google, or someone else may know a link (?).  Actually, someone on here gave me a link once so you could try a search on here...

It basically involved downloading a 'resource hacker' and editing an .exe file.  You can add graphics of your choice (or remove the graphics altogether).  I do not know if it is possible to remove the 'welcome' screen too tho - that screen SUCKS!

For my xp machine I have a space invaders startup screend:)

[Ghoul]

I would recommend going staying away from 2000. It is receiving less and less support (not only from larger developers, but ultimarc's new video card doesn't officially support 2000 if I recall).

XP is the most stable microsoft os I've ever used. ME you should stay away from. 98SE (DON'T GET 98, ONLY 98SE!) comes in at 2nd place in my books. If you are using 2 trackballs then go with 98se.

On the topic: windows works like a charm for me. If your computer is decent then you probably won't notice any difference between dos and windows. Plus, it's easier to network windows to another box to transfer files (do you really want to go to the trouble of taking that new 2GB mame update, putting it on cd, then carting it over to your arcade in pieces?).