Trouble with sound in DOS games in Win 98!

[chpco2000]

Hello everyone,
Recently I built myself a new computer thanks to pcmech.com and the people on these boards.
The new build is awesome, I totally love it. But I have one problem still.

I can't get sound in DOS games! and I'm using Win 98! I thought Win XP is suppose to have bad compatibility with DOS games?

For example, I have MechWarrior 2. The music tracks come in loud and clear, but the sound effects such as lasers, voice, missles, explosions dont come in. The only thing I hear while playing the game is music. Yes, the sound effect volume control is at maximum.

The same problem exists while playing WarCraft 2, Advanced Tactical Fighters, Jet Fighter 3 and all other DOS games I own. Yes, I do have the latest sound drivers provided from the manufacturer.
I have a EPoX 8K7A motherboard (has on-board sound which is what I'm using) and I have configered my computer just like the way EPoX says to configure it. But I still can't get any sound besides music out of DOS games.

Can anyone help?

[glc]

Is Soundblaster legacy compatibility enabled in the bios? Are all the sound drivers installed from the motherboard CD?

[chpco2000]

Yes, the Sound Blaster Legacy is enabled in the BIOS. And yes, all the sound drivers are istalled from the CD that is provided with the motherboard. But I download the sound drivers from EPoXs website and install those, but the same problem persist.

[mike breck]

Do these games automatically detect your soundcard or do you have to choose which one you have from a limited list? It might be an idea to try some or all of the different cards listed.

Also, depending on the game, sometimes the sound in DOS is very low. I just stumbled across an old classic called Realms of the Haunting. A sort of precursor to Resident Evil and Undying. However, I could not get any sound at all. Eventually, I checked the Windows Volume Controls in the System Tray and found the volume was only 75%. When I increased it to 100%, I got sound. The sound is not great, but at least it's hearable.

[chpco2000]

Well, I cranked up the volume as much as I could and still no sound. That is, I get the music, but I don't hear any of the sound effects.
I've also tried configuring the game with different sound cards, but still no luck.

[mike breck]

Unless someone comes up with a better idea, I think you'd be better with a PCI souncard. The sound in games is very demanding and the sound in DOS games is problematic at the best of times. I would avoid Soundblaster and get a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz which seems to have less compatiblity problems.

However, I will have a look at the onboard sound on the Epox 8K7A and see if I can dig anything up for you.

[chpco2000]

Thank you Mike. I appreciate that, I have been considering going with a PCI sound card, but don't know which one. Hear anything about the new Audigy series?

[RJ]

I disagree here. If it's sound for DOS games then either take the SBLive! (the ONLY pci soundcard i know that is able to produce nearly 100% accurate dos sound . . apart from Audigy, that card is fairly new and I haven't used it so far) or a good ISA soundcard (which are the only soundcards that produce 100% accurate dos sound), such as the Sound Blaster AWE64.

Edit: I did a web search for that board and it doesn't have isa slots.
PCI soundcards can't do the sound as well as isa cards and most pci cards suck here. So far the only card able to produce nearly 100% accurate sound is the SBLive!. I think audigy would do it as well but I haven't tried it so far, and I don't konw about the santa cruz.

RJ

[Demosthenes]

I agree with the soundblaster. All those old DOS games are all mainly based on SoundBlaster. The reason you hear sound for Mech2 and WarCraft, is because that should be CD music, which is not processed. Run the configuration programs. DOS games usually always have something like that with an ugly colored psuedo-GUI and lets you choose the audio devices for midi, sound, IRQ, etc and then test them. I loved Mechwarrior2, but mine was a Windows based version accelerated for the S3Virge. It is much, much better than the old DOS one, but only runs on my P166.

Respectfully,

Demosthenes

[mike breck]

Well I've checked around and couldn't find anything which pertained to your onboard sound in DOS problem. However, I did, as per normal, come across scores of people having problems running SB cards with this mobo.
There is no doubt that the Soundblaster cards are amoung the best on the market. However, if you're one of the many unlucky ones to run into problems then that's not much consolation. After unsucessfully running the usual gauntlet of swopping slots, reserving slots, and redistrubuting IRQs, many owners seem to give up the struggle and swop to another brand.
I have never used a Soundblaster. In the past I have used Yamaha cards and currently I'm using Hercules Fortissimo 1 and 11 cards. To my ear these cards supplied excellent sound in DOS and Windows but more importantly - they just plug in and work.
So chpco2000, you've heard the opposing camps, so you must make up your own mind. All I can say is many respected members on these forums, and elsewhere, have consistently recommended the Santa Cruz as a viable alternative to the Soundblaster.
The Audigy is new and only time will tell how good and compatible it is.

Getting back to your problem - check your Autoexec.bat and see if it contains
a line SET BLASTER=A220 15 D1 T4. If it isn't there, type it in and see if it makes a difference.

Check all your Sound settings in Device Manager and make sure they are enabled.

Some other 8K7A Bios settings I've come across which may or not help:
Enable On Chips Sound
Enable Onboard Legacy Audio
Enable Game Port
Enable Soundblaster

HTH

[chpco2000]

"check your Autoexec.bat and see if it contains
a line SET BLASTER=A220 15 D1 T4. If it isn't there, type it in and see if it makes a difference. "

Sorry, I'm not really sure how to do this.
Oh, and I've also tried configuring my games with different cards, but no luck.
And yes, I do have my BIOS configured properly.

Edit: Ok, nevermind, I figured out how to edit the file.
This is what it reads:

SET BLASTER=A220 15 D1 P330

[mike breck]

Sorry, you've probably figured it out. To access Autoexec.bat - System Information>Tools>System Configuration Utility.

Keep a note of your original setting and edit the line with my setting. If it doesn't work then just edit the line back to your original setting.

Also, check in Control Panel> Multimedia>Audio>Preferred Device. You should find that the onboard sound is the preferred device. If it already is the preferred device then it might be interesting to try some of the other preferred devices in the dropdown list and see how that impacts DOS sound.
Also, look at the Multimedia>Devices Tab and look at the properties of your sound. It should tell you the driver is active.

[chpco2000]

Well, I tried changing the autoexec.bat file to the settings you mentioned mike, but still no sound effects, just music. I've also checked the multimedia>audio file in control panel. There are no other devices llisted besides the on-board audio.

[glc]

That should be I5 (eye five) not 15 (one five).

[mike breck]

Sorry chpco2000,

glc is right and I'm a lousy typist. The line should read

SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4

[chpco2000]

Aww....forget it...I'll just throw away my DOS games. I've tried everything ( I think) and yes, I did figure out that you meant "I"5 and not 15.