Desperately need help - Game Maker borked my computer in a big way

[dalbozofgurth]

I'm posting a description of what happened, and I need serious help:

I desperately need help. I don't know who to ask or what the HELL went on. Somehow, Game Maker has corrupted almost my entire system. For some reason the left and right commands from my joystick controls won't work with any of the previous or current builds for my game. That includes actual INSTALL BUILDS that I compiled WHEN my joystick was working.
To make matters worse, the sound, on ALL of my builds, is absolutely broken. I have no idea how to describe it, but I can no longer load and unload sound groups. I cannot turn music off or on in my options menus. I've uninstalled previous instals of my game, reinstalled, but NOTHING IS WORKING. It's like they are ALL SHARING the same FILE.
This makes no sense,because it's actually affecting .exe compiles where I know the sound worked. It's like all of the settings inside gamemaker when it corrupted my file, somehow actually created some sort of corruption in my dll files or my registry. I don't know how to explaiin it, it's completely screwed. I even reinstalled game maker with a non steam version
Everything just went to hell when I tried to stream audio. I have NO idea what is going on, and I was planning on releasing my game for thanksgiving. I'm so upset I can't see straight.

[MinorThreat]

You're always on here talking about how broke Gamemaker is, I'm not sure why you're still using it. I believe that there may be a problem with your system that isn't related to Gamemaker.

[sitebender]

Not even MacGyver could fix your problem.

If you're not sure who to ask... I'd say start with the Ghostbusters, because your computer sounds haunted by malware or a virus. Especially when your controller doesn't work with a game that was compiled before the new version of GameMaker.

Does your controller work with games you didn't make? What controller is it?

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by sitebender:

Not even MacGyver could fix your problem.

If you're not sure who to ask... I'd say start with the Ghostbusters, because your computer sounds haunted by malware or a virus. Especially when your controller doesn't work with a game that was compiled before the new version of GameMaker.

Does your controller work with games you didn't make? What controller is it?

Game Maker is leaving artifacts in my system, even after I uninstall the piece of trash. I've done everything I can to purge game maker. Apparently, Game Maker uses these same files to not only compile Games in Game Maker but for their games to operate ONCE you compile them IN Game Maker.

My Project Files aren't broken, because two of my friends have tested them.

I've done extensive bug scans on my computer in the last 3 days, and all the current bug and malware and virus scans say my computer is clean.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT MALWARE! IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH GAMEMAKER MODIFYING MY SYSTEM FILES!

I need an answer on where to remove or reboot these files.

[dalbozofgurth]

Anything that was NOT made with gamemaker, and does NOT share system files that GameMaker installs/modifies works fine with my sound and controller. IT IS NOT MY CONTROLLER.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by MinorThreat:

You're always on here talking about how broke Gamemaker is, I'm not sure why you're still using it. I believe that there may be a problem with your system that isn't related to Gamemaker.

And from what oriface did you actually pull that enlightened position? The only things f'ed up are things that deal with gamemaker, period. Read the GD post and if you can't grasp the issue then don't post. This is causing me some serious upset here and the last thing I need is to read some mornoic conclusion from someone who clearly didn't understand the problems.

[sitebender]

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

Originally posted by sitebender:

Not even MacGyver could fix your problem.

If you're not sure who to ask... I'd say start with the Ghostbusters, because your computer sounds haunted by malware or a virus. Especially when your controller doesn't work with a game that was compiled before the new version of GameMaker.

Does your controller work with games you didn't make? What controller is it?

Game Maker is leaving artifacts in my system, even after I uninstall the piece of trash. I've done everything I can to purge game maker. Apparently, Game Maker uses these same files to not only compile Games in Game Maker but for their games to operate ONCE you compile them IN Game Maker.

My Project Files aren't broken, because two of my friends have tested them.

I've done extensive bug scans on my computer in the last 3 days, and all the current bug and malware and virus scans say my computer is clean.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT MALWARE! IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH GAMEMAKER MODIFYING MY SYSTEM FILES!

I need an answer on where to remove or reboot these files.

What version of Windows are you using? Have you installed or updated Windows lately? There was a major Windows 10 update a few days ago.

Do you have a second computer you can try on? When you say you're not sure who to ask have you tried asking Yoyogames or even visiting the official Yoyogames support forum? Have you asked a support forum for Windows assuming you're using a Windows PC. They can be more helpful.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by sitebender:

Originally posted by dalbozofgurth:

Game Maker is leaving artifacts in my system, even after I uninstall the piece of trash. I've done everything I can to purge game maker. Apparently, Game Maker uses these same files to not only compile Games in Game Maker but for their games to operate ONCE you compile them IN Game Maker.

My Project Files aren't broken, because two of my friends have tested them.

I've done extensive bug scans on my computer in the last 3 days, and all the current bug and malware and virus scans say my computer is clean.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT MALWARE! IT'S OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH GAMEMAKER MODIFYING MY SYSTEM FILES!

I need an answer on where to remove or reboot these files.

What version of Windows are you using? Have you installed or updated Windows lately? There was a major Windows 10 update a few days ago.

Do you have a second computer you can try on? When you say you're not sure who to ask have you tried asking Yoyogames or even visiting the official Yoyogames support forum? Have you asked a support forum for Windows assuming you're using a Windows PC. They can be more helpful.

* Windows 7.
* I update windows regularly.
* YoYo Games tech support isn't answering anyone. There are massive threads on reddit about GMS support going AWOL
* YoYo Games messageboards will NOT assist people with tech support, and the mods lock such requests.
* Windows Forums people don't know anything about GameMaker system files. They won't help.

I'm actually posting here because Steam Support people tend to give devs a kick in a rump when they don't answer tech support requests. I'm hoping to get some sort of answer.

For the record, I have filed two tech support requests with YoYo in the last week. No answers.

[dalbozofgurth]

FIXED IT!

This program leaves artifacts of old installs in the App Data file and also all over the place in the C:\ Directory. I had to LITERALLY search through EVERY SINGLE FILE in the C:\ directory to see if it was a remnant of GMS. Uninstalling GMS does NOT remove these files. Configuration files are HIDDEN in these locations for various aspects of Game Maker including how it reads System Settings on your computer. These files are shared with GMS install programs. So that's how it made both myproject files and my install compiles goofed up, despite the projects NOT being goofed up at all.

[BOYCOTT S-T-E-A-M!]

The only thing I can think off in your situation would be to try to completely eradicate it and start fresh. Maybe something got corrupted bad with the initial install and its just spiraled out of control or something.

I'd backup my projects to a seperate folder, uninstall Gamemaker, manually delete all remaining folders associated with it, and then manually track down its entries in the registry and remove them as well.

Once I was sure all traces of it were gone I'd try re-installing and see if that helps. If its still messed up its possible its a compound issue and not just Gamemaker itself and I'd backup everything important and do a full wipe and clean install of the OS.

Depending on how long you've gone without doing a clean Windows install you can get into all kinds of wonky stuff. Especially if you're someone who regularly updates Windows, updates all your drivers, installs and uninstalls things, etc. You just kind of build up a bunch of junk and at times Windows just goes berserk.

EDIT : I see you fixed it while I was responding. Good to see you got your problem fixed.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by BOYCOTT S-T-E-A-M!:

The only thing I can think off in your situation would be to try to completely eradicate it and start fresh. Maybe something got corrupted bad with the initial install and its just spiraled out of control or something.

I'd backup my projects to a seperate folder, uninstall Gamemaker, manually delete all remaining folders associated with it, and then manually track down its entries in the registry and remove them as well.

Once I was sure all traces of it were gone I'd try re-installing and see if that helps. If its still messed up its possible its a compound issue and not just Gamemaker itself and I'd backup everything important and do a full wipe and clean install of the OS.

Depending on how long you've gone without doing a clean Windows install you can get into all kinds of wonky stuff. Especially if you're someone who regularly updates Windows, updates all your drivers, installs and uninstalls things, etc. You just kind of build up a bunch of junk and at times Windows just goes berserk.

I was looking at that option, but thankfully I fixed it. I realize you were posting just as I was posting so you didn't see it, but it's right above your post there. GameMaker and the programs GameMaker makes leave behind artifacts even when you uninstall. That means that your games leave behind anywhere from 1-10mb worth of information that the person purchasing the program has to manually delete to remove. Those files can permanently skew how future installations operate.

[BOYCOTT S-T-E-A-M!]

Yeah. Its not just Gamemaker though. The vast majority of software out there will install a bunch of things and leave it on your computer even after uninstalling.

Sometimes its due to the uninstaller being done poorly, but most of the time its intentional. Most software leaves the folder where your saves and settings are stored intact, typically in the Documents folder on Windows, so that if you ever reinstall it you're good to go again. There is usually a bunch of stuff left over in your registry as well, especially if the software was a trial or a demo. Lots of software stores things in that hidden Windows folder called App Data, typically in the local / roaming sub-folder.

If you ever need to eradicate anything for your computer in the future its a good idea to follow these steps...

1 - Backup anything you need to keep from the software

2 - Uninstall the software

3 - Check the folder you installed to and ensure its deleted.

4 - Delete the softwares folder in "My Documents"

5 - Delete the softwares folder in "App Data"

6 - Check the default Windows foiders of "Program Files" and "Program Files (x84)" as sometimes additional stuff is installed there. If you didn't set a custom install directory or the installer didn't ask you then odds are it installed in one of these two folders.

7 - If necessary, check the Windows registry for any related files. Often there will be a key or two left over. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL DOING THIS! If you don't know what something is then be safe and don't delete it.

8 - Worst case scenario, backup anything at all important on your system, slap any installers / driver installers necessary for a clean install of your graphics card, motherboard, or other hardware / software on a USB or DVD, double check you backed up everything you need to keep, and then do a full wipe and reinstall on the computer. Its a bit overboard for most problems but its always nice to have a fresh install and have a computer that boots up and runs nice. At least till it gets cluttered up again.

[dalbozofgurth]

Oh I know, but it's very, VERY RARE, for any kind of program, especially a compiler program, to leave system settings behind - settings that will NOT be "refreshed" or "overwritten" with fresh installs.

These specific artifacts that GameMaker shares with all of its projects and leaves behind are atrocious. They shouldn't behave like this. It's bad prrogramming. Very bad programming.

The last game I owned which did this was Caesar 2. That came out in the 90s.

But yes, your tips are good tips.

[BOYCOTT S-T-E-A-M!]

Thats not true really. Tons of software leaves behind stuff that its not going to use again with a fresh install. Most of the time its not something you notice because its out of sight and doesn't cause issues, but there usually is a lot of it.

[dalbozofgurth]

Originally posted by BOYCOTT S-T-E-A-M!:

Thats not true really. Tons of software leaves behind stuff that its not going to use again with a fresh install. Most of the time its not something you notice because its out of sight and doesn't cause issues, but there usually is a lot of it.

Yeah, the files I'm talking about are files which game companies are careful to allow to be replaced.

Yes, games leave some files behind, but it's very rare to find gamesystem files which are never uninstalled or overwritten on fresh installs.

The purpose of a fresh install in the dev world is to replace bad or corrupted gamesystem files.

That's not happening with anything here.

I'm a little frustrated and flustered after finding the files today, so I realize I'm not very articulate right now. These files that GMS left behind are not files normally left behind or if they are they are overwritten on fresh installs.

Fresh installs didnot overwrite these files. That's bad. That's very bad. That's because fresh installs are usually the go to solution for a game whose game system files are corrupted. Fresh installs are supposed to recalibrate the game and how it reads your computer. Making everything go to factory default.

Apparently, you can't do that with GMS or games you compile with GMS.

That's a big concern.