Emulators Launching Twice

[Roy Benson]

Version 10.3 > Auto Upgraded to 11.2 (Free Version)

Windows 10 (1909)

Issue occurs frequently

The error is an odd one, and did not show up immediately. I have been following ETA Primes YouTube videos on importing various systems into Launchbox. So far I have imported a number of Console systems, Arcade systems (Mame)

When I went to set up the Dolphin emulator, I noticed that when I launch a Nintendo Wii game (from within Launchbox), the Dolphin emulator will be launched twice (resulting in a Windows file access error). i.e. When I close one instance, and then dismiss the file permission error, the second instance of Dolphin will launch. This does not appear to happen with Gamecube games.

Since this initial error, I notice the same thing is now happening with RetroArch - regardless of the system (NES, SNES, Dreamcast, Atomiswave) - I launch a game, and two instances of the game/RetroArch will fire up at the same time (1 instance automatically pauses, whilst the other runs). When I exit the game (first instance), the second instance then runs - effectively I have to hit the Esc key twice to dismiss both instances.

I initially thought I was doing something stupid like accidently triple clicking on the game (within Launchbox), but even if I highlight the game (within Launchbox) and press the Enter key (once, on the keyboard), the same thing happens.

With RetroArch, I have noticed that this double instance only happens on the first launch of a game - if I launch the game again (after dismissing the double instance launching), it works fine.

Initially, this behaviour did not occur (with the above systems), until recently, so I do not know if it is related to having too many systems installed?

Although I can re-produce this behaviour with RetroARch / Dolphin, it does not seem to have with other emulators (i.e. ePSXe, PCSX, and ReDream/Snes9x (the last two have been replaced by the use of cores within RetroArch)

Given this double launching, it is currently putting me off upgrading to the paid version, as I wonder whether the bug will manifest itself with controller automation?

Thanks in advance

[Roy Benson]

Sorry, forgot to mention, that this issue also occurs on the small number of DOSBox games installed and at least one GOG game that I have imported. All of the roms have been imported via the Tools > Import > ROM Files option, With the exception of Star Wars Dark Forces game (Install MS Dos Game) and the GOG/Windows games (where I have used the Import Windows Game option). Thanks

[Roy Benson]

Just tried launching the games with the Right-Click > Play… option (from the pop up menu), and this way of launching the games does not seem to be affected by the above issue

[Christian]

Could you throw your Data folder in a zip and send it to me? (C-Beats on the forums). Would be interested to know if something in your data files are causing this.

[Jason Carr]

Will reopen if Roy gets back to us.

[Roy Benson]

Hi, nothing has changed since the original bug report. I have sent across the data as requested. Can you advise on the outcome so far? Thanks

[Roy Benson]

https://forums.launchbox-app.com/messenger/4089/?tab=comments#comment-33077

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[Jason Carr]

Sorry for the delay here, Roy. We looked at your data, and we have not been able to replicate any issues with double-launching, unfortunately. The only thing we can figure at this point is that maybe some ghost key presses are causing it, but obviously we’re not certain. It appears to be system-specific somehow. I assume you're still seeing this issue with 11.6?

[Roy Benson]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

I am still on 11.2 (as per the original report), but will update to 11.6 and have a play. As you say, it may be system specific

Thanks

Roy

[fraganator]

I’m seeing this same issue with LaunchBox, where pressing Enter will launch two instances of RetroArch (PS1 games + Beetle PSX). I’ve discovered this is only the case when the Game Startup screen is disabled. If the Game Startup screen is enabled, then Enter is used to start a game, only one instance is started. I’ve verified this behaviour on two different machines and one VM.

Using other methods to run the game, such as double-click and Ctrl+P only run a single instance, regardless of the Game Startup setting.

The test setup is very basic, with only three PSX games and RetroArch configured.

Machine 1 - Windows 10, LaunchBox 11.9, RetroArch 1.9.0

Machine 2 - Windows 8, LaunchBox 11.9, RetroArch 1.9.0

Machine 3 - Windows 10 VM, LaunchBox 11.9, RetroArch 1.9.0

[Roy Benson]

Thanks for posting Fraganator.

Reading your post, I thought I would have another look at the original problem.

I am running RetroArch 1.89, and LaunchBox 11.6 (Upgraded from 11.2), latest update to Windows 10. I also used RetroArch and the same games/platforms as stated in this post: https://forums.launchbox-app.com/messenger/4089/?tab=comments#comment-33077

Initially, I had the same behaviour as previously described in my original bug report.

Intrigued by Fraganator’s post, I disabled the Splash screen (Tools > Options > General > Show Splash Screen during load), and noticed that now, when I use the mouse to double click on a game (loaded via RetroArch), it loads up just one instance of RetroArch. However, using the Enter key method, double loads RetroArch.

I subsequently, re-enabled the splash screen, and this new behaviour still occurs

So the behaviour seems to have changed (in the sense that now the Enter key method, double loads RetroArch), but is the same regardless as to whether the splash screen is enabled or not.

So it seems to appear that the toggling of the Splash screen has tripped something?

Don’t know how helpful this is.

Thanks

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