Issues Running FF7 on ePSXe

[Jon M]

I would hardly call pSX "the best." It's been absolutely nothing but a headache since attempting to try it out. First it gave me this error: This application has failed to start because d3dx9_26.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

So I went on directx and transfered the update file to my laptop to realize you have to be connected to the internet to update. Okay.... Drug the laptop to the back room and hooked it up to my router w/ an ethernet cord and updated directx. Fixed that.

Next error: Failed to find a valid mode (perhaps you need to switch your desktop to 32 bit mode, failed to initialize d2d device. So I downloaded the d2dx9_26.dll file and put it in the folder with the pSX.exe and ran the emulator again. Then it gets a little farther and gives me the same error.

Over that emulator. It's nothing but error after error after error. :/ Guess I'm stuck with continuing to find a way to get ff7 running the ePSXe. We're getting somewhere with that at least.

[testmachine]

OK.But i would reccomend you that you start messing with the named pSX emulator.Also note that this emulator needs a decent pc config to run smoothly.
processors that run very good are:Lower-end Pentium 4 and higher-end pentium 4 or pentium 4 with hyper threading technology.
here are some graphics for the emulator to run smooth:Nvidia MX series,Nvidia FX series,nvidia 4Ti agp 8x,all newer ati radeon series graphics,and onboard chips:all intel's gma chipsets work smooth.
As for your other emulator and the software plugin,i'm going to mess with it,then i am going to post the results.

[Jale]

I have never emulated FF7 since I already own the PC version, but I hope this info will be useful to you. First off, the S3 Graphics is an EXTREMELY crappy GPU, so don't expect nice things about it. Second, if you are using Windows, stick with DirectX plugins such as Pete's DX6 D3D. Activate both frame limit and frame skipping. You don't want your game to run too fast at certain parts. As for the swirl effect, play with the frame buffer settings. Also, use ePSXe 1.5.2. Later versions are known to not work well with some Square games.

[Jon M]

As far as messing with the other emulator, I think I have enough on my plate with just trying to get FF7 to run alone on the emulator that does work. Less alone making my problem bigger with not being able to run FF7 AND a new emulator that gives constant error messages.

I'm sure the S3 graphics are as bad as you mention, but it's what I have so it's what I have to deal with. I know it's capable of running the game though because I can get it running great minus the few minor errors. Besides that it runs smooth. I don't think I'm expecting too much from it to run a 15+ year old game from the 90s.

I changed to Pete's DX6 D3D and activated "Use FPS limit" and "Use frame skipping"special game fixes "adjust framebuffer access."

This is actually the first time I've gotten it to fit the screen but as you can see I'm lacking a battle box with these settings...

[Solis]

Hello Jon M,

Sorry i forgot about the earlier post i will try and get you the information.
Also if i'm not mistaken if you enable frame skipping you may get missing
screens so it not really a good idea, unless your computer is slow.

I would also try ARBEX it may be the best PSX emulator out there though
you need a good computer to run it. you can find it here:

http://drhell.web.fc2.com/ps1/

Click on the picture at the bottom of the screen.

Here is how to run it

To play a game.
1. Select File>Open>cdrom via spti or cdrom image
2. Select your file
3. Select Run>Run2 (you can choose Run 1 or Run 3 as well but i use Run 2)

To change a multidisc game.
1). Select Run>Openshell
2). Select File>Open Cdrom or Image then,
3). Select Run>Closeshell

To save a savestate..
1.Select File>Save>Running image
2.Type in a name for your savestate then press ok.

To load a savestate..
1.Select File>Open>Running image
2.Select Your file and press ok.

To change the i-cache rate.
1.Select Run>Simulate>I-Cache Rate
2.Select a value from 0 to 28. (The default is 18)

And here is a small list of game for Arbex.

http://forums.megagames.com/threads/...ty-list.51264/

[Jon M]

Hey Solis. Your first link goes to nothing. However I found the ARBEX program on emuparadise and dled it and followed your instructions to run my FF7 .bin file. Well, it sits at a blue diamond screen for about 5-8 minutes before it louds the game, and now the sony computer entertainment presents screen for the beginning of ff7 has been sitting there for about 10 minutes....

Plus, if you need a good PC to run this then it doesn't help me at all. We're doing this on a Toshiba Tecra 9000. It is older. PentIII 1GHz processor. about 372mb RAM.

On an off note I was running the arbex on my desktop PC which is better than the specs it shows the games were tested on in your second link, and it's taking forever on my desktop PC....

[Solis]

Hello Jon M,

I Just clicked on the link myself and it is working fine for me. Please try it again.
what version of arbex did you download? The current version 110425.

[Solis]

Hello Jon M,

E}I{'s GPU Plugin 0.981 to strecth the screen you need

Use 320x240 mode "ON"
Allow X software strecth "ON"
Allow Y software strecth "ON"

As far as the cursor blob on FF7 and the garbage on FMV's we would have to the author of the plugin fix it and i think no one was heard from him in years i think.

To clean the registry

run regedit

delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/epsxe
delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/Vision Thing

You will have to reconfigure epsxe after delete the registry.

[Jon M]

Hello Jon M,

E}I{'s GPU Plugin 0.981 to strecth the screen you need

Use 320x240 mode "ON"
Allow X software strecth "ON"
Allow Y software strecth "ON"

As far as the cursor blob on FF7 and the garbage on FMV's we would have to the author of the plugin fix it and i think no one was heard from him in years i think.

To clean the registry

run regedit

delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/epsxe
delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER/software/Vision Thing

You will have to reconfigure epsxe after delete the registry.

I'll try those settings in a moment. Why am I cleaning the registry now?...

[Jon M]

Wow, awesome... I just opened PSX to try these settings and when I closed it and opened my Gens emulator, now my entire saved game on Phantasy Star IV is gone.... Cool... I'm pretty fuming atm.

So with those settings nothing changes. The screen still isn't full size, still glitch with the cursor in battle, and no battle swirl.

Maybe you can shed some light on my Gens saved game randomly erasing when I open another emulator. What the hell is that all about?....

I have Gens emulator and I run Phantasy Star IV on it. Well I save in game every time I quit and I can always pull it up fine when I restart the emulator. Just go to load game from beginning and it's right there. Now after opening PSX and closing it my Phantasy Star IV screen only has a start new game option and appears like my saved game has just vanished...