Palm Tungsten E2 problems

[needhelp]

Hello,
How is everyone doing? I am new to LJP, I only downloaded RC2 and RC3 a couple of days back and been experimenting with them. I was having a few problems with my palm tungsten E2, so, I am hoping someone can help me. I have done soooo many resets I lost count(at least 20+ in the same day, ouch!!!)
- Before I begin describing the problems, I want to say that I followed the guide for optimization of LD except for the first part. I emptied my onboard memory, making it 51% empty, which is 15.4Mb from the ~28mb possible. I used UDMH and made the dynamic memory 20000K for LJP. I also used DBcache which said I had a Max alloc of 7594640. In LJP, when I ran it, it says the free ram is 15357K, so, I should have enough to run SNES, GENS, NES and the other types.
The problem are listed below:
- For NES, it is working perfectly on both the RC2 and RC3. The sound is great, the graphics are wonderful and the fps is 60+. Only thing is, is it possible to get the game to occupy the whole 320x320, since, when I use the x1.25 display size, it stretches the screen and that causes some games to look awkard? Also, in some games, with or without the belt, I see some white on the left side of the screen, is that normal and is there anyway to get rid of that?
- In terms of sega genesis, it's not that bad as well. When I started using LJP for RC2, I was having problems with it. It wouldn't load up and it would give me memory problems, but I somehow found a way around that. Only thing is, using either cpu cores, with or without belt, with display size of x1 or x1.25, I can only achieve fps of 24 max, for some games. Others are 17, which makes gameplay really really slow and annoying. I checked the box called ZX80 for the sound, but in some cases, I get low sounds, while in others, there are none. Is there anyway to fix the sound and increase the game speed? I tried using lightspeed and warpspeed, set the speed to 400Mhz, but it seems to have no effect and this sometimes causes the rom not to load. Any reason for that?
- As for SNES, it is the terrible one. On RC2, I would use either cpu core, with normal settings, to try and run a game. It would give me two memory messages, then in the center of the screen, it would display "Out of Memory". Usually I would click on that, and the name of the game would show up. In some cases, if I wait a couple more seconds, the game would start, but it would be really slow at about 10-15fps, and changing some of the settings around doesn't help much. Other times, after I get the name on the screen, it would either keep that same screen and I would have to soft reset or it would give me the same 2 messages 5 times, before it says can't load rom or gives me a "Fatal Alert: DataMgr.c,Line:8872,DmWrite:DmWriteCheck failed" which I would then have to reset. I have the requirements to be able to run SNES games, maybe not smoothly, but this shouldn't happen. I emptied a lot of apps, utilites and games out of memory to make it work, but it still wouldn't without some error message or a reset, which are really becoming annonying. Any advice to fix these problems?
I had to reset my palm many times today, could be in the 30 or 40 for all I know, I lost count. If I can't run LJP properly, then at least I would know and stop trying to fix my palm to run it. I only had this palm for about 3 weeks and I wouldn't wanna ruin it. So, if someone who had the same problems or who had a palm tungsten E2 or even E, can tell me their settings to be able to play the game, just good enough, maybe 25-30fps, that would be great? Any suggestions are also welcome
Sorry about writing a big post, first and last time it happens.
Thanks again

[JeremySmith]

I would remove the setting from UDMH since you don't have 20000k available (you only have 15357K.) Then to speed up your palm you could use a program like WarpSpeed to overclock your palm. I hope this helps.

[needhelp]

ok, thanks. Although, I still can't see why it would give me memory problems. What do you recommend I set in UDMH and do you think I should check the "Clean Up For This App". I mean I am not too sure why I get the memory error, even if LJP says that the free ram is 15357K. Also, when using WarpSpeed, what do you recommend I set the speed for LJP to and how can I be sure that it is indeed overclocked?
Thanks

[JeremySmith]

I'm not sure what the best setting would be for the overclocking of an E2. You'll have to play around with it. On a similar note though you can try using PXA Clocker www.vistabug.com/pxaclocker/ if you don't want to pay for WarpSpeed.

[Menchi]

:)Mmmm Im not sure if that would help to solve your problems, but I think you should use 'clean up for this app'. Even if you 'have enough free space', it is possible that this is fragmented or some weird error that 'clean up for this app' could help... I had some trouble 'low ram' on z71 sometime ago and somehow that option solved it... I know this is basic, but have you tryed doing a soft reset before and after playing?

[needhelp]

Hello there,
I don't usually do a reset before playing, but when I am within LJP and I get an error message, then I have to reset,so, in a way, I do. After the OS loads up, I turn on UMDH and DALauncher before trying to use LJP.
This is an important question I need to ask. In DBCacheTool, when you click the Apps.. button, do I have to add LJP in that list, currently there is nothing in it? Also, in UnCache, do I have to add LJP to the list? I know I probably do in the UnCache, but I need some assurances that I need to add it in both, not just UnCache? I tried the clean up thing, and it still didn't make a difference.
I got this program called MemoryInfo,and when I went to it, it says the following:
Storage Heap(Flash):
Total Size: 30480KB
Total Free: 16024KB
NVFS DB Cache(RAM):
Total Size: 9215KB
Total Free: 7902KB
Largest Free Chunk: 7872KB
Dynamic Heap(RAM):
Total Size: 6144KB
Total Free: 3682KB
Largest Free Chunk: 3680KB
According to this, I do have enough to play LJP, so, I still don't know why it keeps on getting me a fatal error when I try and run any SNES game? As I said above, sega and nes games are not that bad, nes games being fps of 50+ and sega around 24+. I defragmented my SD card, but it still didn't help. One point to make is that I am using a Kingston 1GB SD card with 50X speed, so, that shouldn't be a problem. I have NesEm as an emulator on my palm, could this somehow interefere with LJP?
I know this is odd, but do you remember your settings on your palm zire 71 for SNES, because, it could really help me out? Also, does anyone out there have any reason for it to give me this error "Fatal Alert: DataMgr.c,Line:8872,DmWrite:DmWriteCheck failed"?
Thanks

********************ADDED ON********************
I was using version RC3 when I got these errors above. I went back to RC2 and I played around with LJP a bit more. Nes and Genesis games are fine. In SNES, it's about luck, it might work even if it gives 2 error messages and it might not. I'll get the 2 messages and type them here in my next post, so, that maybe someone can tell me how to eliminate them. I went with Display Type of x1(hi+), fullscreen and when I put sound off, the fps for the game I was playing just skyrocketed. I mean that the speed of the game just went up a significant amount, I didn't have the belt to find out the fps, but, I can predict the fps was about 45, since, the emulation was really smooth, it wasn't lagging. I also saw this effect when I turned sound off in Genesis, I was able to play all games with fps of around 45-50. The only problem is some games are really boring without some of the sound as in mario world. I tried putting the sound to SIM, but it doesn't give any sound and I wasn't too sure what it stands for? If anyone has any ideas or suggestions in order to be able to play the games at that fps with some sound, even if it is low, it would be really really appreciated? A point to make is that I didn't have my system overclocked when I ran these games, and they ran perfectly without sound. I am not too sure if there is supposed to be a sound problem in RC2 version with a palm tungsten E2 or some sort of bug, since, the sound is very choppy, it probably has to do with speed, but I have no clue?
Also, when I was playing in SNES, when I clicked the screen for the menu, it would give a fatal error and I would have to press Reset, no way around it? Has anyone had the same problem before? Also, if Tinnus is reading this, do you know if this is a bug or any fix for it?
Thanks

[Menchi]

yoyofr.proboards44.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1137774307

Check this post for information about working with NVFS devices, might help

Dynamic Heap(RAM):
Total Size: 6144KB
Total Free: 3682KB
Largest Free Chunk: 3680KB

IIRC according to this you dont have enough for running Snes... it should be around 8MB free, and you have a bit more than 3.5MB

Also, something about the menu... LJP takes a bit ram each time you use it, until it crashes (correct me if Im wrong ) so, try to use it as less as possible

[needhelp]

ok. I did the optimization thing on that post, before I even tried to use LJP. I really don't know if it helped, though. I know that you said that according to the dynamic heap thing, I don't have enough, but how is it possible that I can still run SNES at full speed with no sound? It only crashes when I try to get to the menu, meaning that if I had the belt when I run it, I don't have to worry about it freezing, hopefully. My allocated max is ~7594640 and according to Tinnus in one of his posts, you need at least 6500000 to run SNES, so, this means that I should be able to run them without any problems/except maybe with sound though.
- I believe you are right about LJP using a bit of ram everytime you run it. Usually, when I go into it and it tells me to reset, then I would usually reset the palm, activate UDMH since I only have the trial, activate DA Activator and then I would go into the program which gave me the memory that I had in my previous post. At the top, it has 5 options, 1 of them being cleaning up dBcache, so, I usually click that before going into LJP. I did a test where I took off the sound from both genesis and SNES and let me tell you, the fps increased a lot. In genesis, when I tried to play MK2 with sound, it would go really slow, but without, it was going faster than I could handle it. Same applies with SNES, since, mario world and some other games' fps increased a lot without sound. What does the SIM option do in sound, does it allow sound but less of it? I wasn't too sure what it does? Also, what about the 11Khz, 22Khz and 44Khz. If I put that at 11Khz and put the volume down to 25 and put on earphones, is it possible to play the game with some sound, or will it make no difference and the fps will decrease regardless of the frequency.
**One thing I didn't mention is that when I bought my palm 3 weeks back, it came bundled with software and games. One of the software was X-launcher, could it be the culprit making LJP slower, since, it's supposed to work in the background, right? If I decide to remove it, how can I get rid of files then, since, I use it to carry files and place them into the trash using X-launcher? Also, how would I be able to access files on the card without it, since, I have gotten used to it a lot?
Thanks

P.S. Please try to answer back ASAP.

[Tinnus]

DALauncher? Is that... uh... a launcher?

Then do NOT open it before running LJP. Launchers eat HUGE memory and don't give it back when you open something else.

Make the default Palm launcher your default launcher. You could try exiting from your custom launcher back to the Palm one, but that wouldn't be the best--the launchers can leave memory leaks and fragmentation.

[needhelp]

Hello there Tinnus, how are you doing?
- I am not too sure if da Launcher is indeed a launcher. I only download and ran it, because the LD Optimization thing said to download and to run. When I reset my palm, it usually stopping running, so, I go into it and activate it. Quote from the LD optimization: "For this, you'll need to install Hacker Dude-san's DALauncher, after which the DA icon will be available on the command-launch bar thingy. Get it here:"
- Do you have any advice about X-launcher? Should I remove it?
- When I try to run SNES, it give me two error messages, these are:
"cannot sys_alloc 131072 Bytes"
"free ram:15357/15357"
Does anyone has a clue what they are exactly saying? Do I need to make more space on my palm, I already have 15mb free from possible 28mb?
- Also, what does SIM under sound mean? Will turning it on, slow the fps or will it give me some sound, besides ON?
Thanks

[JeremySmith]

DA Launcher is a Desk Accessory launcher (they are kinda like the old hacks for OS4 and older.) I have it running on my Zire72 with no problems. In the Howto Optimize your LD they were saying to use DALauncher to run DBCacheTool.

SIM under the sound means simulated. Some games won't play if the sound is set to OFF (example Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons) so the emulator simulates the sound without playing it (or something like that.)

If you have X-launcher you don't have to delete it from what I understand. You do want to be running the standard palm launcher before you try to use LJP though. There should be an option on the X-launcher menu to return to the main palm launcher.

[_Em]

You also might want to grab a copy of Filez and Unicmd -- two great free file managers.
DA Launcher causes virtually no memory hit.
However, your best bet is to grab a copy of Resco Explorer (an excellent file manager and backup utility), and use it to find out what's eating up your memory. Move whatever it is off your RAM onto your SD card (keeping them from loading at reset), soft reset, and your error messages should go away.

[needhelp]

ok. The thing is that I don't know if DBCacheTool is actually making an effect, so, I am getting second thoughts about keeping it. X-launcher has little tabs where you have the files. Isn't that what Resco Explorer is, the same as X-launcher? How would you use Explorer to find out what's eating your memory?
Also, what do you mean by "no memory hit"?
Thanks

[_Em]

DBCacheTool's pretty much useless, except as a way of reporting how much cache you have. In fact, DBCacheTool can be DANGEROUS if used improperly on an NVFS device.

Check the other recent threads on here -- Resco Explorer (and to a lesser extent, Resco Locker) has a feature where it lists all the apps that preload data into memory, including what triggers the preload, and what OS functions the apps are tied to. Resco Explorer does a LOT more than X-Launcher.

"memory hit" is a term referring to chunks of memory being eaten up. "virtually no memory hit" means that it uses up virtually no memory chunks in its operation, leaving that memory free for other apps. THIS is where DBCacheToolDA comes in handy, as you can disable a single app, soft reset, and immediately run the DA to see what the memory levels are. Turn it on, soft reset, and you can subtract the values to see how much memory is eaten up by having that app enabled.

[needhelp]

ok, thanks. I will definitely check out Resco Explorer then. I got my memory size down to ~17mb now and I don't think I'll take it any lower. For some reason, SNES isn't working anymore, even without sound, it gives me a Fatal Alert"DataMgr.c,Line:8872,DmWrite:DmWriteCheck failed"
Does anyone know what this means and how to fix it?
Thanks

[needhelp]

Sorry about double-posting, but this post has been read over 150 times and no one has been able to answer my last question about an error. I am not looking for a perfect answer, just an idea of what might be happening,so, that I can fix the problem.

Thanks

[Tinnus]

That means not enough space in your DBCache to put the ROM in, probably.

Also reducing internal storage usage won't help at all, it's real RAM/DBCache we're after, not the flash storage

[_Em]

I guess I'll start posting this on all the memory threads
If you've done everything you can to free up DB Cache and Heap (on an NVFS device), and you STILL don't have enough, check to see how many ROMs you have in your lists. Each one eats up both DB Cache and Heap, just being present. Move the ones you aren't currently using to another folder on your SD card to free up more DB Cache and Heap.

[needhelp]

ok, I'll definitely look into that, thanks. I have about 3 in snes, maybe 8 in sega and >30 but <50 in nes, so, that could be the culprit? Do you agree?
Thanks