Can't Import ROMs: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

[lino11]

Launchbox version 6.11

Windows 7 sp1 64-bit OS

 

Hey guys, major issue with my Launchbox all of a sudden.

When importing new roms, I'm getting this error message: 

"Could not import game from ROM file <NAME OF GAME.FILE>: Object reference not set to an instance of an object."

 

Background:

I have roughly 2tb of games in my library... they were all set up in Launchbox and running fine previously. Everything worked great.

1. Roms were getting full on my 2tb external hd, so this week I moved them all to a 4tb external hd.

2. I then signed up for EmuMovies, got the $60 lifetime membership.

3. Next, I moved the Launchbox application (and accompanying folders) onto my spare 2tb external hd, knowing that with EmuMovies, I'd be downloading a bunch of junk, imgs, videos, etc.

4. Opened Launchbox, with a now empty library, and began adding my collection in. I got through Amiga games and Sega 32X and those loaded up perfectly. But every ROM folder I've tried after that has given me this issue since. (And these are the same exact roms that were loaded and working on Launchbox previously)

 

Clearly all the moving around has short-circuited some of the gadgets and gizmos.

Help me, Launchbox Community, you're my only hope!

 

[lino11]

Any LaunchBox bros out there that can help? You guys are 0 for 2 now.... my troubleshooting questions go completely ignored.

I'm giving you the exact error message and photos to help.

No love for a Premium member??

[DOS76]

These are more of the type thing that @Jason Carr should be able to help you with he is a busy man and if he hasn't gotten around to seeing this it may have fallen through the cracks but it isn't anything intentional hopefully he will see this post soon so he can try to help you out.

[lino11]

Ok understandable. If you hear from him, though, let him know my mom kinda thinks I'm a big deal. So.... front of the line?

[ckp]

It's not exactly clear to me about the state your LB folder is in now and what you have in there (actual game roms, media files, etc).

Are you opposed to trying a clean LB install to a new folder and starting from scratch? That would surely work.

Which pieces are you trying to avoid doing rework (images, video, etc)? 

You said everything was running fine before you started moving things around.

Do you still have the setup that is working fine, or are you able to get back to that and try moving pieces a little at a time, maybe with some guidance?

 

[lino11]

Ok, I'll try changing the drives. Originally had it on the C: working perfectly. 

But with now having EmuMovies, I just assumed more media files would be downloaded as I re-imported the rom collection back into LB.... so I switched LB to a 4tb drive.

 

What's weird is that for the first two systems I entered roms for... they worked. Notice on the picture in the op, you see the 32X games there. Amiga games loaded up, as well.... all on the 4tb.

Next, I tried whatever system.... and started getting this error message. I can't even get Game Boy Color and I had maxed out my 2tb of games before... so PS2, Dreamcast, everything was working fine before.

 

Also of note, just days ago I signed up for the $60 lifetime EmuMovies account.

I was getting a second error message, as well, that I've tried to get handled on their boards. The guy just got back to me and asked me to sync my account with their download service and it worked flawlessly. Here is the error msg:

"An error occurred while trying to parse EmuMovies for EmuMovies.DownloadServiceApi+System Music Media: Unexpected end tag. Line 7, position 3."

 

Thanks again for your help! I know you guys are busy.

Edited October 24, 2016 by lino11

[lino11]

UPDATE 3:

Crisis averted!! Thanks for your help, guys.

ROMS are importing and video playback started working with the VLC option clicked. The Windows Media Player option gives me a black screen with the audio playing, no video.

Also of note..... the 4TB WD My Passport Ultra has issues with LaunchBox... contributing to the "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error msg when importing ROMs.

 

UPDATE 2:

Ok, it looks like in the Options settings, under Game Details.... "Videos" was not checked.

This made it almost work... the video screen opens up in the right side details page.... I can hear it playing... but it's just a black screen.

Now, I have some games importing... when it finishes, I'll relaunch LB and see if the videos play from that point.

Also, I see there's a recommended VLC option for playback, Windows Media Player was set to default, I'll mess with this, too.

 

UPDATE:

One problem fixed, another one remains.

So I moved LaunchBox off my external and onto a 1.5tb internal hard drive... not my C:\ 

Importing ROMs are working now!!!

But.... it has crashed my system twice so far, right when the red bar is at about 95%. I've started with all the easy stuff first. I'm not looking forward to adding PS2, Dreamcast, etc... I'll worry about this later.

 

However, EmuMovies videos are not syncing into Launchbox....... they are being downloaded successfully. I see them in my folders. I have all the folders contained within the LaunchBox folder, all to where they save by default. This is on the internal HD now.

Edited October 26, 2016 by lino11