Sound card problems

[jon12345678]

My brother’s computer:
Compaq Presario 4640
Windows 98SE
Pentium II 266
Dlink nic in 1st pci slot
Soundblaster Live in 2nd

I took out the soundblaster to put in my own computer. Then did a complete format and reinstall of his. Windows installed everything correctly but the sound would not work. Even though Device Manager said everything was fine I tried Compaq’s drivers but that didn’t work either. I’d hear crackling coming out of the speakers sometimes. My brother wanted to get a sound card that was 4 speaker capable so I gave up on fixing it. (If you have an idea on the onboard sound problem I’d appreciate it).

I bought a Hercules Muse XL. Then I disabled the onboard sound through Device Manager. Tried it in the 2nd pci slot, but windows didn’t recognize it. I switched the nic and sound card. Windows installed both but both didn’t work. No sound and no internet access(we could get an IP and transfer files on the network). If I go to Control Panel/Multimedia Audio tab it says “No playback devices, no recording devices.” The Devices tab show all the drivers for the Muse as installed and working. Any program that tried to access the internet crashed by way of an invalid page fault in an unknown module. It happens with every program that tries.

The next thing I tried was disabling the onboard sound through the bios and taking out the nic. That didn’t work either. Everything looks like it’s ok but the sound still isn’t working. The speakers do work on another computer.

If your confused just think of how confused I am
Thanks

[RobH]

Hi jon,
I figure you are refering to windows 98 as the operating system,if not please post.
When you say you dont hear sounds,do you mean if your trying to play a CD? or the sounds found in the control panel?
I think I might look at the simple things first:
If there isnt any conflicts ( youll see these in Device manager) then look in the sound folder in the control panel as well,make sure you have a sound scheme selected.
If it is music from a cd-make sure you have the audio cable (4 wire) connect from the cdrom to the sound card .
you might want to check the volume controls ( I have more than once turned things down and forgot) (esp the wav control)
I know this sounds simple-but these are the easiest things to check and the first things I would--hope this helps

[mike breck]

Try removing the Compaq drivers from device manager and rebooting.

Check your IRQs in Start Menu>System Tools>System Information>Hardware Resources and see what is sharing with what.

Ideally the PCI soundcard should be on IRQ 5 and not sharing with anything apart from PCI Steering.

No conflicts showing in Device Manager?

[jon12345678]

When you say you dont hear sounds,do you mean if your trying to play a CD? or the sounds found in the control panel?

When I try to play a cd or mp3 winamp freezes. The sounds in control panel are greyed out, can't preview them.

The speaker wire is attached to the card. The 4 prongs are perpendicular to the card so I don't know if it's the right way. (tab towards or away)?

Can't even open the volume control anymore. Doesn't do anything when I try.

Try removing the Compaq drivers from device manager and rebooting. Check IRQs

I've tried two ways. Disabling the onboard sound from device manager, and disabling through bios.

3, 5, 10, 11 are free
9 has the Muse XL Audio Device
Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USb Universal Host Controller and
IRQ Holder for PCI Steering

Would the IRQ situation be the cause of the nic problem (crashing when a program attempts to connect) too? At the moment it is not in there because I want to get this sound card thing fixed first.

Thank you for the replies

[RobH]

jon, go to the hercules web site and download the latest drivers for that card,update the drivers in the device manager using the new drivers.
I have had some sound cards not work with the cd/audio cable that runs from the cdrom (It might have been a bad one in my case-but I was embarrased when I took the card back and then found out,cause the card was good).
Remove the cd/audio cable and see if you can hear atleast windows sounds.
Finally look and see if it is has 3 or 4 connections on the rear of the card-be sure you are in the right connection-many different cards place the out/out rear/mic/line in in different locations.
hope this helps.
BTW when you expand the sound device heading in device manager,what line items are there??

[jon12345678]

I am using the latest drivers from the website. Took out the cd/audio cable but still no windows sounds. I rechecked the speaker connection too.

Under device manager it has: Gameport Joystick and Gamesurround Muse XL Audio Device

The card shows up in device manager ok, but windows doesn't see it as an audio device.

[palladrj]

Hi jon
I had the same problem. This worked for me. Good Luck.

Make sure that you've got the following lines in your system.ini
file:

In [boot] section, have
drivers=mmsystem.dll

In [Drivers] section, have ...
aux=mmsystem.dll
mixer=mmsystem.dll
midi=mmsystem.dll
wav=mmsystem.dll

Restart the machine if you need to add any of these lines.

palladrj

[jon12345678]

Still doesn't work.
The system.ini had these:
[boot]
drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
Didn't know what the power.drv was so I didn't mess with it.

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm
wave=mmsystem.dll
midi=mmsystem.dll

added these to [drivers]:
aux=mmsystem.dll
mixer=mmsystem.dll

[RobH]

Have you looked to the card manufacturers web site for FAQs? This card probably has good support,and it sounds like something isnt installed (software) correctly

[mike breck]

What are the graphics on this Compaq - onboard, PCI, AGP?

[jon12345678]

Actually that's the first thing I did when I got the card. The FAQs were skimpy and had nothing to do with my problem. I tried a couple times during the week to sign up for the Hercules forum. But the pw never came in my email. I'll try again today.

The computer has onboard video.

[jon12345678]

Finally got into the Muse forum but still no go. This will be my last attempt for this card. I'm getting a different card if no one can think of anything else.

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
4 Communications Port (COM1)
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 Gamesurround Muse XL Audio Device
9 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
9 IRQ Holder for PCI Steering
12 OpticalMouse1 (PS/2)
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82371AB/EB PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
3 (free)
5 (free)
10 (free)
11 (free)

Maybe a visual will help (25kb):

[jon12345678]

My last attempts were a reinstall, then a full format if that didn't work. Luckily the reinstall over win98 finally got the card working.

[mike breck]

Yes, if all else fails, a Windows reinstall is always worth a try. It can save a lot of time and effort.