ActiMates/SideWinder: Configuring Opti Sound Cards

ID: q172697

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft ActiMates Arthur, version 1.0
  • Microsoft ActiMates Barney, version 1.0
  • Microsoft ActiMates D.W., version 1.0
  • Microsoft ActiMates PC Pack, versions 1.0, 2.0
  • Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure Opti sound cards for use with Microsoft ActiMates characters or the SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick.

This information was tested with the following sound card drivers:

Opti 928 chipset
Opti 929 chipset
Opti 930 chipset
Opti Pro-multimedia 931
Driver version tested: 2.03/DX 4.03.22.2031
Date: 2-11-97


MORE INFORMATION

Driver updates should be obtained from your hardware manufacturer or your sound card manufacturer. Do not attempt to obtain driver updates directly from Opti until you have exhausted all other resources.

928 Chipset

To add or update the Opti drivers, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Add New Hardware.


  3. Click Next.

    NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, click Next and then click Next.


  4. Click No, and then click Next.


  5. Click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, click Next, and then click Have Disk.


  6. Type the path to the location of the updated driver files, and then click OK.


  7. Click the Opti 928 sound card, and then click OK.


  8. Click Next. If you receive a message about a hardware conflict, do not start the Hardware Conflict Troubleshooter.


  9. Click Finish. If you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.


While the computer is restarting, you are asked if you want to load the real mode drivers for MS-DOS. You do not need to install MS-DOS drivers unless you boot to a command prompt to use applications that require sound, or use MS-DOS based games that don't operate properly in an MS-DOS window. You can load the real mode drivers later if you are not sure if they are needed.

Before Windows restarts, you should receive New Hardware Found messages stating that Windows has found new hardware and is installing the software for it.

NOTE: The settings for this sound card may need to be modified. If this is the case, please see the instructions for configuring your sound card in the 930 Chipset section of this article.

929 Chipset

To add or update the Opti drivers, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Add New Hardware.


  3. Click Next.

    NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, click Next, and then click Next.


  4. Click No, and then click Next.


  5. Click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, click Next, and then click Have Disk.


  6. Type the path to the location of the updated driver files, and then click OK.


  7. Click the Opti 929 sound card, and then click OK.


  8. Click Next.


  9. Click Finish. If you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.


While the computer is restarting, you are asked if you want to load the real mode drivers for MS-DOS. You do not need to install MS-DOS drivers unless you boot to a command prompt to use applications that require sound, or use MS-DOS based games that don't operate properly in an MS-DOS window. You can load the real mode drivers later if you are not sure if they are needed.

Before Windows restarts, you should receive New Hardware Found messages stating that Windows has found new hardware and is installing the software for it.

NOTE: The settings for this sound card may need to be modified. If this is the case, please see the instructions for configuring your sound card in the 930 Chipset section of this article.

930 Chipset

To add or update the Opti drivers, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click Add New Hardware.


  3. Click Next.

    NOTE: If you are using Windows 98, click Next, and the click Next.


  4. Click No, and then click Next.


  5. Click Sound, Video And Game Controllers, click Next, and then click Have Disk.


  6. Type the path to the location of updated driver files, and then click OK.


  7. Click the Opti 930 sound card, and then click OK.


  8. Click Next.


  9. Click Finish. If you are prompted to restart your computer, click Yes.


While the computer is restarting, you are asked if you want to load the real mode drivers for MS-DOS. You do not need to install MS-DOS drivers unless you boot to a command prompt to use applications that require sound, or use MS-DOS based games that don't operate properly in an MS-DOS window. You can load the real mode drivers later if you are not sure if they are needed.

Before Windows restarts, you should receive New Hardware Found messages stating that Windows has found new hardware and is installing the software for it.

The settings for this sound card may need to be modified. If this is the case, please see the instructions for configuring your sound card that follow.

To configure your sound card, use the following steps:

The listing under Opti 82C930 (not Sound, Video And Game Controllers) in Device Manager should read:
  • Opti930 MPU-401 Device
  • Opti930 Sound System: Sound/Game
  • Opti930 Sound/OPL3 Device


If you see any other drivers listed, they do not correspond to this sound card. Either you have a second audio or MIDI port on the computer, or the drivers are improperly loaded.

The most important driver is the Opti930 Sound System: Sound/Game driver. While the MPU-401 Device driver reflects the status of the MPU-401 device, the Sound System: Sound/Game driver is the parent device. All resource changes need to be made to this driver. This driver must use an Input/Output Range of 300-301, 310-311, 320-321, or 330-331. If none of these Input/Output Ranges are in use, then you must change the Basic Configuration until one of these Input/Output Ranges is present. If none of the Basic Configurations use this resource, it is likely that another sound card in the system is already using this range. The conflicting sound card may or may not be listed in Device Manager.

Pro-multimedia 931

This is a Plug and Play sound card and Windows should automatically install the correct drivers.

The default setting for the MPU-401 port has no Interrupt Request (IRQ) assigned to it. You may need to assign an IRQ to the port, depending on the application. To do so, use the following steps:

NOTE: These steps are not necessary for ActiMates products to work properly.
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.


  2. Double-click System.


  3. On the Device Manager tab, double-click Sound, Video And Game Controllers.


  4. Click OPTI Plug-N-Play MPU-401, and then click Properties.


  5. On the Resources tab, click the Use Automatic Settings check box to clear it.


  6. In the Setting Based On box, click Basic Configuration 0001, and then click OK.


  7. When you are prompted to continue, click Yes.


  8. Click Close. If you are prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.


If necessary, you can now assign an IRQ to the MPU-401 port.

The settings for this sound card may need to be modified. If this is the case, please see the instructions for configuring your sound card that follow.

The listing under Sound, Video And Game Controllers in Device Manager should read:
  • Opti Plug-N-Play Joystick Controller
  • Opti Plug-N-Play MPU-401
  • Opti Plug-N-Play Sound System


If you see any other drivers listed, they do not correspond to this sound card. Either you have a second audio or MIDI port on the computer, or the drivers are improperly loaded.

The most important driver is the MPU-401 Device driver reflects the status of the MPU-401 driver. This driver must use an Input/Output Range of 300-301, 310-311, 320-321, or 330-331. If none of these Input/Output ranges are in use, then you must change the Basic Configuration until one of these Input/Output ranges is present. If none of the Basic Configurations use this resource; it is likely that another sound card in the computer is already using this range. The conflicting sound card may or may not be listed in Device Manager. This driver will also need an interrupt. Make sure that you have chosen a Basic Configuration that has an Interrupt setting.

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.


REFERENCES

For information about how to solve problems related to Microsoft ActiMates characters, use the ActiMates Troubleshooter located at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/actimates/actitshoot/
For additional information or assistance with installing your sound card drivers and/or sound card, contact Opti at:
Internet: www.opti.com or ftp.opti.com

Additional query words: barnie actimate actamates side winder forcefeedback joystick dw

Keywords : kb3rdparty kbhw kbsound kbref
Version : WINDOWS:1.0,2.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: May 3, 1999
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