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Change device resources? 2

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Sheri99

Sheri99

Technical User
Feb 29, 2004
48
US
I have done a clean install of Windows XP Pro on a new hard disk. When I start up Windows, the wav file that plays sounds distorted. If I switch boot up drives, my old Windows disk boots up and wavs play without distortion. (Also, other types of audio play ok in the new environment).

Troubleshooting texts say to look for conflicts but none are apparent. However, when I compare the interrupts of various devices listed in the device manager, I see that in my new setup, my network card is assigned to interrupt 5 instead of interrupt 9. I would like to try interrupt 9 in my new setup, but all options for changes via the device manager are greyed out. I am Administrator. Where/how can I change it? I vaguely remember that interrupt 5 is relevant to legacy audio.

Thanks,
Sheri
 
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If your trying to eliminate the distortion in the sound then check your sound card drivers. Load the same driver that is on the drive that sounds good onto the one that doesn't.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein
 
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321735 - The Startup Sound Is Not Played Correctly When You Start Windows


This article may be useful, as a guide only, for changing resources

Workaround to install NE2000 / 3C509 Non Plug&Play ISA Network Adapters

How to change registry to allow IRQ changes in NIC?
thread779-894959
 
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Changing sound card drivers doesn't help.

The 321735 Microsoft article acknowledges a problem in XP affecting some computers, but suggests disabling Sounds. Since mine has worked on a different XP configuration, I'm not ready to give up yet.

The inf download links aren't working in this article: Workaround to install NE2000 / 3C509 Non Plug&Play ISA Network Adapters
Do you possibly have the files, linney?

Thanks,
Sheri
 
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Sorry I don't have a copy of those files. To be honest I didn't link you to that article to download any particular files but rather just a guide to changing resources.

Do you think those downloadable files are a solution to your problem?

Try Googling for a copy of the files if you think they may help.


 
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I guess the network card interrupt is not the problem. I say this because I unistalled the network card driver via device manager (but did not actually remove the card) and restarted the computer. Prior to detection notification, the startup wav still sounded distorted. Curiously, when I reinstalled the driver, it said it was assigning interrupt 9 to the network card. But when I checked the resources afterwards in device manager it was back on interrupt 5. It was strange, right after the installation, it looked like it quickly got installed a second time (quick windows popped up and then vanished).

Getting a bit frustrated with the sound issue. Any other thoughts? The problem is distorted windows sounds (wavs) in a clean install of Windows XP Pro. The 3+ year old installation of Windows XP Pro, still accessible to me on a different hard drive, doesn't have this problem.

I was hoping to resolve this before proceeding to reinstall my software. Basically the only apps I've installed yet are Norton AV and ZoneAlarm Firewall, but the sound issue was present before they were installed.

Sheri
 
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Have you tried the DxDiag tool, you just type DxDiag in Start Run and wait a few minutes to complete loading.

These sound files are stored in C:\WINDOWS\Media, is it only the Start.wav that is bad, and only at Startup? Can you play these sounds in WMP without any corruption, just as a test?

Can you play the files from your good XP on the not so good XP, and vice versa?

310353 - How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP

316434 - HOW TO: Perform Advanced Clean-Boot Troubleshooting in Windows XP

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

Skipping Sound
thread779-632104

HOW TO: Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP
 
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I've already done all of those except trying to play the sames files in WMP. I did find that my old setup is running DirectX 9.0b whereas the new is running DirectX 9.0c. Wonder if that could cause the problem? Another (big) difference between the old and the new is, the new was installed with SP2. The old was installed from original XP and over time was updated to SP1, but never tried SP2.

When I run dxdiag, the sound tests sound bad in the new environment. If I boot the old environment, it's dxdiag sound tests sound fine.

Any idea if its possible to downgrade DirectX or even where to find 9.0b install files?

Maybe I should wipe the new install and start over using original XP files and then try upgrading to SP2. Just cautious about the activation. I would like to get everything squared away before activating the new.

Sheri
 
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Listened again to the dxdiag sound tests, and I think the only part that sounds bad is the beep that concludes each test (probably a Windows sound).

In WMP (which is the default player for wav files), wav sounds sound bad, but mp3 sounds seem to sound ok.

Sheri
 
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As you have only just installed XP, not too much will be lost if you start again from scratch and re-install XP.

This time try turning off any Bios anti virus scanners in the Bios, remove any connected peripherals, such as USB, Printers, etc. that are easily disconnected. In other words make the initial install as non-complicated as possible.


If you think that you may go that way, you could try this next idea as a last resort in as much you have nothing to lose. You could try deleting the WMP folder in the faulty install's Program Files and then copy the older install's WMP folder to replace it?

 
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Here's a shocker, I replaced the sound card and still have the problem.

I haven't booted the old environment with the new sound card, maybe I'll put back the old one rather than risk a problem.

The new card, btw, has a C-Media chip on it, the old one had an ESS chip on it. I removed the old device, removed the card and booted. Canceled auto install and used the provided CD. Was warned that the driver wasn't certified but proceeded anyway. After noting the problem, I updated the driver via the device manager (allowing it to search for an updated driver online). Problem is still there, but now with a "3D" sound effect.

Will try replacing the WMP folder next, however I doubt anything from that folder is involved in the playback of windows sounds (i.e., events). But I will try it just in case.

Sheri
 
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Replacing the WMP folder doesn't help. The startup wav still hiccups as do other sounds in the control panel applet. Windows Media Player won't start, and I get a message that it needs to be reinstalled with an offer to connect to the Windows update site.

I guess the next steip will be another reinstall from the sp2 disk, but with minimal hardware this time, and see if that helps. Maybe tomorrow. Sigh.

Sheri
 
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Replace your removed WMP folder to get back to your previous position.

Some threads more to do with no sound event rather than corrupted events, but it may give you a few other things to check or try.

Startup/Shutdown Sounds NOT working
thread779-924262

Sound Problem..
thread779-384988
 
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I have just discovered that my new 200gb ultra dma hard disk is running in PIO mode even though it is set to use DMA mode if possible. Previously I thought it was referring to CDRom drive, but have verified its the hard disk. I tried switching back and forth between PIO and "use DMA if possible" (rebooting in between) but it is still going to PIO. Maybe it has something to do with my motherboard drivers (running an ASUS A7A266).

So another difference from my old setup is, Windows XP is running on a PIO accessed disk. The sound issue could be symptomatic! Its also very slow booting. Would be great if I could figure out how to force it to use DMA mode.

This is also my first drive over 137gb.

Sheri
 
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Its fixed! And the system is running faster than it ever has before. Windows device manager now thinks my drives are SCSI!

I searched Google for "A7A266 dma" and found this site:
Under "Update!" was a link to an exe file called IDE4008.exe reputed to be an ALi UltraIDE driver. It was a little scary running this file, since nowhere during the execution does it identify itself as any official file or driver, certainly not Windows certified.

After I ran it, I had to reboot two or three times, I thought maybe it went into a loop. But the first time, it detected the so-called Ultra DMA driver. The second and third times it identified SCSI devices for each of my two onboard IDE controllers. It is not listing each drive in the device manager, but they show up fine in Explorer.

I'm thrilled. Tomorrow I will review the article links you posted, but its late here so for now I'll say goodnight. Thanks so much for your many suggestions. It was so frustrating trying to troubleshoot on my own while nothing was helping.

Regards,
Sheri
 
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You did most of the work yourself so congratulate yourself. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and your machine, now get some rest.
 
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