[RESOLVED] Windows 98 SE + Sound WDM Drivers

Okay,
this is a very strange issue. I've seen it happen in countless computers and the internet is filled with questions about this topic - but no solutions..

no to the problem:

it seems that Windows 98 SE (and ME so I heard) have some problems with WDM based Audio drivers when you don't install from a the setup (Image situation, Sound card upgrade etc..)

When you install the WDM drivers (Crystal AC97 WDM Codec, VIA AC97 WDM, ADI WDM driver etc..) the device driver installs but it doesn't register itself in the sound devices (it shows like it's working in device manger but in control panel -> multimedia there's no sound card)

I've seen it happen with many systems and with many soundcards.

for most soundcards you can install the VxD (win98 First Edition / win95) driver and it will work.

Some drivers (like the VIA AC97) will give a BSOD ( I actually had to revise the VIA VxD driver for it to work well in Win98SE - anyone that wants this workaround can PM or find me in the chat room)

I know many people who encountered this problem tried to use VxD drivers (successfully or not) or Reinstalled Windows..

Those workarounds are nice but they're not solving the problem.

if any has some ionfo that might help please reply to this thread..

I'm very interested to hear anyone who might be able to explain why the driver won't register right and what's the difference between a new install setup or the image detection setup (after you delete all the devices, the Enum Key and the device in "class" keys) or any other info you think might help..

we might be able to solve this stupid issue if we put our heads together...


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Main Entry: Cal·i·for·nia condor (noun), circa 1889
Etymology: California, state of U.S.
A large nearly extinct vulture (Gymnogyps californianus) found most recently in the mountains of southern California that is related to the condor of So. America

[This message has been edited by condor (edited October 07, 2001).]

I also have encountered that once in a while for misc boards with the onboard VIA AC97 sound.

The only thing that worked for me so far was doing a fresh install of windows and downloading the generic via sound drivers from here
http://viahardware.com/download/index.shtm#4in1 and unzip it or uncompress the file. I sometimes use the setup.exe to run the driver install, but I usually just manually install the driver through device manager and just point it to the proper driver directory depending on what O/S is loaded.
I also make sure directx 8a is loaded 1st before installing the sound driver.
Doing it this way has worked for me so far. I also think it depends on what mainboard we use. Stay away from pcchips or pcpartner!!!

2nd option, since these are onboard sound and they are cpu hogs. Sometimes it's just better to disable the onboard sound and install a better quality sound card into a pci slot.

I wouldn't mind if there was a permanent fix to this situation as well, condor.

Anyone else care to add in their 2 cents?????

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If Hannibal were a pc support tech,
He would invite the stupid user over for supper.
"Tonight, I shall feast on stupid user's brain" ffffttffftftftfftft

okay I seemed to have gotten some new ideas - I will need to check those out but it seems that when windows 98SE is installed and there a WDM based Audio card - windows installs a lot of drivers suc has Kernel Renderer, kernel mixer and about 5 or 6 other devices. I bet that those devices are required for WDM audio driver normal operation. I will make a list of those devices and try to install them manually in an image install then I;m gonna try the WDM driver - I'll let you guys know.

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Main Entry: Cal·i·for·nia condor (noun), circa 1889
Etymology: California, state of U.S.
A large nearly extinct vulture (Gymnogyps californianus) found most recently in the mountains of southern California that is related to the condor of So. America

https://forums.windrivers.com/
I'm no techy, but thought I would try out this site for some assistance! I have a PB-Pack-Mate 7900. Recently purchased WIN98 SE, and have had problems with connectivity with Modem. Have tried almost everything (again, i'm no techy). Called MS, and they could only suggest purchasing drivers for my modem because they do not support drivers for Packard Bell. Problem is I don't know what Modem is in this dawn thing; therefore, can't download any drivers. It seems that when I re-install Win95 using the Master CD, in the Device Mgr., it states that my modem is a sound4 winmodem. After installing WIN 98, it disconnects it and states that "can't find winmodem.VxD and lists a "3Com ??????TI" in Modem Properties.

I would be grateful if anyone help this non-techy person!

Modem is a combo of fax,sound and I think voice.

Thanks.

OK, here's my problem.. it's driving me insane.

I just bought a new system, 1.4 gHz athlon t-bird, 256 mb ddr ram.. I bought the thing primarily for sound applications (mainly recording). The system came with an onboard RealTek ALC100/P soundcard, and I am, of course (since I'm doing recording) planning on buying a different, more dedicated soundcard sometime in the near future, I would like to start recording now, but the card isn't working.. the problem is very similar to the one you've described: I'm running Windows 98 SE, and I installed all the drivers for all the hardware on the computer. The driver that the computer wanted to install for the soundcard was the ALi Audio Accelerator WDM driver, and it came up in the System explorer as being functional, but in Multimedia there wasn't any sound card recognized. I downloaded the specific driver for the device from the manufacturer's website (Alcxwdm.sys - Avance AC97 WDM Driver for Intel(R)/VIA(R)/SiS(R) Audio controller), but my computer doesn't really seem to want to install that driver, and I keep running around in circles trying to install it. Can anyone help me out at all? I'm really eager to get this thing working. My email is [email protected] Thanks a ton, anyone who can help..

John Paul Foster