I am trying to TAS a window game on windows 7, I'm quite new to the community, so I don't really know what emulators to use.
I've tried Hourglass(by the recommendation of TASVideos). I have the r81 update, which is the most recent update from the time of writing, I believe(7/12/2018). I managed to make it open the .exe file, but then there are two problems.
1. I can't stop the recording
2. I can't input properly
I couldn't stop the recording when I press the pause checkbox, it just advances by whatever I set the frame rate to be by the bunch. And when I deselect it, the frame counter just goes as normal. I also noticed that the frame rate(the one that you can't change) is constantly zero, but I don't know how to fix that one. The Slow-down still works, but the state-saving doesn't, and the next problem negates the solution.
The next problem is that I can't input my inputs into the program. This probably has to do with the fps = 0 issue, or because of my windows software registering the event as an attempt in moving the .exe game screen(shown evidently by me dragging the window while inputting will cause the window to move), but that might be a stretch. Reconfiguring the arrow keys to a different button doesn't seem to work.
I've tried Bizhawk. It was not too long after downloading it that I found out it has to be an emulated game to work, not one that is on the same platform(not sure about this one), so it doesn't work. The game currently only works on Windows or Linux + wine to my knowledge, and I had difficulty trying to find a Linux emulator that can be used as a TAS tool or the other way round. (VM machine can't do frame advance or savestates?)
tl;dr I don't know what to use for TASing. I tried other emulators, but they all can't run a windows .exe file using their designated emulators or doesn't exactly work.
Do you have any suggestions as to what emulator should I use or how can I fix the problems? I don't need an emulator that is very complex, just one with at least frame advance, pausing, savestates are fine, although if a more complex tool is needed I'll be happy to learn it too. Thanks in advance.
(I have also made a .rom version of the .exe file by force using config, but I don't think it works.)