Diagnosing Startup Problem - Freeze on "Screens"

[gravy]

I was working on a screen (I called it BlackMenu) when my computer froze. Now, whenever I try to load xlobby, it hangs during startup trying to do whatever it does whenn "Loading: Screens" is at the bottom.

Is there any way to figure out which screen is causing the problem!? Some kind of startup log would be really helpful to start pinpointing the problem. I have lots of customizations and events, so re-loading the skin from scratch isn't at the top of my list of options.

Thanks for any help!

[rembetis]

Try deleting the xlobby.xml file in your main xlobby folder (it only contains loading options). That should allow you to startup (in the default skin), then you can restart using your skin in order to track down the problem.

[Colby]

Look at the xml's of your custom pages. Make sure they are complete. When Xlobby hangs on loading screens, it is because there is a bad screen. Usually the screen references something that isnt there, such as resource, category, database, plugin, or something. Buttons and text that are missing usually appear as yellow squares.

Upon skinning did you ever get a a big red X on the screen you were working? If so that is the page with the error.

What you may do, (a bit time consuming) is cut all the pages from your skin to another location. Add then put them back one at a time and start XL. When it hangs you will know what page caused it. That is the page I would check carefully in the XML. or delete it and rebuild.

Good Luck

[gravy]

Try deleting the xlobby.xml file in your main xlobby folder (it only contains loading options). That should allow you to startup (in the default skin), then you can restart using your skin in order to track down the problem.

Thanks Rembetis - I tried this and the default skin loads fine. However when I restart with my custom skin it hangs in the same place.

[gravy]

Look at the xml's of your custom pages. Make sure they are complete. When Xlobby hangs on loading screens, it is because there is a bad screen. Usually the screen references something that isnt there, such as resource, category, database, plugin, or something. Buttons and text that are missing usually appear as yellow squares.

Upon skinning did you ever get a a big red X on the screen you were working? If so that is the page with the error.

What you may do, (a bit time consuming) is cut all the pages from your skin to another location. Add then put them back one at a time and start XL. When it hangs you will know what page caused it. That is the page I would check carefully in the XML. or delete it and rebuild.

Good Luck

Thanks Colby - I'll give it a shot. I didn't have any big red X's when skinning, but perhaps something got buggered when my computer froze in the middle of adding buttons to a screen. I'll concentrate on that area first. I'll report back, thanks for the help.

Scott

[gravy]

Thanks Colby - it was a blank PPCMUSIC.xml file. I copied all of the screens into a backup folder as you suggested, and moved them back into the directory in batches to pinpoint the error.

I had a system backup available to restore the xml file, so all is well... and I'm taking another backup RIGHT now!

Thanks for the advice!