Major Audio Problem!!! 2

[jimandbobbi]

The system is a Gateway PII 400 Mhz with Windows 98. The sound card is a Creative SoundBlaster PCI64. The problem is I have no sound. I have removed and re-installed several times. The Device Manager shows that the device is working properly with no conflicts. Attempts to access the properties through Multimedia in Control Panel has ALL options 'greyed' out and unaccessable. This problem happened once before but was fixed with a removal and re-install. Programs that utilize sound (ie: Windows Media Player) give error messages stating no audio/sound devices detected.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Jim.

 

[Comtech]

Run DXDiag, and see if there's any problems.
An upgrade to DX9 may help if there is. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ANFPS26]

DX9 is for Win98SE and up. Won't load on Win98. I tried to install it on a Win98 first addition machine and that was the error message I got, anyway. Jim

 

[Comtech]

Get DirectX 8.0a here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp

Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ANFPS26]

jimandbobbi,
Boot into safe mode (F8) and remove all entries in Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers and re-start. You'll need your win98 cd to install the joystick driver after re-start. Jim

 

[Comtech]

I think jimandbobbi have already tried that, numerous times.
What I'm trying to determine is if there's a hardware problem or a drivers problem, and DX should give some clue. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ANFPS26]

He didin't mention safe mode. I'll bet he has many duplicate entries there. Removing in normal mode won't fix that. I own that exact PC (GP6-400)and I was having similar problems and I had 20 some entries in device manager in safe mode that had me all hosed up. There is also a new driver for that card on The Gateway web site, but the WDM version they tell you to install won't work. You have to install the Win95 version. The driver that came on the restoration CD works just as good. I couldn't tell any difference. Jim

 

[Comtech]

True, a Safe mode boot, and remove everything might help a new detect of hardware on boot up.
Might be worth a shot, though old unused entries in there don't necessarily cause a problem. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[jimandbobbi]

OK, I want to start off by saying thank you guys for all the replies and help you are giving, I really appreciate this.

Now, I get errors with DXDIAG. Computer locks up. I did notice one thing... the DirectX version and the DXDIAG versions do NOT match. This may be my main problem. The DirectX version stated on the application shows it to be 8.0 but the DXDIAG version shows it should be 8.1. I don't get very far into the application before I get the error: 'DXDIAG caused an invalid page fault in module KERNEL32.DLL at 015f:bff9dba7.'

I was also having problems with the graphics card and getting it to work correctly. I have it working as it should but upon every boot-up I get the same error as above except the 'DXDIAG' is replaced with 'RUNDLL32'.

When I go into the Multimedia Properties from Control Panel and click on the Devices Tab, the correct devices are showing, but they all have the same message within their properties: 'Status: Driver is enabled but inactive due to an unknown problem.' I am guessing the problems I am having with DirectX could be causing this.

Now, this isn't MY computer. I am trying to get it tweaked from all of its problems for a friends' mother. I do not have the manual for this and I know all machines are not alike. I have not worked with Gateway enough to know off the top of my head, how do I get to 'Safe Mode'? With my Dell, I continuously push F8 until it beeps and I get a menu to choose to go to Safe Mode. That didn't work for this machine. I would like to go there and remove some of these inconsistant programming that might make this machine run a bit smoother.

I am downloading DirectX 8.1 now. I only run at 28.8 kbs on a crappy Dial-up so these things take quite abit of time for me. I hope you guys can give me some more help.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[Comtech]

Try holding down the CTRL key as it boots to get to safe mode.
If I were you, I would run an install of windows over top of the existing one (if you have the Windows CD, and NOT the "recovery" CD.
If you don't have any CD's, take a look in c:\windows\options\cabs to see if the Windows setup stuff is in there. If it is, let us know, and we can guide you to reinstalling windows from within windows.
It sounds like there's a ton of driver version conflicts in there. Given that Gateway's rarely have hardware problems, unless something new is added, it may be time to back up important stuff, and start fresh. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[ANFPS26]

When you restart and you see the big green Gateway logo start hitting F8. But, from the additional info you have given, sounds like it might be a bad DirectX install. My GP6-400 is hard to get into safe mode, also. It seems to be a timing thing. You have to hit F8 at the right time during the Gateway logo. It may be closer to the end of the display of the logo. Jim

 

[ANFPS26]

We posted at the same time. I'll let you have it. I've posted all I know on this subject. Jim

 

[jimandbobbi]

since my download still has a little time to go before it is completed, I have been attempting to get into Safe Mode. I have not been successful. I have tried continuously pressing the F2, F8, F9, F10, ESC, CTRL, and delete keys. And I have tried just holding down the CTRL, ESC, DELETE, F8, and F10 keys. ALL of these work with another machine of some sort that I have worked on before.

I still cannot get into Safe Mode. What is up with Gateway? Why make it so hard? Oh, wait, I know... if the consumer can't get in to fix it themselves, then they have to either send it in to a Gateway Tachnician, or have one dispatched to the consumer's home. Then charge them out the wahzoo for something they could have made easier for the consumer. RIGHT!?!?!?!?!?

And yes, the cab files are installed on the C drive and I have yet to make that journey of installing Windows from within Windows. I have been told that I really don't want to make that journey a couple years ago, so I have never ventured into it. But, now that I am a couple years wiser, I am up for anything. HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Ok, my download is almost done. Will check back in a bit to see what you have to say. Again, thanks a bunch for this help guys, I really appreciate it!

Jim

 

[BuckeyeComputers]

If i remember right Gateways use GoBack. which can make it difficult to get to safe mode for timing sake. you might want to disable it if it is running then try..

 

[ANFPS26]

F8 works for my Gateway, but not every time. There's a bios upgrade for that model, also. I installed it on mine. You can enter the serial number on the Gateway site and it will tell you all about that model. Jim

 

[Comtech]

OK, forget safe mode. If it's that difficult I wouldn't have any hair left...oh wait, I don't!
Anyhow, to reinstall windows from windows:
Rename win.com to win.bak in the c:\windows folder
Go Start > Run > browse to c:\windows\options\cabs and run setup.exe
During the install process, you will be prompted for the folder to install Windows. It will default to c:\windows.000
Just change that to c:\windows and the install will run right over top.
Ignore the stupid warning about losin things if you do this, everything should be still there when done.
If for any reason, that install fails, just rename win.bak to win.com and restart.
Make a boot disk, or get one from

http://www.bootdisk.com

Rename win.com to win.bak again.
Boot to the diskette, and then type:
c:\windows\options\cabs\setup.exe and hit Enter. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[jimandbobbi]

Ok, DirectX 8.1 now installed. The first time after reboot from the install, I did NOT get the RUNDLL32 error as before. But, I still do not get sound. I am getting different messages that I have some incompatibilities. I finally got into Safe Mode and did as you advised to remove all instances under the Sound category in Device Manager. I then rebooted, got the RUNDLL32 error again and still have no sound and 'unknown problems' with the sound card.

I am getting ready to run the DXDIAG now that it should be working correctly. Will let you know what I come up with.

Any more ideas?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[ANFPS26]

This is onboard sound (at least mine is). Make sure onboard sound is still enabled in the bios. F1 enters the bios. That's all I can think of at this time. Jim

 

[jimandbobbi]

No, it is NOT onboard sound. It is a sound card - Creative SoundBlaster PCI64D. I have installed and updated from Creative website. Looking at Gateway now and downloading their update. Over 16 MB, will take me a couple of hours to get it. Hopefully it will work. But, not all is lost, maybe I should check BIOS to make sure onboard IS NOT enabled. Although, I have not seen it there before and the MoBo does not have onboard sound, so there prolly isn't even a setting for it in BIOS.

Oh well, gotta go for now. Gotta help the wife fix dinner while this download is doin' its thing.

Thanks alot for all your help! Will be back on later.

Jim

P.S. Is it for real that BOTH Comtech AND ANFPS26 's Names are Jim as well as mine? Both of you are signing off as Jim.

 

[ANFPS26]

Mine says Soundblaster PCI64D, also, but it's onboard. Actually, it says PCI128D with the new driver. Yours could be different, but you can tell by looking at the back if it is actually in a PCI slot. My jacks and joystick port are on the motherboard. I have the Gateway GP6-400 PII 400. If yours truly is a card, then, yes, make sure onboard sound is turned off in the bios. Are you saying that you installed a sound card or that you installed the drivers? I was confused on that. Creative's drivers probably wouldn't work right on a Gateway card. Gateway's drivers were usually proprietary to their own versions. This one you are downloading will work, but not the WDM driver that is included. Jim