hansolo77

I'm not even sure if anybody is willing to help me or not, but I have to try...

So my server that was having all kinds of trouble with failing hard drives and whatnot seems to be up and running smoothly again. Now I'm having trouble with my main HTPC/Media Center. For the last few days, I've been having a lot of trouble with it failing to suspend/resume in StandBy. Let me explain what I have it doing, and then what it's not.

RIght now, I have the computer setup to go into standby when it's not in use. This is no big deal. I have it set to suspend, and then allow it to wake up when it needs to do a backup. It also wakes up when it's time to record a tv show. These are the only automated resumes I have. If I'm wanting to use the computer, or watch tv, etc; the computer can be awoken by either the keyboard, a mouse click, or pressing the power button on my remote control. This has always worked flawlessly until the last couple of days.

Lately, when I come home from work, the computer will be ON and not in standby as usual. When I look at the case, the power light is solid on, and the HD activity light blinks occasionaly as if it's doing it's normal thing. What's NOT normal is the TV/Monitor has no display, and the keyboard lights are off. What I think is happening is that the computer is attempting to go into standby but is getting hung up somewhere. The only thing I can do at this point is force the computer to power off by holding the power button in for a few seconds. When I reboot the first time, no display is given, so I turn it off and back on again. The 2nd time it's rebooted Windows throws up an error that it was unable to RESUME, and asks me if I want it to continue to try, or just load Windows normally. I tell it to just load Windows normally, and then it does. Everything from that point on works like it should. I can even tell it go into standby with my remote's power button, and it resumes when I press it again, just like it should. Then I go to bed and work the next day. I come home, and the computer is 'stuck' again, needing to go through the whole reboot process again. I don't know what the problem is, and I've not made any changes to the system (install new software/drivers, change the power settings, etc).

So today I came home from work to find the computer stuck again. I tried to force it to reboot as before by holding down the power button, but it didn't do anything for over a minute. I reached behind the case and switched off the power supply directly. That got the power off, but now I can't get it to come back on again! This is why I'm asking for help.

According to various resources on the net, I've tried a number of different approaches to fix this problem. I've switched off the power and held down the power button to drain the capacitors. I've unplugged the power for 30+ minutes. I've removed the CMOS battery. I've jumpered the pins to clear the CMOS. I've removed all external devices, like the monitor cable, audio cables, keyboard/mouse, network, usb devices, etc. I've even gone as far as to unplug the powersupply from the motherboard and used a paperclip to force close the circuit to trip the power supply on (and it DID switch on when I did that). Nothing seems to work. Then I remembered theres a light on the motherboard, identified as "sb_pwr". This light indicates there is StandBy Power. The light is usually on solid green, but its blinking very faintly. The manufacture's forum suggests this means one of two things; either the motherboard is in standby, or there is insufficient power on the +5v rail. Since I know I've been having trouble with the standby/resume, I assume this blinking light is related.

So what I think is happening, the motherboard has switched into standby mode and won't wake up until the appropriate trigger is received. Trouble is, I don't know what that trigger might be. If it's a command from Windows, it's not going to get it since I can't power the computer up. If it's a switch like the power button, I'm pressing it like crazy. I hoped resetting the CMOS/battery would clear the standby lockout but it's not working.

I just don't know what else to try. I'm really desperate for some help here because it's the only thing I have that I use for watching TV, playing games, surfing the net, etc. If anybody has had any kinda of similar situation, and remembers how to get out of it, PLEASE let me know!

The latest version of Future Pinball is really nice. It has a new input interface that detected my game pad and allowed me to map the buttons I wanted to the table. When I load up Future Pinball directly, everything works perfectly. However; when I launch Future Pinball from GameEx, it seems like I've lost focus somewhere. The game pad doesn't work until after I click the mouse button, thus bringing focus to the game, instead of whatever else it's on. Anybody had this problem and know how to resolve it? I don't mind clicking the mouse, but it seems kinda strange to have to click it everytime I want to play.

Is the website/server down or not working right? When I log in with the program, it tells me there are updates available. I select [YES] to see the updates. I choose the system, then on the right where you select your set to download, it just lists nothing. I tried selecting the nothing, and GO lights up. But when I press GO, nothing scans/downloads. It does this with the version currently with GameEx, and the standalone version on your homepage that's up to version 0.98. Just curious.


Also, did you used to have artwork for Visual Pinball on there? I see a lot of users here that have played Pinball and have some kinda screenart. When I tried to download them, all I had available was Video_F4V. I downloaded them but they're all for widescreen full size cabinet tables, not for a HTPC setup. I'd love to see some standard 4x3 videos and/or static images.

Been a while since I installed Visual Pinball/VPinMAME. Need a little hand holding.

I recall there was a program we had developed that automates the whole process of launching VP and pressing the F5 key to play the loaded table. I don't remember what it was called though, or how to go about setting it up, so I need a little help with that.

Also, when using VPinMAME for tables with ROMs, there is a little burb box that opens up saying it needs to know if you have permission, yadda yadda, is there a way to turn that off, or to automate clicking YES?

Lastly, I think my physics are off and I don't know how to fix it. My balls all seem to go to the right side of the table really quick, like the table isn't level. How do I fix that?

Thanks guys!

You want chills? Watch this video. I feel for him so much cause I'm very much in the same boat. I wish I had his talent though. OMG!



Simon is such a douche bag.. Jerk from the start, then stuffed it in his face by the end.