MS-DOS-Based Game Setup Does Not Detect WSS as Sound Blaster

ID: Q126160

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you install an MS-DOS-based game in a full-screen MS-DOS window on a computer with the Microsoft Windows Sound System installed, the game fails to detect the Windows Sound System sound card.


CAUSE

This problem can occur when the game requires that an IRQ from 0 to 7 be used for the sound card but the sound card is set to an IRQ higher than 7. The Windows Sound System (WSS) can use IRQ 7, 9, 10, or 11. If there is a known working configuration using IRQ 7, Windows 95 will use the existing configuration. If there is no existing configuration using IRQ 7, Windows 95 will assign IRQ 7 to a device only as a last resort in order to not conflict with the Enhanced Capabilities port (ECP).

The following games are known to fail to detect the WSS sound card:

  • 7th Guest


  • Kings Quest V



RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, change WSS to use IRQ 7. To do so, follow these steps:

  1. Use the right mouse button to click My Computer, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.


  2. Click the Device Manager tab.


  3. Double-click the Sound Video And Game Controllers entry.


  4. Click the MS Windows Sound System entry and then click the Properties button.


  5. Click the Resources tab.


  6. Change the Interrupt Request setting to 07.


  7. Click OK to accept the settings.


After you make this change, the MS-DOS-based game should detect the WSS sound card as a Sound Blaster sound card.

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.

Keywords : win95 wss appscomp wpp95
Version : 95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: June 17, 1999
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