Audio/Video NeoMagic vs Standard PCI Graphics Adapter

[THEelephant]

Hey all - new to this part of the site and have some questions if you have the time.

I bought two identical dell P2, 366 MHz laptops (Latitude CPi), and Windows 98 SE is on both of them. The one with NeoMagic gets higher resolutions, while the one with Standard PCi only gets 800x640. Also, in Multi Media, the volumn slide will not move and I get no sound except on start up. Is this caused by the difference between NeoMagic and Standard PCI? If so, can it be fixed with a download or is it a card?

Second question, can XP be run on this system? 128MB Ram, 256 cache? If so, can you direct me to a site with instructions on how to reformat the drive and install it?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[ski]

The resolution difference between the 2 machines may be caused by the reason you stated.

If the volume control was the cause of your no sound problem, then there would also be no sound during startup.
Did the sound ever work properly?
What position is the volume control stuck in?
Is there a problem with the sound card/adapter in Device Manager?
Did you try uninstalling the sound card/adapter from Device Manager, restarting, and letting Windows recognize it and reinstall its drivers?

Installing Win XP on that old system will probably not be a good idea.
Win XP needs at least 512 MB of RAM to work properly, and XP and Dell may not have the necessary drivers for the old hardware on either of those systems in order for them to run in an XP environment.

 

[micker377]

Go to the Dell website and download the drivers for the audio and video. I had to do this when I upgraded my Gateway from Win95 to Win98.

 

[THEelephant]

SKI - I can see the Standard PCI Graphics Adapter in the device manager, but there is nothing there at all for audio. I only have 16 bit color while on another identical machine with NeoMagic I have 24 bit.

The slide is in the no volumn, off, position all the way to the left

MIKER - Thanks - I'll try that.

While I'm here, is ter any way to remove a blemish from the TFT screen. Will solvent damage it?

Thanks everyone

 

[ski]

Is anything listed for the sound card/adapter under 'Sound, Video, and Game Controllers' in Dev. Mgr.?

There's no noticeable difference between 16 bit and 24 bit color. Plus, 16 bit reduces the load on the system.

 

[micker377]

The screen is a sealed glass "sandwich". When you have a "blemish", it is one or more of the transisters gone bad. The only cure is a new screen. Be careful of what you clean the screen with, some solvents can harm the material of the screen (not to mention possibly getting cleaner into the inside of the unit).