Retroarch 1.7.3 Windows XP 32bit - The parameter is incorrect

RetroArch Windows devices
#1

Hi, I am unable to launch the Windows XP 32 bit version of Retroarch 1.7.3.

When I try to launch I get an error that reads “The parameter is incorrect”.

I am using a Samsung NC10 Netbook which has GMA950 graphics and Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz x2.

I read a post on Github here https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch/issues/6123 that mentioned trying a manifest file.

If I try using the manifest file (from that page), in the same folder as the retroarch.exe it attempts to launch and a window is created but I get an error before anything is drawn:

“retroarch.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close…”

The error report doesn’t seem to contain any details that would be useful.

From that same post on Github I read that I could try editing the retroarch.default.cfg file and alter the video_driver to gdi or d3d, but unfortunately neither have made a difference.

So I’m hoping someone may have an idea that might get it to launch?

How can I run RetroArch on an Athlon XP CPU? (no SSE2)
#2

well, you’ve done the things you need to do with the manifest and video_driver, so the next step is to get a log and see where it fails:

https://docs.libretro.com/guides/generating-retroarch-logs/

#3

Hi, thanks for helping, I have tried to generate logs but unfortunately I’m not getting any files. The command line doesn’t throw up any errors. Nor does the Start Menu link from the installed version. But no files are generated.

The resolution of the netbook is 1024x600 so I wondered if that could have something to do with the default window size on launch. I tried altering the full screen res. settings and setting it to launch into full screen in the config but it made no difference.

I also checked the disk for errors, but all is good.

One thing to note: when running the installer if I check to install Direct X it appears to install Retroarch but when it tries to run the Direct X installer (assuming that’s the last stage of installation) I get an Admin popup asking me to Run As, I choose my Current user account which has Administrator access. But it then pops up an error “Current logon user doesn’t have Administrator privelage…”.

I already have Direct X 9 installed, so it shouldn’t matter, but I thought it was weird I would get an admin error; I don’t have admin errors with anything else and I have confirmed I have Admin access via command line 'net user '.

Do you have another idea how I could get it to generate the logs, or anything else I could try?

#4

If it’s not generating any logs or doing anything on the CLI, it’s probably not even really launching, which suggests there’s still something wrong at a lower level. Typically, I would suggest the video_driver = “gdi” thing at this point. Do you have a retroarch.cfg yet or is it still just retroarch.default.cfg?

#5

Hi, this is as far as it gets when launching https://i.imgur.com/81f1OBA.png

I have a retroarch.cfg that reads "config_save_on_exit = “true”

#6

Ok, can you add the video_driver = “gdi” line to your config, right after that line?

#7

Had the same error message when i tried to launch RetroArch on my old Pentium 4 - Windows XP machine. But i didn’t try to troubleshoot cause i wasn’t going to use it anyway. But i can confirm the issue.

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#8

Hi, thanks, that’s managed to get it to launch :grin:

The interface was a little distorted https://i.imgur.com/CYt6wTt.png So I altered the settings to 2x scale https://i.imgur.com/bE3v8Mq.png I tried to open a few roms but unfortunately none of the cores are loading https://i.imgur.com/4JECSqE.png

I copied the cores from an existing installation from the 64bit version, so I’m not sure if the cores that are downloaded from within Retroarch would be specific to the version installed?

I did notice that not all the cores were available so I would assume the ones that display are the ones that should be compatible?

I also tried using the RGUI menu driver and noticed that if I tried to open a ROM there is no feedback if a core fails to load (it just displays QUICK MENU and > No items).

I tried a few cores: Gambatte, Pico Drive and Genesis GX Plus.

I’m hoping there is still a way this could work?

#9

Yeah, GDI driver looks a little crummy, but it’s the safest place to start. Now that you’re launching okay, you can try changing the video_driver to d3d9, assuming you have the directx9.0c redist installed.

The 64-bit cores will not work with your 32-bit RetroArch. The cores you see in the online updater should work, though, as they are indeed specific to the version installed.

#10

Hi, thanks again, Direct x9.0c is installed https://i.imgur.com/yHNwrzt.png ; I tried the d3d9 driver but unfortunately it won’t launch once enabled, it doesn’t crash; a windows tries to draw but then it closes upon the next launch. I tried the change from within retroarch which alters the retroarch.cfg and I also tried manually altering the retroarch.default.cfg.

I also tried, d3d and sdl (I have sdl installed)

#11

After some experimentation it seems that, without the d3d9 driver working, gdi mode is unfortunately not very practical: scaling is not so good, full screen is very slow (even at 320x240), and many of the cores do not open.

I have tried other individual emulators on the netbook, including those that are cores from within Retroarch that do support Direct3D, so I’m guessing Retroarch is perhaps using a feature that my GPU doesn’t support when using Direct3D?

I also have a Mac Mini with a GMA950 GPU which runs all the cores without an issue, although that is using a gl driver.

Perhaps an older version of Retroarch may still work with my netbook? Unless there is something else I could try?

#12

Can you try running the web installer from here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Also, see if you can get a verbose log of the d3d9 crash.

#13

Hi, I had Direct X installed (offline version) but I also tried the web installer; it said nothing needed installing.

Nothing happens when I try to generate a log file it just returns a new line, I also tried using the installed version “RetroArch (log to file” link but nothing was generated.

I also tried the msvc2003 and 2005 versions but no luck - although the 2003 version allowed me to edit the .cfg from gdi to d3d9 and launched; when launched the driver option from within RetroArch would display d3d9, if I then pressed right to switch it would switch to gdi, null and the previous d3d9 listing was gone. I assume it wasn’t supported in the first place and it hadn’t lauched using d3d9.

I will try probably try some of the older versions, although they only go back as far as 1.6.7. Do you know if there is an archive of older versions somewhere?

#14

No, you would have to build it yourself from an older revision on github.

#15

Ah, I think that’s going to lead me down a very long path :relaxed:

I think I will try to partition the netbook and try lubuntu or lakka for RetroArch as sadly the Windows version doesn’t look like it’s going to work properly in my situation.

Thanks very much for your help :grin:

#16

Yeah, that’s probably a better solution. I assumed you had your reasons, but XP is typically no good for nobody these days.

#17

Yeah it’s an old Netbook I use for testing networks or downloading offline updates etc as it uses very little power.

I have Windows 10 and also XP installed on it, while waiting for something to download I tried an emulator and I was surprised with how poor it performed in Windows 10, on the off-chance I tried the same emulator in XP and it performed so much better.

Then I got carried away testing emulators and seeing what would run, I was surprised how well most of them ran.

RetroArch has a few emulators that don’t run on Windows natively like Genesis Plus GX which is supposedly accurate so I was trying to get that and a few other cores in particular. I also tried Biz Hawk and Mednafen but they had issues with v-sync or performance so I was hoping RetroArch would perform better.

I’ve managed to get Lubuntu and RetroArch installed, the interface initially loaded but now I’m getting a black screen, going to run some updates etc. looks like I’m on my way down that long path after all :smile:

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#18

I know it is too late to reply but i have the same netbook and my solution was to boot from a USB stick with batocera.linux installed (https://batocera-linux.xorhub.com/)

Everything works fine and i can play all 8/16-bit consoles and older MAME games with the installed Retroarch.

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#19

Hi, thanks very much :+1: I’ll give that a go :grin:

#20

The manifest fixed it for me, but I do have a few old builds which should still work on XP. The youngest is 1.3.6. I only have a few cores for that one though. I was curious what would happen if I drop current cores from the standard 32bit RA in there…and at first glance some of them work. I loaded a game with the Caprice32 core. Of course, who knows what issues arise.