I am unable to get the Sound Blaster 128 PCI card working under Windows 98 on my PC
OS - Win 98
MOBO - ABIT KA7
CPU - AMD K7 650
VIDEO - ASUS GeForce V6800 Deluxe DDR 32
RAM - 64 MB (100 MHz FSB)
Symptoms as follows.
With even only a minimal system loaded (no other expansion cards, basic windows 98 - VGA drivers)
As soon as I load the drivers for the SB PCI 128 the system hangs - *NB* - when starting the desktop.
I tried removing the ensonique sound mixer from the "run" section of the Windows 98 registry and clearing the startup group.
There is no other software or hardware installed and the system still hangs.
Same after installing video drivers.
All ABIT system updates installed.
Latest ABIT BIOS flash.
Latest BIOS flash for ASUS graphics card also.
The card will work if I configure it as a Sound Blaster 64
I have downloaded the latest SB 128 PCI drivers from the creative labs website and the same still happens, an interesting point to note is that they are for the CT4700 chipset and the sound card shipped me was a CT4810.
Help!
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First of all, thank you all for commenting on this question, even PFO.
israely - it is a valid observation you have made... I have tried Flashing the BIOS to the latest from ABIT for this MOBO, this sets it to default which I have already tried thanks.
bartsmit - An interesting question, I have tried different PCI slots but I didn't check if they were all bus mastering. I'll check the manual tonight and let you know.
compmania - once again all good stuff however already tried, hence the 500 points.
hemorriss - as stated above... yes. I cannot find a listing for my specific chipset (CT4810) on the website. Creative have different chips listed as SB PCI 128.
shaharidzal - I'd love to do as you suggested, however the system will not boot to the point I can do this... and unless my memory fails me I am unable to set these in safe mode?
micro66 - I will be reviewing both postings. I will award the points to whomever actually gives me sufficient information to resolve the issue. I shall not reduce the points.
Butor - 300W Athlon rated CPU specially purchased, thanks.
mklp - Yes I have am unfortunate enough to have an Award BIOS. I'll try what you have said and let you all know how I get on.
Everyone - I have tried some fairly exhaustive tests including re-jumpering the BIOS back to discharge it fully to default (long before I flashed it).
I have tried all the obvious. I recently aquired older drivers for the SB PCI 128 which I will also try tonight. I have tried the drivers form the CD which shipped with it and the latest ones from the website...
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OK, folks sorry to take so long to update this question with results.
As follows.. the system is now working.
Required was an unusual combination of the oldest drivers for the sound card I could get and I found when I installed these that they disabled the video drivers!!
I downloaded the latest *beta* release of the video drivers and installed. This worked.
So a video driver/sound driver conflict. I'll have to do some more low level research to find exactly what in the drivers was at conflict.
Thanks for all your advice, I tried all of it, none of it worked. If there was a way to distribute the points evenly to all the commentators I would just for taking the time to give me what was all good technical advice if not the fix. Feel free to note this fix for future questions of similar ilk.
Once again in summary the conflict was ASUS V6800 (ddr)/SB 128 PCI on ABIT KA7 Athlon MoBo.
Fix was oldest sound drivers which I found from
http://www.driverguide.com/and the newest (beta) ASUS drivers from the ASUS website.
