SpecEmu stopped working on my system

[Alessandro]

SpecEmu stopped working on my system today.

I launch the emulator, open a file - tape image, snapshot etc. - and everything seems to work as normal. Then I reset the emulated computer. All of a sudden, and without any apparent reason, clicking on the menu items hangs the emulator, and I have to close it by force through the task manager.

I tried deleting it and placing it in a different directory, deleting the INI file, trying a compatibility setting, running it as administrator, nothing changed.

My system is Windows 10 64-bit and SpecEmu is the latest 11.06.23 build.

Any ideas?

[Luzie]

Any messages from Windows Defender?

[Alessandro]

None at all. Again, SpecEmu worked for ages on this system until this evening...

[Mpk]

Have you tried turning it off, then turning it back on again?

[Alessandro]

I tried closing the program, reopening it, erasing it together with the INI file, putting it into a different directory, changing the priority in Task Manager, resetting the PC and trying again all of the above... nothing changed.

[Alessandro]

Well, it seems I found something. As soon as a file is opened, the emulator keeps writing its path and name in the specemu.ini file again and again, until it is not closed by force in the task manager.

Code: Select all

File0=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File1=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File2=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File3=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File4=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File5=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File6=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File7=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File8=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File9=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File:=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File;=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File<=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File>=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File?=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File@=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileA=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileB=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileC=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileD=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileE=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileF=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileG=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileH=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileI=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileJ=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileK=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileL=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileM=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileN=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileO=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileP=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileQ=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileR=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileS=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileT=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileU=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileV=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileW=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileX=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileY=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
FileZ=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File[=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File\=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File]=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File^=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File_=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File`=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File{=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File|=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File}=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File~=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File€=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
File‚=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap
Fileƒ=E:\Spectrum\DivIDE\Fls.tap

etc. etc.

Then it behaves normally. Under File > Recent files it will show the first 10 entries anyway, all with the same file and path, as if they were different files, until a different file is opened.

The problem resurfaces if the specemu.ini file is erased.

[Pegaz]

Have you tried the latest version ?
viewtopic.php?p=121200#p121200

[Alessandro]

Thanks for the notice @Pegaz. This update seems to have fixed the issue.

[hikoki]

Sorry to use this thread for another issue with Specemu. Latest versions run slower on my system Win7 64bits.

[Luzie]

Sorry to use this thread for another issue with Specemu. Latest versions run slower on my system Win7 64bits.

Try to rename/delete you SpecEmu.INI and try. Maybe it´s one of the options that slows your SpecEmu down?

[hikoki]

Try to rename/delete you SpecEmu.INI and try. Maybe it´s one of the options that slows your SpecEmu down?

Thanks. It doesn't seem to make a difference

[Luzie]

Thanks. It doesn't seem to make a difference

OK. If yust just use an older SpecEmu.exe, everything runs faster? How much % the slowdown?

[Luzie]

Thanks. It doesn't seem to make a difference

There´s a new version out. Maybe you want to try it: viewtopic.php?p=121459#p121459

[hikoki]

There´s a new version out. Maybe you want to try it: viewtopic.php?p=121459#p121459

Thanks Luzie. I've tried this latest version and one from 2020 and the emulation speed is faster in fuse, ZXSpin and Emuzwin than in Specemu.

[Waldroid]

Have Microsoft updated the .net runtime behind the scenes, or something? Might that be why people are suddenly having problems?

[Seven.FFF]

SpecEmu is written in native assembly language, not .NET CIL/Framework.

[Waldroid]

Ah, beg your pardon. Must've got mixed up with another emulator...