Problems Installing Windows Sound Driver on Compaq Prolinea

 Last reviewed: June 28, 1996
Article ID: Q149883
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.51

SUMMARY

Users who have purchased Compaq Prolinea computers with Compaq Business Audio may have problems installing the Windows Sound System driver or the Compaq Business Audio driver because of the limited range of I/O addresses available in the driver configuration dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows Sound System and the Compaq Business Audio are basically the same driver (Sndsys32.dll). Either of these can be added after Windows NT is set up by going into Control Panel, Drivers, and clicking the Add button. Numerous drivers will be listed, including Windows Sound System and Compaq Business Audio.

When either of these drivers is added to Windows NT, a dialog box with configuration options appears. The user can select from among DMA Channel, I/O Address, and Interrupt. Valid values offered in this dialog box are: 

   DMA Channel       I/O Address       Interrupt
   ------------      ------------      ----------
      DMA 0             530            Interrupt 7
      DMA 1             604            Interrupt 9
      DMA 3             E80            Interrupt 10
                        F40            Interrupt 11
There is also an Advanced setting for DMA Buffer Size.

The options for a particular setting may not be available if numerous other devices--for example, a network card, video adapter, and internal modem-- are installed. To solve this problem, use one of the following two options:

  1. Try to rearrange the DMA, I/O, and Interrupts used by these add-on devices (either by changing the jumper/dip switch settings or reconfiguring the software, perhaps with a utility such as Intel's SoftSet), and then give the Windows or Compaq Audio driver one of the newly available settings.

OR

  1. Try installing the Creative Labs 1.x Pro 16 driver that comes with Windows NT, instead of the Windows Sound System or Compaq Business Audio drivers. The Creative Labs driver allows I/O Addresses from 210 to 280 and Interrupts 2,3,5, and 7. Unlike the Windows or Compaq drivers, the Creative Labs driver does not require you to configure the DMA channel. After the driver is installed, the system will need to be restarted.

To verify correct operation of either of the two solutions outlined, check the System Event Log and look for events related to your audio driver. If there is a Stop or warning sign next to the entries for your driver, there may yet be conflicts with Interrupt, I/O Address, or DMA. View the detail of the event and, if a conflict is indicated, verify all Interrupt, I/O, and DMA settings (you can use Windows NT Diagnostics, in the Administrative Tools Group). Change any settings that conflict and restart the system. If no conflicts are indicated, try connecting speakers to the sound board and testing some sound files using the Sound Mapper in Control Panel.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

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Additional reference words: 3.50 3.51

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Last reviewed: June 28, 1996
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