RomRaider

I've installed Romraider (RR) on a Windows 11 laptop. I also installed the 32-bit version of Java, as required. Linked the Editor and Logger definition files. Both opened as expected, and I could open my ROM bin file in the editor, and display the large list of Logger parameters (not connected yet to the ECM).

However, the text in the left side column of both the Editor and Logger was very small and hard to read. Other programs/apps did not have this problem so I didn't think it was a general laptop settings issue.

I searched the RR forum and came across this thread: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=14246. Seemed appropriate, so I followed the "instructions" -- found the javaw file and right clicked as suggested. There wasn't a compatibility tab, but the list included "Troubleshoot compatibility". I selected it, and it did some "troubleshooting", then suggested correcting it, which I selected.

After it ran, RR would not display properly. It filled only about 75% of the screen, and was magnified many time so only a portion actually could be seen. Not at all what I was trying to achieve.

In trying to correct for this, I uninstalled and reinstalled both java and RR, to no avail. There doesn't seem a way to change back to what presumably was an incompatibility, which I would gladly accept now, i.e., the small text!

Learned a lesson here -- there was no follow up in the linked thread, and that should have been a caution. Okay, but now I'm stuck -- I'm not all that familiar with programming etc, and have no idea of how to correct this. I would certainly appreciate help, so that I can get RR back up and running.

Thanks . . . .

Is it a high resolution display?
viewtopic.php?p=136470#p136470

Thanks. I really do appreciate the interest and reply.

The laptop indicates "full HD, 1080" on the display panel (Acer Aspire A515-55, 17-inch.)

When I had RR Logger and Editor running on this laptop after installation a few weeks ago, there was no problem with the size of the gauges showing in the logger. It was only the parameter list text on the left side that was relatively small. When I opened my ROM bin file in the Editor, the index on the left was actually difficult to read. However I randomly opened some table and they all appeared to be "normal" size. (I regret not slowing down and getting some screen clips.)

I've since uninstalled RR and java, but I suspect that one or both might have left some files remnants so that when I reinstall both, something forces the odd behavior, i.e., the same wrong display. And when it does this, it takes over the display, as if it's in some magnified "full screen" mode but "escape" doesn't take it out of that mode. I'll reinstall, get it to that same point and take camera photos to post here.

Follow up:

After having removed RR and Java, today I started with installing a new download of Java 32-bit.

First, here's the desktop, i.e., normal, and the programs I often use have their icons in the left side of the Taskbar.


After installing Java, I found it in the Start menu, and clicked on "About Java" in the drop-down list. The screen went black and then opened this way (same as I had experienced yesterday):

Note that the display is reduced but also magnified. Now, not all the apps are showing in the Taskbar (but are behind the three dots).
Also, clicking on the "X" in "About Java" the screen closes and returns to the normal desktop.

I then downloaded another copy of RR for Windows, and proceeded to install it. The first reaction was:


I trust RR, so went ahead. First result was the reduced screen again, with the normal "readme":


and after completing the install, still with the reduced screen:


After the final install window was closed ("Finish"), the normal desktop display returned. i then went into the Start menu, found RR, but there's only the Uninstaller showing:


However, File Explorer show the program is in place (display is normal):


Clicked on the Application file to open RR in the Editor. It did, but again the screen display is changed:


When I close the Editor ("X" at upper right), the normal screen is restored.

Incidentally, when the Editor is displayed on the reduced screen, all the open windows (apps) are stacked behind.

Ideas, please . . .

A bit more information . . .

With the reduced screen on the display as a result of opening RR, I opened the Windows "Settings" and went to Display/Display Resolution, and found it at 640 X 480. As a test, I changed it to the default, which is 1920 X 480, and the display changed to "normal" for the then open windows, including RR Editor. However, this only holds for that session. If I close RR, the next time I open it, it's back to 640 X 480.

Is there a display resolution setting in Java that overrides the default Windows setting when a Java app, such as RR, is opened? If so, how can it be changed?

SOLVED!

Changed the "Compatibility" settings in the Java javaw.exe file -- the same file where i had run the Windows "Compatibility Troubleshooter" (although that was in an earlier installation of Java).

Details:

In File Explorer, went to the Java file in Program Files (x86). Drilled down to the javaw application file, right clicked, and selected properties. Among a number of tabs, there was "Compatibility". Selected that, and here's what I saw (superimposed the "compatibility tab on the right):


Unchecked the "Run in 640 x 480", Apply, and OK, and RR is working as before. (Also unclicked "Reduced color mode" to bring in line with what my desktop has.)

Now, here's how the Editor looks displaying my ROM bin file; note the tiny text font at the left . . .


It's functional again, but still want to find a way to display the text in a larger font. Suggestions welcome.

Is the latest version of Romraider not able to pin shortcuts to the Start menu (Windows 10, and Windows 11)?

After resolving the Java problem above, I ensured that, during the reinstall on my Win 11 laptop, "add shortcut to Start . . ", was checked off, but none showed up. The same has now happened on a Win 10 desktop.

As I had mentioned earlier, there is no Romraider program (Editor, Logger, etc) shortcuts; only the Uninstaller appears:


I can right click on the Uninstaller and "pin" its shortcut to the Start menu block, and even to the Taskbar, but neither the Editor or Logger seem to be separately available in the Start menu drop down list.

In File Explorer, I can open the Editor from "Romraider.exe", and then the Logger from there. I can also pin that to the Start large icons box (but not into the drop down list). And, of course, that only opens the Editor.

In the previous version 0.9.4 I was using, the Start drop list, under"Romraider" had separate listings for the Editor and Logger (and duplicates for touch screens), the Uninstaller, and, I think, one or two others.

EDIT: Here's that Start list:


But this latest version doesn't seem to provide those. (Incidentally, when the install completed there was a box indicating that a shortcut was created for the Uninstaller -- I didn't think this too odd at the time and expected to see the others in the Start list.

Am I not correctly installing this latest version of Romraider? Is it possible that because, on both computers, Windows warns against using an "unrecognized app" (see earlier post image) it is precluding setting up the shortcuts?

Edit: Removed v1.0.0 from the desktop, downloaded v0.9.4 from the GitHub, and proceeded to install, making certain the "offer" to add shortcuts to the Start menu and Desktop were checked. Only the Uninstaller shortcut was provided, and as in the photo, the Start drop down list also has only the Uninstaller, whereas in the original 0.9.4 install, the full list of shortcuts was in the drop down list.

The reinstalled V0.9.4 otherwise seems to be working fine. It's just the missing shortcuts in the Start list.

Sort of suggesting the problem is at my end, again . . .

Suggestions, ideas . . . thanks

I think the shortcuts are being defined in the user's menu in Windows and not the global menu. What's in:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\RomRaider\
C:\Users\__username__\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\

I ran into this once but can't remember how I fixed it.

I installed RR on Win11 and have the menu as expected.

You can always add your own shortcut to the menu for the Editor and Logger and adjust the Properties of the shortcut to launch appropriately.
Editor: "C:\Program Files (x86)\RomRaider\RomRaider.exe"
Logger: "C:\Program Files (x86)\RomRaider\RomRaider.exe" -logger

Only item in the first location is the "Uninstaller".

As shown in my post Fri Mar 22, 2024 9:17 am, in the Win 10 desktop, it appears in the Start alphabetical drop-down list under a "Romraider" folder.

In the Win 11 laptop, the Uninstaller appears on it's own in the alphabetical list. When I ask RR to add shortcuts to Start (large block icons) or Desktop (either computer), only the Uninstaller appears.

In regard to the second location there's nothing related to Romraider in either computer.



Exactly.

And, until I messed up the display recently, I had v0.9.4 on the laptop, with the full menu in the Start programs list. But while working on the "resolution" issue, I had removed the program (thinking it was related to the resolution problem, and had reinstalled it first, 1.0.0, and then went back to 0.9.4, with all installs having only the Uninstaller in the list. Why would these not install now?

I noticed when uninstalling Romraider I have to use the Uninstaller because Romraider does not appear in the "Control Panel" programs list (on any of my computers). When I do this, the entry in the Start menu list disappears, but the file "c > ProgramFiles (x86) > Romraider" isn't removed. Is this normal? I seem to recall that in past years (since 2011), when I was updating to a new version, this was not the case -- the entry was cleaned out -- but I might be wrong. Could it be a clue?

Incidentally, I confirmed that two other laptops using Win 10 (that are with someone else) and on which I had installed Romraider, also show the full list of shortcuts under "Romraider" in the Start programs list.

Start iist issue RESOLVED, in a way . .

I thought back about when I updated to a newer Romraider version in the past and realize I probably did not uninstall the current version before the install; rather, I more likely let the installer overwrite the existing files. Never had an issue.

The Win 11 laptop had v0.9.4. I downloaded v1.0.0 again, and installed it over the existing version. This time, the Editor and Logger shortcuts were in the drop down list along with the Uninstaller, but the Full Screen and Touch Screen shortcuts were only in the Start "tiles" display. I removed the latter, then started the install again. This time everything (shortcuts, license, read me etc.) ended up where expected.

I then went to the Win 10 desktop, and also installed 1.0.0 over the existing 0.9.4 with success on the first try.

Conclusion: Romraider installs better for me if I don't uninstall the existing version, and just let the installer overwrite.

dshultz Thank you for the feedback and support.

Can confirm Uninstaller is only "Start Menu" option i got too on Windows 11..
I thought nothing of it because i only installed for "current user" and not "all users" plus said not to make extra icons on desktop... And assumed as you dschultz.. Not Global...
I just created a shortcut.. Didnt think anything of it until reading this.. Just for your Info Devs..

If you run the installer a second time over the first install does that populate the Start menu shortcuts?
Or do a uninstall and then install again...?