Can't stop XP sound from Echoing!

[Davidoo1]

My son's computer has developed a habit I have not seen before in Windows. All the sounds, even the Windows logon and logoff sounds are now echoing. This is probably some simple switch, but I can't find a way to stop this. The sound scheme is set on the normal windows scheme. Even when running the directX tests, the sounds echo.

This is a Pentuim IV 2.8GHZ, with 768 MB Ram, 200GB hard drive with Windows XP Home. Any ideas?

[Force Flow]

What sound card and what kind of speakers?

[Davidoo1]

Sorry...it has a Creative SB Audigy with Boston Acoustics BA 735 speakers. The echo just started a day or so ago.

[Davidoo1]

I did a system restore from a couple of days ago and the echo went away. Still can't figure how it got started though.

[Statica]

Does the software installed by the SB have an EAX control panel? If so check to see if you or any software might have added an echo or some related effect.

[TechSupport420]

if your sound card has a control panel like statica said or some sort of utility in the taskbar try there, that's where the echo option would be, that happened to me and I was really mad until I figured out that it was just my sound card setting

[ConLog]

Yep, my sound has a control panel for all kinds of effects. For ages I was wondering why I was getting an echo. Turns out someone/something set it to "Bathroom environment".

[Statica]

Originally posted by ConLog
Yep, my sound has a control panel for all kinds of effects. For ages I was wondering why I was getting an echo. Turns out someone/something set it to "Bathroom environment".

LOL .. talk about a homely browsing environment :D.

[Davidoo1]

According to the Gateway site listing the SB part number, this card does have the EAX package. Funny thing though, it does not appear the software was installed. When I go to volume control, only the normal 4 or 5 volume, MIDI, etc. setting show up...even when I click advanced. I searched for EAX and found nothing. When going from the start menu, there is a "Creative" in the programs, but all it has is a hardware information icon that tells the specs of the card. According to Creative, this is where the control panel is supposed to be. I do have a CD that came with the computer with the soundcard software, but it does not appear it was installed. This is unusual as most times Gateway has all the software installed prior to shipment. I'm going to keep looking as this setting got changed somehow and I will find it.

I know....I usually get a reply about Gateway being the problem, but I have had four of them and NEVER any serious issues. It seems all the parts are always matched well with each other as I never get conflicts, RAM, or power supply problems I see posted here all the time. I'd like to do a build someday though when I have more time.

[Markoman01027]

Originally posted by Statica
LOL .. talk about a homely browsing environment :D.

LOL!

[milkman4_hi_r]

i used to get the same problem when i would play certain video games. after i would exit the sound setting would stay the same. but now, good or bad, i for some reason dont even have the option to change the sound effects.... dont know how it happened but i havent had a problem since. i just hope i can still get the ambiance sounds.

[Davidoo1]

Found the problem. The last game my son installed was Grand Theft Auto Vice City. There is a setting in the game called "Dynamic Acoustic Modeling." Somehow this gets turned on everytime the game starts and causes the echo in all windows sounds. If he turns that setting to "off" prior to exiting the game, the sounds are normal.