"the emulator exited unexpectedly"

Hello all and thank you for your welcome to this forum,
I installed Retrobat 5.3 (always use the last install that is consistently working for most) and everything works perfectly.
Suddenly, with no settings changed, it all of a sudden won't load any game, each time saying, "the emulator exited unexpectedly"
With some systems if I go through EVERY emulator, I sometimes can find one that works, but then I can't use hotkeys to get into the Retroarch menu. However, shouldn't most of the emulators work, especially since that was the case just 1 day prior to the change?
So, I reinstalled in new location, everything works perfectly again for several days, then suddenly, same problem.
I have reinstalled VC++, run all sorts of AVG Antivirus scans etc. and cannot find the problem.
I have looked through the English Support section here and not found answers. Thoughts anyone?

Thank you to any that may have some direction to provide.

Hello and welcome here.

Can you precise the system where you use Retrobat, with specs ?

Certainly:
Device name DESKTOP-KEDOT96
Processor AMD A10-5800K APU with Radeon(tm) HD Graphics 3.80 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB
Device ID 38E0EE13-8494-4AF5-9066-9C51EF19FA42
Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA907
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display
I hope this is what you were looking for and that it helps.

Do you have in your windows installed software, something that look like this ?

I don't think so. I only found these below when installing. But, as I said, Retrobat ran great for days until the sudden change. I will attempt to go find the software you mentioned. Any chance you have a link to the download?

Found it, installing it now.
Done, and tested Retrobat, and same thing, "the emulator exited unexpectedly"

Gave up on 5.3 and decided to do a fresh install of V 6.0. Same problem continues. Retrobat will not open Retroarch at all. Only if I manually set to a mednefen emulator will anything open. And, I can't get any controller to work except on N64. Any ideas folks? I have spent 2 weeks and 4 installs on Retrobat and think it is a great system, but getting close to "jump ship" time here.

There are 2 possibilities:
1) Driver incompatibility
2) Antivirus software deleting necessary files

That is where my thoughts are too (antivirus deleting) because each install works close to flawlessly for several days, and then...boom, doesn't want to open Retroarch, controller problems etc.
I have gone into my firewall (both windows and AVG) and made exceptions to all the files that have Retroarch, Emulationstation, and Retrobat. Hopefully nothing can be overwritten there now.
Then, I installed over my folders.
Everything is once again working perfectly (for now). Fingers crossed.
Thank you to all that have shared some thoughts here. I hope to return the favour to others in the future.

Hello all,

...and it has all happened again. Can't launch retroarch from within Retrobat, controllers are getting messed up and won't connect, can't open retroarch directly from within the emulators folder even. This is now 3 installs, 3 times, this forum, and the Facebook group without an answer. Found many others with same problem, and not one solid answer. Love Retrobat, want to continue, but it appears it is time to leave this camp for awhile and explore elsewhere so I can get to playing retrogames with my boys.
Thank you to those that attempted to assist. I will be checking back here in the future, and should there be an answer, I will likely once again try. Why? Because Retrobat appears fantastic!!! If I can get it to work...
I look forward to hopefully returning to this software should this issue get worked out, support, and promote.
Until then.

Hello
Can you share your "es_input.cfg" file that is on \emulationstation\.emulationstation\ ?

You mean that even trying to launch retroarch.exe manually from retrobat\emulators\retroarch is not working ?

Getupor: I am not sure about uploading an input cfg file, but here is all the code within it (below).
Tartifless: Yes, correct. I cannot launch Retroarch from within the "emulators/retroarch" folder directly using the exe. The cursor 'spins' and does not open. Also, when launching any game using a retroarch emulator from within Retrobat, it just fails to launch and returns to the games menu.

input cfg:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<inputList>
<inputConfig type="joystick" deviceName="Controller (Gamesir_G4pro)" deviceGUID="03000000558500001b06000000007200">
<input name="a" type="button" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="b" type="button" id="1" value="1" />
<input name="down" type="hat" id="0" value="4" />
<input name="hotkey" type="button" id="6" value="1" />
<input name="joystick1left" type="axis" id="0" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick1up" type="axis" id="1" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2left" type="axis" id="2" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2up" type="axis" id="3" value="-1" />
<input name="l2" type="axis" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="l3" type="button" id="8" value="1" />
<input name="left" type="hat" id="0" value="8" />
<input name="pagedown" type="button" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="pageup" type="button" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="r2" type="axis" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="r3" type="button" id="9" value="1" />
<input name="right" type="hat" id="0" value="2" />
<input name="select" type="button" id="6" value="1" />
<input name="start" type="button" id="7" value="1" />
<input name="up" type="hat" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="x" type="button" id="3" value="1" />
<input name="y" type="button" id="2" value="1" />
</inputConfig>
<inputConfig type="joystick" deviceName="Xbox Series X Controller" deviceGUID="030000005e040000130b000009057200">
<input name="a" type="button" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="b" type="button" id="1" value="1" />
<input name="down" type="hat" id="0" value="4" />
<input name="hotkey" type="button" id="9" value="1" />
<input name="joystick1left" type="axis" id="0" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick1up" type="axis" id="1" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2left" type="axis" id="2" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2up" type="axis" id="3" value="-1" />
<input name="l2" type="axis" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="left" type="hat" id="0" value="8" />
<input name="pagedown" type="button" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="pageup" type="button" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="r2" type="axis" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="right" type="hat" id="0" value="2" />
<input name="select" type="button" id="6" value="1" />
<input name="start" type="button" id="7" value="1" />
<input name="up" type="hat" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="x" type="button" id="3" value="1" />
<input name="y" type="button" id="2" value="1" />
</inputConfig>
<inputConfig type="joystick" deviceName="Controller (Gamesir-T4 1.33)" deviceGUID="03000000242f00005300000000007200">
<input name="a" type="button" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="b" type="button" id="1" value="1" />
<input name="down" type="hat" id="0" value="4" />
<input name="hotkey" type="button" id="6" value="1" />
<input name="joystick1left" type="axis" id="0" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick1up" type="axis" id="1" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2left" type="axis" id="2" value="-1" />
<input name="joystick2up" type="axis" id="3" value="-1" />
<input name="l2" type="axis" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="l3" type="button" id="8" value="1" />
<input name="left" type="hat" id="0" value="8" />
<input name="pagedown" type="button" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="pageup" type="button" id="4" value="1" />
<input name="r2" type="axis" id="5" value="1" />
<input name="r3" type="button" id="9" value="1" />
<input name="right" type="hat" id="0" value="2" />
<input name="select" type="button" id="6" value="1" />
<input name="start" type="button" id="7" value="1" />
<input name="up" type="hat" id="0" value="1" />
<input name="x" type="button" id="3" value="1" />
<input name="y" type="button" id="2" value="1" />
</inputConfig>
</inputList>

What do you call games menu ?

I am still not giving up. I am now installing Retrobat 4.2 to see if it remains stable: unlike 5.3 (twice) and 6.0 (once).

I am very thankful for all these attempts to assist (totally why I am not giving up here). And, thank you for your patience as I attempt to stumble through this. Funny; I have been at this stuff for years, but I am still learning every step of the way.

Anyway, if even launching retroarch.exe does not work, the issue is not with retrobat but already with emulators themselves not launching on their own...

Amd apu drivers broken again ?

By "games menu" I mean when in Retrobat, within a system (like, say NES), I will try to launch a game from within that "games menu"/list. Then, if the default is Retroarch, then it will not launch the game and share an error saying, "the emulator exited unexpectedly". It is like Retroarch works right away on installation, and then, at some point along the way it gets corrupted, or a cfg file is being overwritten. Real head-scratcher here.

But what happens when you go to the retroarch folder and run retroarch.exe ?

Hi Tartifless. Wasn't exactly sure what you meant or how to address. So, I am installing an AMD software installer to autoupdate my drivers.

But I don't understand how you say it goes back to game list when you run it outside of Retrobat, this is impossible as retrobat is not even running

Hi Tartifless,
"But what happens when you go to the retroarch folder and run retroarch.exe ?"
When I go into the Retrobat/emulators/retroarch folder and attempt to launch the exe directly: the cursor flashes like it's thinking, the screen 'blinks' and the exe does not launch.

Told us what happen after install and reboot (reboot is important)
You got also these pages :
https://www.amd.com/en/support/apu/amd-series-processors/amd-a10-series-apu-for-desktops/a10-5800k-radeon-hd-7660d

tartifless wrote:But I don't understand how you say it goes back to game list when you run it outside of Retrobat, this is impossible as retrobat is not even running

Hi Tartifless, No, that is happening when trying to launch a game from within Retrobat. I cannot open retroarch at all.

But that it happens from retrobat is not a surprise if the emulator cannot run on its own.

Retrobat just runs the emulator.

Maybe try and delete retroarch.cfg file and run again.

Hi Getupor and Tartifless,
I am updating and APU, rebooting, and trying again. If not, then CFG delete. It's taking a while but I will see if it works.

Since when have you not updated your drivers ?

It seems that your igpu has the following support:
DirectX 11, Shader 5.0, OpenGL 4.2

So, I would say, ensure that you do not enable shaders / decorations in retrobat, and that the video driver for retroarch is set to opengl or directx11.

Hi Tartifless,
"Maybe try and delete retroarch.cfg file and run again."
Deleting that file did the trick! I came back in and it was like a fresh install but with everything I had already laid down prior and everything worked amazing! Now I just need to see if it somehow magically reverts back like it has been before. However, in the meantime this fix is working, I am gaming with my boys, and I'm infinitely thankful to Tartifless and Getapur for their patient guidance. I will pay this forward when I can. Have a great day folks and happy gaming.

Can even open Retroarch directly now too.

Can you please describe what you have done in-between ?
During the time that it works, and now that it doesn't work anymore ?
Change settings ? Themes ?

@roskorockwell

I think it is due to one of the drivers forced on one system that is not compatible with the gpu you have (which is a quite old apu already).

So by forcing driver to directx11 or opengl, you ensure retroarch will not try and set another one by default because a core requests it.
It can also be due to shaders using more recent technology than your apu supports.

All in all, adding a more recent nvidia gpu to your computer would help, something along gtx 1060 or even gtx 970...

I will take notes of any changes I make within settings within retrobat from here on in so that if it happens again I can try to find a correlation. If and when that happens I will also take the old CFG file and the new one that is generated so that I can compare, break down where the difference in code is, and then post here so that it is clear where and when the change to the CFG is happening.
Once again, all your guidance has been instrumental and so I will try to nail down where the problem is happening if it happens again so that I can share forward.

You just have to remember the last system / core you launched before it does not go anymore.
==> This way we can note the specifics for this system