sound driver/card problem windows 98

OS: Windows 98
Model: Compaq Presario 7596 w/ ESS Audio

i tried to put some speakers in here @ my office on this computer.. and when i played an audio file it said

"No sound devices found. Please buy a soundcard first (or install proper drivers if you think that you have one). More info can be found at http://www.geocities.com/mmsystem002

Error code 2
Windows error message
MMSYSTEM002 A Device ID has been used that is out of range for your system"

so i uninstalled all sound devices through Device Manager.. rebooted, then download the ESS Audio drivers from the compaq website. When i tried to install that, it said "APPS.INF FILE MISSING OR INVALID" and went on to say something along the lines of get it off your setup disk and place in your windows/INF folder... well when i do that.. it goes back to that first error.. and it all keeps looping...

please help.

 

Does the sound card appear in the device manager? Also, what program are you trying to use to play the audio file?

 

yes everything appears right in the device manager...

i get the first error i wrote when i try to play using winamp and it has told me to change the output settings but when i try Winamp fails and crashes..

when i use Windows Media Player it just freezes up for about 2 or 3 minuts then it starts playing, but without any sound.

 

Can you open the volume control icon in the lower right hand corner, go to options/properties, and be sure that there is a checkmark in all of the playback options, then look for anything muted or low volume levels. And let's forget about winamp for the time being, let's work with Media Player.

 

media player sounds good.. but no there isnt even a volume control.... not even in Start>Programs>Accessories>Entertainment

 

Open the control panel, multi-media....is there an option to show the volume control on the task bar or is it grayed out? Also, see what shows for selected playback device.

 

it is grayed out... and for selected playback device it is grayed out too and says "No Playback Devices" .. i supposed that could be a problem lol.. teach me more =]

 

Well, I am going to say that ESS sound card is a pain the rear to get installed. I had a similar problem and went out and bought a cheapie sound card to end my headaches.

That being said, let's have a look at your IRQ list:

Start, run, type msinfo32 and hit ok, go to hardware, IRQs, edit, select all, edit, copy and come back and paste.

 

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI Fast Ethernet NIC
3 Intel(R) 82810E Graphics Controller
3 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Intel 82801AA SMBus Controller
5 ESS Allegro PCI Audio (WDM)
5 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 Unknown Device
11 HSP56 MicroModem
11 Intel 82801AA USB Universal Host Controller
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 Intel 82801AA Bus Master IDE Controller

 

Hmmm....I wonder what that is?

10 Unknown Device



At any rate, I'm not sure if this will work, it certainly isn't going to hurt, in device manager, remove the ESS ALEGRO PCI entry and WITHOUT REBOOTING, search for new hardware, DO NOT allow Windows to search by itself, choose have cd, and browse to the location of the sound drivers. Now, IF PER CHANCE, there is a setup.exe in the sound directory on the cd, go that route instead.

 

ive tried that =[

 

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000208.htm#2

Have a look thru that, especially the section regarding device manager and the other items that should appear under the sound entries.

Do you know if the sound ever worked on this system?

 

Also, can you post the contents of the system.ini file, via start, run, type systedit and press ok, go to that tab and copy and paste it here.

 

well.. i dunno what this means, but it says "cannot open autexec.bat" ... and config.sys is BLANK

but here is system.ini:

[boot]
oemfonts.fon=vgaoem.fon
shell=explorer.exe
system.drv=system.drv
drivers=mmsystem.dll power.drv
user.exe=user.exe
gdi.exe=gdi.exe
sound.drv=mmsound.drv
dibeng.drv=dibeng.dll
comm.drv=comm.drv
mouse.drv=mouse.drv
keyboard.drv=keyboard.drv
*DisplayFallback=0
fonts.fon=vgasys.fon
fixedfon.fon=vgafix.fon
386Grabber=vgafull.3gr
display.drv=pnpdrvr.drv

[keyboard]
keyboard.dll=
oemansi.bin=
subtype=
type=4

[boot.description]
system.drv=Standard PC
mouse.drv=Standard mouse
keyboard.typ=Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
aspect=100,96,96
display.drv=Standard PCI Graphics Adapter (VGA)

[386Enh]
ebios=*ebios
woafont=dosapp.fon
mouse=*vmouse, msmouse.vxd
device=*dynapage
device=*vcd
device=*vpd
device=*int13
keyboard=*vkd
display=*vdd,*vflatd

[NonWindowsApp]
TTInitialSizes=4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 20 22

[power.drv]

[drivers]
wavemapper=*.drv
MSACM.imaadpcm=*.acm
MSACM.msadpcm=*.acm

[iccvid.drv]

[mciseq.drv]

[mci]
cdaudio=mcicda.drv
sequencer=mciseq.drv
avivideo=mciavi.drv
videodisc=mcipionr.drv
vcr=mcivisca.drv
MPEGVideo=mciqtz.drv
MPEGVideo2=mciqtz.drv
waveaudio=mciwave.drv

[vcache]

[Password Lists]
ADMIN 3=C:\WINDOWS\ADMIN3.PWL

[MSNP32]

[DISPLAY]
BusThrottle=1

[TTFontDimenCache]
0 4=2 4
0 5=3 5
0 6=4 6
0 7=4 7
0 8=5 8
0 9=5 9
0 10=6 10
0 11=7 11
0 12=7 12
0 13=8 13
0 14=8 14
0 15=9 15
0 16=10 16
0 18=11 18
0 20=12 20
0 22=13 22



[drivers32]
msacm.lhacm=lhacm.acm
VIDC.VDOM=vdowave.drv
VIDC.IV50=ir50_32.dll
msacm.iac2=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IAC25_32.AX
msacm.msg723=msg723.acm
vidc.M263=msh263.drv
vidc.M261=msh261.drv
msacm.l3acm=C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\L3CODECA.ACM
msacm.sl_anet=sl_anet.acm
VIDC.WMV3=wmv9vcm.dll

 

And my other question? Did the sound EVER work on this system?