Any Win 98SE gurus here? Sound card problem =(

[sdsumike619]

I have an OLD system that has been in use for some number of years. It originally came with Win98, then at some point we changed to Win2k. Well, today, I changed it back to Win98. Everything is working properly EXCEPT the sound card (that has been in this machine since day 1) is no longer recognized by the computer. The model is Creative Labs CT2230 I actually got the drivers from the Creative Labs site, ran the install, system rebooted, and no sign of the card anywhere. Is there some utility that can help me, or what can I do? I know the card works.

[redwudz]

I'm assuming you looked for the card in 'Device Manager'?

I would pull out the card and try it in another slot if possible and that may reset it's detection. Avoid the slot directly under the video card as it usually has a shared IRQ. You could also try pulling the card, rebooting. Power down and reinstall the card and reboot to see if it's detected in Device manager.

Or the problem might be with IRQ assignment. Look in BIOS under PnP/PCI Configurations. Just a guess, though.

[sdsumike619]

Yes, played around with device manager, i.e. installing the device manually from "the list", rebooting and the device manager says the device isn't present or the drivers aren't installed. I only have one ISA slot and it's been in that slot since 1999 =) I did try to pull it out, especially to get the model number so I was sure I had the correct drivers. I went into the BIOS, and there are some settings for IRQs and DMAs under the PnP config. It has several IRQs and DMAs listed and for each one you select either PnP or ISA. I tried setting an irq and dma, but not having any luck, but also not really knowing what to do in those bios settings doesn't help either. I'm frustrated that I even have to work on a machine like this considering my new i7 is sitting right next to me lol.

[jagabo]

ISA cards typically used jumpers to set the IRQ, I/O base address, and DMA channel. If you're lucky they're labeled on the card. If not, you'll have to find a manual with the jumper configuration.

[aedipuss]

win98 is a pnp os. all slots must be pnp. old sound and video cards can't share irq numbers. both need there own. best way to free up irqs is to disable things like com1, com2 and the parallel port in the bios. then try moving irqs from slot to slot.

[NJRoadfan]

The card you have there is a Soundblaster 16 MultiCD. Its a weird semi-Plug and Play style card. IO address is set by jumpers (the default positions should set it at 220h), but the IRQ and DMA channels are set by using software (defaults are usually IRQ 5, DMA 1 and DMA 5). Problem is, I don't recall if they can be set using a true PnP operating system like Windows 95/98. There should be a program called "DIAGNOSE.EXE" somewhere with creative's drivers. This program was used to initialize these semi-PNP cards in DOS and may do the trick with Windows 98.

[sdsumike619]

Here's a picture of my card:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KL_Creative_Labs_Soundblaster_16_CT2230.jpg

This diagram and spec looks helpful:
http://stason.org/TULARC/pc/sound-cards-multimedia/CREATIVE-LABS-INC-Sound-card-SOUNDB...-16-MCD-A.html

What's really annoying me about this problem is that this sound card has been in that ISA slot forevvvvvvver. It shouldn't be a Windows 98 issue because when the computer was new, it had Windows 98 on it.

[jagabo]

Although the CDROM controller is disabled maybe you should set the CDIRQ jumper to one of the three options (11?). It looks like there's no explicit IRQ jumper for the sound section, which probably means it's programmable.

Did you follow NJRoadFan's advice about disabling the com and parallel ports (assuming you aren't using them)? Even if you are using them, try turning them off as a test.

I seem to recall having problems with Win98 drivers for old SB16 cards from Creative before too. I was using VMWare or VirtualBox at the time though.

[sdsumike619]

I give up, going back to Windows 2000. I sure hope it works on there! (I tried pretty much everything including changing the jumpers for the I/O address, it wasn't recognized no matter what I did.....) I will report back soon.

[aedipuss]

check the capacitors carefully, it's old and they may have dried up. any bulging or crud on the outside of one and it's probably toast.

[El Heggunte]

...
It originally came with Win98, then at some point we changed to Win2k.
...
The model is Creative Labs CT2230

I actually got the drivers from the Creative Labs site, ran the install, system rebooted, and no sign of the card anywhere.

It seems the Windows 98 you have installed recently IS NOT the original Windows 98 of your old machine

Just a wild guess, but it wouldn't be impossible that your SB16 is an "OEM-mod" or something, which required accordingly-modified drivers for working properly.

[sdsumike619]

This succccccccccccks. Everything is working but the sound card, and the sound card (and attached Roland Daughterboard) is the only reason for this machine. Ugh! It's not working in Windows 2000 either. =( I'm wondering if it's the card itself or the slot. I need to get another ISA card to troubleshoot. I think another option would be to find a PCI sound card that has the port for the roland daughterboard on it that I can install in a newer machine....

[Nelson37]

If you have changed the jumpers, then you MUST change the settings in the software. The card WILL NOT function at all without doing this, and IIRC won't even recognize. There may be a config.sys entry with the numbers present.

You have mentioned the card has been installed from Day one. What OTHER cards have been installed, which may have had their IRQs and memory addresses auto-configured in win2000, but which do not do that in Win98? A phone modem, perhaps? Com and LPT ports, which have already been mentioned? A modem is essentially a com port, these often use IRQs in conflict with SoundBlaster cards, or at least they did back in those days.

[aedipuss]

creative cards have caused more hours of misery than any other hardware. i still dislike them immensely, if they weren't fairly cheap and good at what they do i'd banish them from all my machines. their drivers have always been the most ornery to get installed properly.

[sdsumike619]

Well, I've given up on the ISA card. I've now installed a PCI card with a MIDI interface, so trying to get an external synth hooked up, but having trouble with that too. It could be the cable...

[aedipuss]

This succccccccccccks. Everything is working but the sound card, and the sound card (and attached Roland Daughterboard) is the only reason for this machine. Ugh! It's not working in Windows 2000 either. =( I'm wondering if it's the card itself or the slot. I need to get another ISA card to troubleshoot. I think another option would be to find a PCI sound card that has the port for the roland daughterboard on it that I can install in a newer machine....

Diamond Monster Sound MX300 maybe?

[NJRoadfan]

Give this a try with the Soundblaster. Download DIAGNOSE.EXE from Creative's site (its on the same page as the Windows 95 drivers). Save the file to a directory (C:\SB16 works). Then add the following to your autoexec.bat (root directory, if there isn't one, create a new file).

SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
C:\SB16\DIAGNOSE.EXE /S

Make sure the IOS0/1 jumpers on the card are set to "220h" position (both closed). Make sure the CD-ROM interface jumpers are set to the "disabled" position, you don't need the interface for the card to work. The above will configure your card to use the following parameters.

Base Address: 0x220h
IRQ: 5
Low DMA Channel: 1
High DMA Channel: 5
MIDI Port Address: 0x330h

When in Windows 98, delete any Soundblaster 16 and MPU-401 MIDI Port entries listed in device manager and reboot. Run the Add New Hardware Wizard, it should detect your Soundblaster 16 and install the drivers.