Golden Axe Starts in Service Mode

[Giddygoon]

Hi All,

Is there a way for Golden Axe to start without going into service mode on boot up, I have to press F2 which is not ideal in an arcade cab

[neogeo81]

Check you dip switches in the settings and save correctly.

[jca]

Check you dip switches in the settings and save correctly.

Could you explain in detail what has to be done?
It looks like something is wrong with this core:
In the OSD there is a setting "Service mode" which is Off by default so there is no reason to start in service mode.
Changing this setting to On and Reset gives a black screen: not very good.
In the OSD "DIP Switches" there is no relevant setting related to the problem.
In the service screen "DIP SWITCH ASSIGNMENTS" there is also no setting related to the problem and I have no idea on how to navigate this screen and change anything.

[Giddygoon]

Yep, its been like that for months

is the core broken ?

[neogeo81]

ok i have to try it today. last time it worked fine. did you try using an alternate MRA?

[lsnderick]

Its been like that for a long time. On github jotego mentioned somewhere that the bug is somehow related to him merging several versions of the system16 core into a single rbf file. But it is probably a low priority bug for him.

[neogeo81]

strange. i never had that issue.

[Flandango]

From my experience, with the current core, Rom sets 2 and 6 go straight into service mode, but Rom sets 1,3,4 and 5 don't.

[jca]

Thanks for the answers.
I made the test from the main mra. I will try later with alternatives.
If have 2 more questions:
Where is the F2 key mentioned and are there more of such keys? There does not seem any ReadMe for Jotego cores.
Is there a way to navigate "DIP SWITCH ASSIGNMENTS" in the service screen and change anything?

Today there was a JT Friday update:
Small fixes done on legacy cores.
cps1: fixes Megaman buttons. Default DIP switch configuration matches…

But nothing regarding Golden Axe.
The changes were from 2 days ago so may be something will come later.

[MorkMikael]

if golden axe start in service menu go to exit option and open up OSD and select service mode double press it on off two time and it should start.

it seams that one press on the service menu is like you are holding the button service and putting it on and off is like your pressing and releasing the the service button.

so you need to double press it.

[jca]

@Flandango. Thanks, this is indeed the case: most alternatives do not have this problem.
Using alternatives is a pain, even with a KB as all these alternatives directories are prefixed with an underscore.
This is what I did:
Delete Golden Axe (set 6, US) (8751 317-123A).mra.
Copy Golden Axe (set 1, World) (FD1094 317-0110).mra from the alternatives to _Arcade.
Renamed it Golden Axe (set 6, US) (8751 317-123A).mra.
To be sure that the update all script wouldn't restore the original I ran it and it did not detect my sneaky move.
On the other hand the Organized had some hallucinations:
Organizing 1 MRAs.

MRA Core Year Manufactu. Category
################################################################################
Golden Axe (W, Set 1).mra jts16b 1989 Sega Fighter
################################################################################
It does not even show up in the Organizer menus.

Now I can run Golden Axe directly from the Arcade menu by running Golden Axe (set 6, US) (8751 317-123A) which in reality is Golden Axe (set 1, World) (FD1094 317-0110).

[pepito]

same problem.
Rom Set 6 do this..
use Set5 en 4.

[bankshot]

Sadly, this core has needed bug fixing ever since it was added to official distro. It still starts in service mode for me, and even after getting it successfully running it would lock up hardcore after the first or second boss. Pity, hopefully gets sorted out one of these days as it is a true beat-em-up classic.

[seastalker]

I have the same issue (expected, if indeed a listed bug in Jotego's core). I thank the others here for the F2 trick and sneaky MRA swap. Thus far I just navigated to the alternative roms that don't have the issue.

[Giddygoon]

The other version don't start in service mode but I found bug where is you fall off the screen at the beginning of stage 2 the game crashes...

[seastalker]

I'll have to test that bug. On another note, at the start of Stage 2, I have forever enjoyed getting the enemies to run at me and then avoid them to where they jump off the cliff.

[rok]

works now.