SB Live problem--loud static

[jepeters]

A Sound Blaster Live card started outputting a LOT of static-like noise on a teacher's computer. You can barely hear the sound that you are supposed to be hearing.

I switched speakers and got the same thing. I put in a different SB Live card and I still get the same static. This is in Windows 98. I installed Windows 2000 and the sound card works just fine--clear as a bell. I have the correct drivers installed for both OS. Why would I get the same static from 2 different cards in Win 98 but not in Win 2000?

[TwoRails]

Hi jepeters,

Well, it's not Win 98, but the common thread is that system. Was anything else done to that machine recently? Maybe someone playing a prank, perhaps? Did you run DXDIAG on it? Did you look into Device Manager to see if other problems are present?

TwoRails

[jepeters]

Device Manager indicates everything is working. Nothing has been done to it recently that I know of (it's at a school that I visit only occasionally--I'll try DXDIAG nex time I'm there). What type of 'prank' could have been played that would cause the problem in Win 98 but not 2000?

[TwoRails]

I have no idea about the prank thing, it was just a thought. I've read articles here-n-there about "kewl" things to do to "seem" like a computer is messed up but really isn't.

TwoRails

[Tuf]

It certainly sounds like a driver issue.

[jepeters]

actually, i originally thought it was some type of virus. I had earlier switched it over to Win 2000. Then it would constantly lock up upon getting to the log-in window or desktop. Each time I would restart, the static would start coming through the speakers long before the log-in window even came up. It actually sounded like it was playing a wave file of garbled sound.

Anyway, I used the factory restore CDs to put it back to Win 98 and hopefully get rid of the problem, but it didn't help. Changing sound cards didn't help. A few days ago a set it up for a dual boot to Win 2000 and 98. Works fine in 2000 but still get the static in 98 (I just re-installed the drivers from the CD in 98)