Fast and easy way to make colorizations and real DMDs work

[zedrummer]

Hello

With the new release of DMDext 2.3.0 and the new release of Serum v2, we have many questions from people having troubles making their DMD working and colorized.

Here is a fast an easy way to have a working DMD.

And if it still have issues, it will be easier for us to help if you have the same files than ours (of course, you'd better NOT add any other dll in the VPinMame directory after following the next step-by-step howto before asking for help).

We suppose that you already have VPX installed and running. I strongly suggest you now have 64bit ("x64") versions only, there is no good reason to still use any 32bit("x86") software. This 32/64bit choice is called the "architecture". To play the VPinSPA forbidden table in 64bit you can follow this https://vpuniverse.com/forums/topic/11026-fast-and-easy-way-to-make-colorizations-and-real-dmds-work/?do=findComment&comment=83804 (thanks @gerhard).

Caution: this may bring issues with Pinup System (I can not say more than that, I wait for some details). But anyway, as you keep the original directory as it is, you may revert to your previous installment anytime. The interest of doing so is that you are sure to have a working DMD display with the last dmdext and Serum v2, and if you need some help, your system should work as ours.

 

1/ For real DMDs

 

If you have a real DMD (ZeDMD, PinDMD, Pin2DMD, etc...), be sure it is up-to-date.

For example, for a ZeDMD, download  the latest updater available here https://github.com/zesinger/ZeDMD_Updater2/releases , unzip content somewhere using 7-zip to avoid blocked files, and run "ZeDMD_Updater2.exe". Then follow the Readme here https://github.com/zesinger/ZeDMD_Updater2. Remember the "COMx" port number for later!

 

2/ Software (re)installation

Strictly follow these steps:

• Rename your current "VPinMame" directory to whatever you want.
• Create a new "VPinMame" directory.
• Download VPinMame from here https://github.com/vpinball/pinmame/releases (in the assets, choose "VPinMAME-SC-3.6.0-xxxx-79a301d-win-yyy.zip", "xxxx" being the version you take, "998" seems to work well, and "yyy" being either "x64" or "x86" according to your architecture) and unzip, using 7-zip, in this new and empty "VPinMame" directory. If you have a frontend, you may have to unzip these files somewhere else, check with the frontend installation explanation.
• Run "setup64.exe" ("setup.exe" if you really want to stick to 32bit), click "Install", "Yes" then "OK". Click "Setup Default", check whatever you want but at least "Use external DMD (dll)" and "Colorize DMD (4 colors)", then click "OK". Then click "Quit"
• Download latest @freezy DMDext from here https://github.com/freezy/dmd-extensions/releases (in the assets, choose according to your architecture) and unzip, using 7-zip, in the same "VPinMame" directory. (if you use a ZeDMD up-to-date with 5.1.x, you'd better take the latest one here https://github.com/PPUC/dmd-extensions/releases)
• Download my latest serum win64 or win86 library from here: https://github.com/zesinger/libserum/releases and unzip it in the same "VPinMame" directory.
• Edit the dmddevice.ini file, add the "vni.key" given here https://vpuniverse.com/forums/topic/9051-new-release-v220-final/ if you want your PAC colorization files to work. Set any real DMD you have connected to "enabled = true". For example, if you have a ZeDMD, go to the "[zedmd]" section, set "enabled = true", remove the ";" before "port = COM3" and change the "3" according to what you had using the ZeDMD Updater in the first part. Save the file then exit.
• Download the latest @vbousquet FlexDMD from here https://github.com/vbousquet/flexdmd/releases and unzip, using 7-zip, in the same "VPinMame" directory.
• Run "FlexDMDUI.exe" and check both "Register". You may have a red cross for "DmdDevice.dll was not found alongside FlexDMD.dll. No rendering will happen." if you use 64bit architecture as the file is called "DmdDevice64.dll", but you may ignore it, it will work anyway. Then exit.
• Copy the content of your "altcolor", "nvram" and "roms" subdirectories from the old "VPinMame" directory to the new one.
• Do not delete your old directory as this may lead to some issues with Pinup System if you use it, so you can easily delete/rename the new directory and rename back the old to "VPinMame" to return to your previous installment

You are done, it should work.

Once again, 1 or 2 extra steps could be requested with a frontend, but it depends on which one, everything should be explained in their manual.

[eliory]

Great guide! Honestly, I already knew this, but I’m sure it will help a lot of other people. I have a different issue, though. Ever since I updated everything as you suggested, everything works perfectly except for one thing that stopped working – the pup packs in FX3 stopped working. The triggers don't respond when something happens on the table, and there’s no change in the video playing on the screen... It’s really frustrating. I've tried everything – I've reinstalled the folder several times, but nothing seems to help.

[Rappelbox]

good tutorial! 👍

 

one minor suggestion: use the "VPinMAME-SC-3.6.0-xxxx-79a301d-win-yyy.zip" because else the already color patched ROMs will not work anymore and people start to complain

[zedrummer]

@Rappelbox OK didn't know that, thanks. I modify it.

@eliory Sorry, this tutorial is mainly to make your colorization works, but as I try to explain, for frontend, you have to check with their coders, Pup packs ARE Pinup frontend related software. If you have everything working in-game then serum with dmdext is OK. I can not even test any Pinup system related issues as I only have PinballY for my cab.

Edited November 12, 2024 by zedrummer

[bushav]

Does the rare and hard to find outlawed table run in 64 bit?  I have mine set to run in 32 bit. That’s the only reason I’ve had parallel installation of 32 bit. 

[gerhard]

18 minutes ago, bushav said:

Does the rare and hard to find outlawed table run in 64 bit?  I have mine set to run in 32 bit. That’s the only reason I’ve had parallel installation of 32 bit. 

Yes you can ... some additional Reg-Entrys are required MikeDaSpike wrote on Discord ->

For people that has VpinSPA and wants to use the only table that is create for this, I found a workaround to use the 32bit DLL to work with VPX 64 bit

Open a Command Prompt (or terminal shell) as administrator 

The following are 3 command lines that needs to be executed :
`reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}" /f /v AppID /t REG_SZ /d "{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}"
reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\AppID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}"
reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\AppID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}" /f /v DllSurrogate /t REG_SZ`
This will Show something like the screenshot .

After this, you can launch VPX 64 bit with VpinSpa.

[Tikimaster]

Newest dmdext needs to delete the serum dlls ... very important info..

[zedrummer]

@Tikimaster Thank you, but this is not really relevant here as the aim of this post is to start from a completely empty directory. So there is no unneeded dll installed if you follow it, this is the best way to have a clean install.

Edited November 12, 2024 by zedrummer

[NailBuster]

Quote

 

Rename your current "VPinMame" directory to whatever you want.

Create a new "VPinMame" directory.

 

 

YOU NEED TO GIVE A BIG WARNING THAT FOLLOWING YOUR INSTRUCTIONS WILL BREAK BALLER INSTALLER SETUPS AND YOUR PinUP SYSTEM WON"T WORK AFTERWARDS>

 

I get that you are trying to help... but c'mon.  

 

 

Edited November 12, 2024 by NailBuster

[zedrummer]

We have a lot of people asking to solve issues with the new serum v2 and latest dmdext, I do. These instructions fix the issues, I think I make it clear that I don't consider frontends (with PinballY, it works).

Perhaps you should provide some extra steps I would really be happy to add to these instructions, but a simple "but c'mon..." won't help (sorry, I don't know how the baller installer works).

 

[PastorLUL]

Time to include the new dmdext version into the ballerinstaller perhaps

 

[Rappelbox]

before suggesting to rename a complete installation folder you should consider your steps

Seriously David @zedrummer it was never my intention to offend you or discredit the work you do.

I have nothing against zedmd or serum, although this might have sounded different in the past.

 

My only complaint in the beginning was the colorpatched version of vpinmame. David @NailBuster then added another possible issue regarding his pinup sytem.

 

I can only apologize if i sounded arrogant.

 

Please reconsider your instructions (if not done already) because the current state introduces a lot of trouble.

this is only addressing the tutorial, not zedmd or serum, just to be clear.

 

PEACE!

Edited November 12, 2024 by Rappelbox

[htamas]

On 11/12/2024 at 4:42 AM, gerhard said:

Yes you can ... some additional Reg-Entrys are required MikeDaSpike wrote on Discord ->

For people that has VpinSPA and wants to use the only table that is create for this, I found a workaround to use the 32bit DLL to work with VPX 64 bit

Open a Command Prompt (or terminal shell) as administrator 

The following are 3 command lines that needs to be executed :
`reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}" /f /v AppID /t REG_SZ /d "{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}"
reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\AppID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}"
reg.exe ADD "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\AppID\{F389C8B7-144F-4C63-A2E3-246D168F9D3A}" /f /v DllSurrogate /t REG_SZ`
This will Show something like the screenshot .

After this, you can launch VPX 64 bit with VpinSpa.

This didn't work for me.... the third command results in an error message, and if I remove that suspicious backtick at the end, then the command seemingly succeeds but the 64-bit VPX still cannot run the table.

[chuckda4th]

Can someone please post a list of the DLL files you should have in VPinMAME after doing this?

 

Theory being if doing the above fixes DLLs being in the folder that break things, but the above instructions break popper, then maybe freshly installing the latest versions into VPinMAME, and then deleting any excess DLLs would be the best of both worlds (assuming popper doesn’t need DLLs specifically located in the VPinMAME folder).

[chuckda4th]

1 hour ago, chuckda4th said:

Can someone please post a list of the DLL files you should have in VPinMAME after doing this?

 

Theory being if doing the above fixes DLLs being in the folder that break things, but the above instructions break popper, then maybe freshly installing the latest versions into VPinMAME, and then deleting any excess DLLs would be the best of both worlds (assuming popper doesn’t need DLLs specifically located in the VPinMAME folder).

 

Went ahead and did it myself..  The only .dll’s that land if all you do is 64 bit are:

• Bass64.dll
• DmdDevice64.dll
• FlexDMD.dll
• FlexUDMD.dll
• VPinMAME64.dll

I did have to right click…unblock a couple of them - i checked all of them though.

 

Pinup popper is still working for me after doing it.  Serum altcolor and PAC appear to be good.  DOF working. 

 

Only potential issue I need to look into is it seems like my LOTR pup pack isn’t catching all triggers - it’s definitely catching some though.

[Cliffy]

48 minutes ago, chuckda4th said:

 

Went ahead and did it myself..  The only .dll’s that land if all you do is 64 bit are:

• Bass64.dll
• DmdDevice64.dll
• FlexDMD.dll
• FlexUDMD.dll
• VPinMAME64.dll

I did have to right click…unblock a couple of them - i checked all of them though.

 

Pinup popper is still working for me after doing it.  Serum altcolor and PAC appear to be good.  DOF working. 

 

Only potential issue I need to look into is it seems like my LOTR pup pack isn’t catching all triggers - it’s definitely catching some though.

dmddevicePUP64.dll

[chuckda4th]

1 hour ago, Cliffy said:

dmddevicePUP64.dll

Think missing that is why the pup pack isn’t working? 
 

I did try the shrek pup pack, and that appears okay…but I know there are multiple ways pup packs trigger. 

[chuckda4th]

On 2/18/2025 at 12:25 AM, chuckda4th said:

Think missing that is why the pup pack isn’t working? 
 

I did try the shrek pup pack, and that appears okay…but I know there are multiple ways pup packs trigger. 

Thanks!  That took all of 5 seconds to fix. 
 

I’m realizing that until I did these instructions my dmdext or vpinmame was definitely messed up. The LOTR pup pack seemed like it worked but something was off.  Now it’s showing significantly more videos than it did before. 

[chuckda4th]

Anyone having issues with using muted roms since doing this?  Maybe specifically an issue with the latest VPinMAME?

 

Shrek and Simpson’s Party are both now throwing CRC check errors when loading their muted ROMS.
 

Shrek worked before doing the reinstall of VPinMAME - only just tried Simpsons’ last night. Shrek does play okay when doing “continue anyway” while Simpsons has issues. 

When using muted roms, instead of replacing the rom file should I be creating a distinctly-named zip for it and then changing the script value in the table to point to that specific name?  Then maybe VPinMAME won’t do a CRC check and will just load it?

[zedrummer]

Did you just try to update VPinMame in your previous install?