ESS Audio Drive Is Disabled with Error Code 12

ID: Q228425

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

After you install Windows 2000 on your Compaq Armada 77XX-series computer, system sounds may not be played. Also, when you use Device Manager to check the properties of your sound card, you may see the following message:

This device cannot find enough free resources that it can use. (Code 12)


CAUSE

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS), in certain configurations, assigns the ESS 1878 audio device two Direct Memory Access (DMA) channels, both with a value of 0.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use the appropriate method:

Method 1

Change the audio hardware configuration in the computer's BIOS to use Configuration 1, and then restart your computer.

Consult your computer documentation or contact Compaq Technical Support to determine how to modify the BIOS settings for your computer.

Method 2

Change the ESS 1878 audio hardware configuration in Device Manager:
  1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.


  2. Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.


  3. Double-click Sound, video and game controllers, and then double-click ESS 1878 Audio Drive.


  4. Click the Resources tab, and then click to clear the Use automatic settings check box.


  5. In the Settings based on box, click a basic configuration that uses DMA channels 0 and 1.


  6. Click OK, and then click Yes to restart your computer.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbhw kbsound
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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