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JoeViking245

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Posts posted by JoeViking245

    Mame - Monitor Question

    in Emulation

    Posted

    I was toying with this just the other week.  If everything other than Mame works on the monitors they way you want, be it Monitor "1" or "2", "Primary" or otherwise, leave it be.  To fix Mame, edit the mame.ini file.

    The following is paraphrased from https://www.reddit.com/r/MAME/comments/66abdw/mame64_automatically_keeps_outputting_to_second/:

    Start with the opening the command prompt (or PowerShell) in your Mame directory.  In Windows explorer, navigate to you Mame directory. Press Shift+right-mouse-click, select "Open PowerShell window here".  Type "mame64.exe -v".  (You may need to add ".\" in front of it.  ".\mame64.exe -v".  [it's a PowerShell thing])

    At the top of the output, you should see something like: 

    Video: Monitor 262893 = "\\.\DISPLAY1" (primary)
Video: Monitor 131073 = "\\.\DISPLAY2"

    Make note of what Mame is calling your monitors.  Now edit your mame.ini file.  Near the bottom is a heading "OSD PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS": 

    #
# OSD PER-WINDOW VIDEO OPTIONS
#
screen                     \\.\DISPLAY2
aspect                    auto
resolution                auto
view                      auto
screen0                    \\.\DISPLAY2
aspect0                   auto
resolution0               auto
view0                     auto
screen1                    \\.\DISPLAY2
aspect1                   auto
resolution1               auto
view1                     auto
screen2                    \\.\DISPLAY2
aspect2                   auto
resolution2               auto
view2                     auto
screen3                    \\.\DISPLAY2
aspect3                   auto
resolution3               auto
view3                     auto 
    Quote

    Swap DISPLAY2 for DISPLAY1 and DISPLAY3 if the screen's misplaced. Putting DISPLAY2 for every screen is a tad overkill but it makes troubleshooting a bit quicker...

     

    Best Performance

    in Noobs

    Posted

    Just looked at what an ROG-GR6 is.  So yes, a complete, new, fresh build is your only option.  For CPU, I prefer Intel over AMD (that's just me). The more cores a CPU has, the less GHz required to outperform lesser CPUs, and decreases power consumption and heat.  With that, more is better. Too much is.... well, call it future proofing. 

    Is your current GPU standalone?  That is, can you take it out to use it in a new box?  Note: re the 960, yesterday I was playing Lego Jurassic World (via Steam) through HDMI to my 60" 1080p and it (GTX 960 4GB, not MSI overclocked) was running at mostly 100%.  Not sure if that's the nature of GPU's. Just sayin'.  The GTX 1060 is good.  Maybe also look at the RX 580.  And yes, anything beyond that is "just a waste of money".

    If doing a diy build, PCPartPicker is a good resource. 

    Best Performance

    in Noobs

    Posted

    I recently upgraded my CPU from an i3-2120 3.3 GHz to an i5-2550K 3.4GHz and noticed a huge difference in BB.  Other specs are: 8GB DDR3, GTX 960 4GB, 250GB SSD for OS only, 1 TB HDD.  Granted I only have 4700 games, it seems to run pretty smoothly.

    What's the best CPU? Probably the the fastest your MB will take without mortgaging the house (ok, mortgaging is probably is little far fetched).  I wanted to get an i7-2700k(?) which my MB would take, but had a hard time justifying the funds.  I think anything above your current 2.20 would scream performance (from what you're seeing now). Everything looks fine.

    Big Box + Dolphin + Wii Remote = Pain

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    I don't have a Wii remote setup (though that would be pretty awesome!) but do have an Xbox360 remote that works great in Dolphin through Big Box.  Is the Wiimote setup in BB?  i.e. Options. Controllers. ...then check 1 or both options.  (Enable Game Controllers, Use all Controllers)  I'm pretty sure they need to be setup independent of LB. 

    Epic Mickey 2 will not show Box Art/metadata

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    53 minutes ago, Woobman said:

    For some reason Epic Mickey 2 will not show box art or Metadata.

    Have you tried to simply drag-and-drop the image files into Edit Game? Be sure to right click the image(s) and set them to the appropriate Image Type.

    Click OK (to save) then press F5 to refresh the images for that game (or click Tools and select Refresh All Images).  

    Artwork and bezels in MAME

    in Emulation

    Posted

    14 hours ago, Ninjadog said:

    I am having a hell of a time trying to get the MAME64 0.203 to load images in that big window that says image.

    Are you talking in MAME itself?  i.e. when you open mame64.exe?  If so, probably just a matter of setting up the directories in MAME.  Like... "Configure Options", "Configure Directories"...

    As for Bezels, a good source is Mr. Do's Arcade - In-Game Arcade Artwork and his how-to FAQ...  MAME Artwork FAQ.  

    LB should show roms after moving to another partition

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    Looking into this a little further, The best solution is already built in to LaunchBox.  I'm guessing this issue has been discussed ad nauseam.  That's why no one else chimed in.

    For those who searched for or stumbled across this with the same issue, here's what you do:

    If you moved all your ROMS for a particular platform to a different folder, partition or anywhere after you already had then setup in LB (and assuming you still see them all in LB, but they won't launch because "The ROM file you specified does not exist."):

    - Select the platform
    - Select (single click) one game
    - Hit Ctrl+A (select all games)
    - Select TOOLS
    - Select "Change ROMs Folder for Selected Games..." 
    - Find and select the folder where you placed your ROM files in for that platform
    - Select "Yes", then "OK"

    Setting up a laptop for BigBox only?

    in Noobs

    Posted

    Quote

    Do you happen to know if Autoruns will work with Win8. I checked out the website and it just basically says Windows.

    I'd almost bet it'd even work in Windows 95.  OK, maybe.  lol   But I'm sure it will on Win8.  All it's doing is reading entries from the registry file.  It will NOT change anything unless you tell it to.  So it's safe to at least look at.  In fact to make a change, Autoruns needs to be ran as Administrator.  If you attempt a change something  without starting it as administrator, it will say something to the affect of... "Hey! You didn't start me as an administrator. You want me to restart as an admin so we can actually make these changes happen?"

    Setting up a laptop for BigBox only?

    in Noobs

    Posted · Edited by JoeViking245
    formatting

    Download and run Autoruns from Microsoft.  It's a standalone program so doesn't need to be installed. 

     

    In a nutshell, it "shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login".  With it you can check/un-check which app and services will run at startup.  Anything you un-check remains there [visually] so later you can re-check as needed.

     

     

    If you want to get real crazy, check out Black Viper’s Windows 10 Service Configurations.  He (she?) details out Services in Windows 10 that can be changed on a system for a "safe" or "tweaked" mode, according to the author.

    Easy Multiple Monitor Configuration switching [Solved]

    in Noobs

    Posted

    My arcade cab has its' 22" monitor plugged into the DVI port and a 60" TV plugged into the HDMI port.  I found myself sometimes just wanting to play on the cab and other times on the 'big screen'.  The problem I had was when playing on the cab while someone was watching [regular] TV, the cab (Windows 10 PC) would see multiple displays and "extended these displays".  Though it was merely a minor irritant, I just had to figure something out to simplify switching between settings.

    The solution (I found at least) was using an Open Source program and creating a batch file. The program is:

    Monitor Profile Switcher (MPF)
    "Save and easily switch between Windows multi monitor configurations"
    https://sourceforge.net/projects/monitorswitcher/

    Through the programs GUI (MonitorSwitcherGUI.exe), it saves an xml of your current display settings.  So what I did was adjust my display settings for a single monitor and in MPF, saved profile as CabOnly.  Then adjusted the display settings for "Extend these displays" (set main display etc..) and in MPF, saved profile as CabAndTv.

    I then created a batch file that uses the command line program (MonitorSwitcher.exe) to switch between the 2 profiles when executed.  

    @echo off
if not exist "1.txt" goto :switch else goto :quit
:quit
MonitorSwitcher.exe -load:CabOnly.xml
del 1.txt /q
exit
:switch
MonitorSwitcher.exe -load:CabAndTv.xml
echo "Monitor Settings Switched!" > 1.txt
exit

    The batch file creates/deletes a 'place holder' file (1.txt) so that it "knows" which profile it's in and thus switches to the other profile.

    Caveat:  The MPF GUI saves the xml files to your  

    C:\Users\MyUserName\AppData\Roaming\MonitorSwitcher\


    directoy.  So for ease, you'll want to copy them to your MPF directory. (Create the batch file in there as well).  Send a shortcut of the batch file to your desktop and just double-click when you want to switch display profiles.

    This can also be useful inside BigBox if you have a stubborn game that will only show on the "Main Display" and the TV is set to the 'extended display'.  Ok, I've only come across one like that: Lego Star Wars - The Complete Saga.  Created a MPF profile TvMainDisplay and in LaunchBox, Edit Game, Additional Apps. added Run before Main Application and Run After, respectively.

    Anyway, just thought I'd share a solution to 'a personal problem'. :)

    Big box on 4k tv

    in Noobs

    Posted

    (just to test and see) Set your 4K to primary monitor (main display).  (You'll probably now need to change where BB displays in its' options.)

    Does BB show full screen now on the 4K?

     

    Mine did at least.  (Monitor as Main, BB filled 3/4th of the TV.  TV as Main, BB filled 100%)

    My cab has a 22" monitor (1680 x 1050) and the attached TV is 60" (non-4K) at 1920 x 1080.  The "fix" for me to keep the monitor as Main was change the "Scale and Layout" for the TV in (Windows) display settings to 125% (Windows 10). 

    Launchbox 9.0 Change Log

    in News and Updates

    Posted

    4 hours ago, Kondorito said:

    I want to run this clean-up tool, but I am afraid I would erase some stuff I want to keep. Haven't passed the first Warning window of it, afraid that it might start just deleting everything it considers not in use. Please let me know after it finishes the above process if it shows you a final warning for the deletion of everything, or if it shows you what is going to be deleted.

    Just now running it too.  Not half way and says 38k+ files so far.  BUT... it does say "...files currently being used..".  Not 'files to be [permanently] deleted'.

    Also, it seems to go through your entire library.  Not just the platform your in nor only the files/games selected (say, using ctrl+a).

    Let you know.. maybe in an hour or so.  lol

    PCSX2 doesn't like .cue files (inside .zip), can launchbox send the .bin instead?

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    I figured there has to be an easier way... found this,

    Copied from: https://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/337273-bulk-delete-certain-types-files-rar-zip-archive.html

    Quote

     

    Hi,

    The below script should do the trick, you are best putting all your .rar files into a single folder and replace the bit i have marked <file_path_here> with the path to the folder with all the .rar's

    From Command Line

    Code: 
    
for %I in (<file_path_here>\*.rar) do "C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" d -ibck "%I" *.txt

    From Batch File

    Code: 
    
for %%I in (<file_path_here>\*.rar) do "C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" d -ibck "%%I" *.txt

    *** Important ***
    Create yourself a test folder with a copy of a couple of the .rars and do a small test against them first

    At the end of the script you will notice .txt, specify the file extension you want to remove there
    You can list multiple file extensions at once...

    Code: 
    
for %%I in (<file_path_here>\*.rar) do "C:\Program Files\WinRAR\WinRAR.exe" d -ibck "%%I" *.txt

      

    Sounds like winrar will also do .zip files (vs just PKZip).  Just replace .rar with .zip in the script/batch file.  Also, (reading on) sounds best to do your files in manageable chunks.

    Can big box run background music for each game, like custom made music that will run when game is selected, if so where you place audio file?

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    If you're saying when a game has focus in BB (rather than, is actually playing)..

    Place the music file in the appropriate directory under "Music" (i.e. Nintendo 64), and give it the same name as the game file (i.e. Mario Kart 64). 

    C:\LaunchBox\Music\Nintendo 64\Mario Kart 64.mp3

     

    If you want music played while playing a game, then you're probably getting into an autohotkey script, which shouldn't be too difficult, but beyond me.

    BigBox and CPWizard Glitches

    in Troubleshooting

    Posted

    Just discovered CPWizard... after of course already staring to draw up some controller picts to place on bezels. lol

    Excellent plugin/addition for MAME!!!  Will work on adding CPWizBiz soon for other emulators. ?

    However I'm running into the same issue levi brought up (issue #2), the white square/window.  I've found it shows up after exiting MAME in both LaunchBox and BigBox.  Issue #1 (CiceroUIWNDFrame) appears also, but goes away.  While in LB, I tried closing CPW but the 'square' is still there until exiting LB (same with BB).  I tried searching around for this issue but didn't find anything.  Anyone find a solution?

    Using CPW v2.67 and latest LB/BB beta release. 

    I the mean time I'm "exporting" bezels (may do CP images too) and see what that brings.

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