Controls dropping out in MAME, any help?

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:10 pm

I've got a mame cabinet running the controls through an ultimarc ipac, and at random times, (usually around a half hour or more after I turn it on) the controls stop registering. -- usually after a time of non-use (I have it on all day).

It's SO OBNOXIOUS!! I have to reach inside, unplug and replug the usb to the ipac, then exit and restart the game to get it to work.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? There is nothing in the start menu (except for the mame program). There is a power save function that turns off the USB but it is set not to. I'm stumped.

I have a back up ipac that I havn't hooked up because I felt sure it was something wrong with the computer --although, I know that if you unplug and replug the ipac usb while mame is running, it will interupt control and you wont get it back until you exit and restart the game.

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:13 pm

Does this only happen with MAME or also with Raine, FinalBurnAlpha or PC games?

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 4:33 pm

I havn't tried the others- I guess that would isolate whether it was the ipac or not. I guess I could just leave notepad open for awhile to check that- I'll do it.

The only other option is: does anyone know of common usb port failures that I could check/fix?

emphatic · Post by **emphatic** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:30 pm

I just remembered that by default, USB ports are "powered off" after a while to save energy. You should be able to change this setting by going into your Device Manager:
http://www.tweakxp.com/article37177.aspx

jonny5 · Post by **jonny5** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:35 pm

emphatic wrote:I just remembered that by default, USB ports are "powered off" after a while to save energy. You should be able to change this setting by going into your Device Manager:
http://www.tweakxp.com/article37177.aspx

this is what i was thinking...i would also check the bios to see if it has any odd powersaving features enabled

also, in this time is the PC going to standby/screensaver?

cuz i seem to recall JPAC\IPAC's having issues bringing it out of these modes

if this is happening during active play i have no idea as with the controls active it shouldnt be going into standby or powersave

it will most likely be what emph said tho....