The Silent Treatment

  • Thread starter Thread starter JohnBM01
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I'm able to now get online... by temporarily disabling the Sound Blaster Audigy SE. So for now, if I don't disable the device in Device Manager, I can't log on to the Internet... which is sad because I now can't listen to music or audio while online. There HAS to be a fix of some kind for this issue! I just hope so...
 
That's just strange.

How are you connecting to the internet? Via On-Board Ethernet, Ethernet PCI Card, Wireless, USB, 56k etc?
 
I have dialup. I'm really starting to feel like as much as I like this sound card, I may need to trade this one in for something better. I didn't want to spend too much on a poor sound card (think of the "no-name" makers with very cheaply-priced sound cards). I'll keep giving this thing a chance. But if I can't find any way to get around this issue, I may be shopping for a new sound card by returning this one back.

I have an HP Computer with Windows XP SP2 installed. About 381 MB RAM and a 1.? GHz processor. If it means anything, then my computer is a bit slow on loading at Startup.

I am even having some issues trying to find a file that was missing when I did my System Restore. MSCVR80.dll is missing. Couldn't find it on my PC when I did a search some time after I did my System Restore last Friday (meaning Friday of the previous week). So that's what it's come down to:

* Sound Blaster Audigy SE installed perfectly! ...yet I'm unable to get online via dialup on AOL. I need to disable the sound card just to get it to work online. It's bad because I may never know if I'm actually connected to the web. Then too, I cannot enjoy my music with my music playing software online.

* MSCVR80.dll not found some time after the System Restore.



The sound card is lovely, but not getting onto the Internet with it enabled as well as finding a DLL for my PC are my two issues right now. More help?
 
Do you mean MSVCR80 rather than MSCVR80? If so it can be downloaded here.

In regards to the other issue, I would make sure the drivers of both your modem and sound card are up to date to start with. Other than that it doesn't suprise me really that a HP manufactured computer has a fit when you add a forgein device.

EDIT: Did some searching, turns outs it problem that's occured before. I found one possible solution

1.) Download the driver:
http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php?driverid=385917
2.) Unzip the package but don't start the setup file
3.) Uninstall the Audigy SE driver and all software comonents belonging to it and restart your computer
4.) When asked for a soundcard driver at next startup choose manual installation and browse to the folder your unzipped files are stored in clicking on the folder named "Win2k_XP"
5.) Now you are asked whether you would like to install SoundBlaster Audigy LS or SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit driver.
Choose SoundBlaster Audigy LS
6.) After installing the driver your card should work. In your device manager the card will be displayed as "Creative SB Audigy LS".
Click to expand...
 
The sound card works and everything... just that it's troublesome trying to log on to the Internet. The modem pretends to work. However, the modem makes much different sounds and eventually either times out or reboots the computer. I'll probably get the driver files Sunday or Monday since it's pretty late here.
 
It could well be your power supply not having the balls to run your modem with the Sound Blaster using some current.

That said... My current computer (an HP with Realtek AC97 audio, coincidentally) is using the original power supply unit, but now has 2 hard drives, 1 optical, an AGP video card, a wireless network adapter (PCI), and a Sound Blaster Audigy.

Processor is 1.465ghz. (AMD Athlon XP 1700+)

Guess what? I've never had on-board sound with this board! My old rig did, this doesn't. Both have AC97 sound, but the old one wasn't Realtek (forget the listed manufacturer). Both were run with the same copy of Windows XP Home SP2. So the "Windows update screwing it up" theory is probably correct. Seeing as you're on dialup, however, updating isn't practical at all. But yes, lack of juice is most likely the issue. Disabling the Sound Blaster kills the power to it and lets your modem function.
 
The power supply was a common complaint in regards to the deal. So... am I going to have to modify power settings to be able to use this deal better?
 
JohnBM01
The power supply was a common complaint in regards to the deal. So... am I going to have to modify power settings to be able to use this deal better?
Click to expand...

If it is the PSU causing the issues, all you really can do is to buy a new one, but if you've got the "compact" case like I do, there's only room for the stock PSU.
 
If it was the power supply causing issues due to lack of power, I'd think it'd be throwing off all kinds of strange errors. It's almost certainly a conflict between the two somewhere.

The only other thing I can think of is maybe the modem and card are trying to share the same IRQ. Which you'll have to change in the Motherboard BIOS, if you can't physically move the card to another slot.
 
(responding to Post #34 by Casio)

I have the Audigy SE. How can I know that I'll still be able to use my Audigy SE for my applications without having to re-install the device drivers for my Audigy SE from the disk? It may be called the Sound Blaster Audigy LS once this download and installing is complete, but do I lose any real functionality with my current Audigy SE?


[UPDATE] I'm going to make an ASCII-style diagram. Check this. I have four PCI slots before I installed my sound card. Here's the layout (from top to bottom) before installing:

-nothing-
-nothing-
[modem]
-nothing-

... and after...

-nothing-
[Sound Blaster Audigy SE]
[modem]
-nothing-


So will I have to move Audigy SE to below the modem or something? I'll need to examine the IRQ to see if they may share the same IRQ, thus disabling my modem from connecting to the Internet. As of this post, I am in the process of downloading the file from Post #34. Still doing a little more research. I'll need to log off from my Internet connection and re-enable Sound Blaster Audigy SE to check for IRQ's.
 
I went ahead to downloading that msvcr80 thing for my PC from the link posted in Post #34. I guess I got it on my computer. Thing is, its properties say that this is from another computer and may be blocked to protect my computer. I almost feel inclined to think this could be a bad file.

I haven't yet downloaded the Audigy SE drivers that will make my current Audigy SE into the Audigy LS. So I still have to disable the Audigy SE as I head online.

Here is an interesting observation with this Audigy SE... I was playing this fan-made game called "Mario Dash." (more info here: http://www.acid-play.com/download/mario-dash ) One of the options is that you could set the environment to have falling rain. I played a MIDI file with WinAmp using the Creative SoundFont Synth, and I began to notice hearing thunderstorms as my MIDI file was playing. It goes for ANY MIDI you play while playing this Mario Dash game. The thunder sounds last no more than one second, but it feels like you're going through a stormy day once the little thunderstorm loops roll through. It was a very interesting touch to my sound card.
 
I downloaded and installed that file to help my MSVCR80 issue. Unfortunately, the thing said that it was a bad image. I thought the file was about 619 KB. It came to my computer as about 256 KB. So Mission Failed on that front.
 
Try the download again.

Also if I were you I would get a new internet provider(such as version, road runner, etc...).
 
We don't really have money for some of the other ISPs. We can't afford broadband. So America Online is what I use and been using since 1997. So I say no to that offer of changing providers. I don't have money. This is paid by my brother.

I'll try to download that file again and perhaps even the ones to change my Audigy SE to Audigy LS. Reason why I haven't downloaded that Audigy LS package is because I'm still uncertain as to if I'll still get sound from my device as well as (more importantly) be able to listen to stuff from my sound card without having to disable the device whenever I go online. Not real sure if the Audigy LS drivers are interchangable to my SE drivers. I still have lots of uncertainty about downloading this file for the Audigy LS drivers to replace my SE drivers and still get to hear sound. Same goes for being able to listen to things online with this without having to disable the drivers. I'll need to be sure I'm doing the right thing before I attempt to download those LS drivers.
 
Here is another update.

I checked on the IRQ settings. The following is a report on my location and IRQ:

Sound Blaster Audigy SE:
PCI Slot #1
PCI Bus 0
Device 8
Function 0

IRQ = 16



Motorola Speakerphone SM56:
PCI Slot #2
PCI Bus 0
Device 9
Function 0

IRQ = 17



So I don't think the IRQ is really an issue. Still have problems trying to log on to the Internet without having to disable my Audigy SE sound card. I still haven't downloaded the file that changes all of my Audigy SE drivers to Audigy LS drivers. I don't have an Audigy LS, so I fear I'm not going to be able to have my sound fix by installing drivers to a sound card I don't have. I can't really be sure that downloading and installing these Audigy LS drivers will help make problems with my current and installed Audigy SE go away.

I'm starting to believe that resources may be shared between the sound card and modem... and neither side winning in helping me get online. Almost like my sound card and modem are having a tug-of-war that disallows me to use the Internet. Because there's no sound when I disable my sound card, I have no idea what the modem may be doing. I could be inclined to take the Conexant modem from my eMachines and installing it on the HP. But how can I be sure I can connect while having my sound card enabled? I just can't really see what my sound card and modem are trying to share which disallows me effortless connection to the Internet. By the way, that Conexant modem on my eMachines has a speakerphone kind of option so that I can actually listen to the modem connect to the Internet without having to listen through the computer. So in other words, I could have no sound card on my PC and still be able to listen to the modem try to connect to the Internet. So I really need to think about how to attack this issue so that I can freely be able to log on to the Internet from my dialup modem while not having to disable my sound card. I want to be able to listen to a webstream of something again. I want to be able to barely make out sounds from Myspace Music profiles I check out. I just want to use my Audigy SE to listen to music and sounds both online and off without having to disable the device.

Any further suggestions?
 
Drop this isn't the "weird" files... a person I chatted with on AOL's Live Support suggested that the sound card itself may have something or some program that may prevent me from logging on to America Online. The explanation behind the person's reasoning is that if I'm able to connect to America Online after disabling the Sound Blaster Audigy SE sound card, it may be something with the sound card itself or even maybe a program linked to the Audigy SE that ends up staggering my dialup connection to AOL.

It was the first time I ever heard of a firewall issue impacting a SOUND CARD. You hear firewalls with applications and almost never sound cards. If this is indeed true, then this is some messed-up crap (censored) by Creative Labs. Maybe Creative will help me out. Then again, I hear Creative Labs has some sucky support. So I'll take my chances.
 
Just today, I had the quickest connect-to-restart in record time. I went from trying to connect on AOL to having my computer rebooted in under five seconds (about four). I even contacted Creative Labs on this. All I mostly got was a troubleshooting check. I even opened up my PC again and tried to take out and reinstall the Audigy SE sound card before all of this. The problem still persists.

Something else discussed was that my modem's audio device may be to blame in conjunction with my Audigy SE. But every time I disable the modem audio device with my Audigy SE enabled, I still get no connection. If I turn off modem sound completely with the Audigy SE enabled, I get an error about no dial tone.

At least this potential firewall deal could be a primary issue. I am not certain if I got the McAfee thing from AOL before or after getting and installing my Audigy SE. So I'll have to investigate that as well.
 
I'm flirting with getting a different sound card. Again, the Audigy SE works fine away from the Internet. But when logging on via my dialup modem (remember that I don't have broadband or will have any anytime soon), the sound card messes up the dial tone and thus cannot access the Internet. All the enabling and disabling of the Audigy SE only makes me want to consider getting a more efficient sound card. There was a cheaply-priced Diamond sound card, but I'm not sure I'll like the audio capabilities as provided by the Audigy SE. While I've heard of how buggy Creative sound cards can be, I still took a chance because I needed a good sound card. Sound Blaster is a very trusted name. This thing has just has a poor reliationship with my modem. Maybe I need a new one. I'm still giving this thing a chance, though.
 
It looks like I'll be considering getting a new sound card. A website I read talked about how some of the Sound Blaster Audigy sound cards seem to almost cripple dial-up modems so that they can't be used. The sound card itself is the problem. And if there's no fix to rectify this (even after a year), then it's best I let this Audigy SE go. I may consider a sound card from another make (or unless Creative makes a sound card that doesn't hurt a dial-up modem or a fix for one that doesn't).

I'm considering two different sound cards to replace my Audigy SE. I'm considering getting an Inland ThunderSound PCI sound card with Surround Sound 5.1 capabilities. It has a lot of the audio capabilities (and then some) by my Audigy SE, but is about $10 less (according to research on Fry's). I've heard about how there is no DVD audio capabilities with the SoundBlaster Audigy sound cards. Well, this ThunderSound deal can make the other card look silly. It has a serial port that I could probably use to use my old MIDI cable still attached to my eMachines. It has Dolby Digital AC-3 sound as well as an EAX facility. Just to be safe, I made copies on my hard drive of the SoundFonts made by Creative. Not sure of the legality of doing this, but I think the sound quality of the Creative SoundFonts sound amazing. The computers at my community college once had these sound fonts for playing MIDI files. A lot of the sound I've heard from these sound fonts remind me of the MIDI music I've listened to when at the computer lab. I may just consider finding some other way to listen to and enjoy sound fonts with this new Inland ThunderSound sound card should I get one.

So this weekend, I'll try to see if I can find an Inland ThunderSound sound card for my PC. Seems like the sound card doesn't have any critical issues... unless any of you have one of these cards on your computer and experience problems.
 
I will NOT be getting an Inland ThunderSound sound card. One big killer for me: no XP support. So I'll have to look around a little more. I'm hoping Diamond can help me to enjoy sound again while also being able to go online to listen to sound. I've said that a Sound Blaster was a great bet for me. However, I've lost trust in Creative Labs especially how they can't make a sound card that doesn't damn near cripple a dialup modem from working. There was even an Inland sound card that had Yamaha XG support... but it too has XP M.I.A.

So I'm now considering a Diamond sound card. The model is an XtremeSound 7.1 24-bit sound card. It costs about as much as the Audigy SE, but I'm a bit confident I can enjoy lovely sound quality. Even if it isn't as amazing as the Audigy SE. It also has some intense requirements. 128 MB of RAM as well as an 850 MHz CPU. Not that I'm going to have any issues in those departments... just an observation. Diamond is a quality brand, so I'm sure I'll get to enjoy sound again for real with this card. Expect me to update this thread if I have the same problem (or something similar) to my Audigy.
 
Latest update:

I sold my Sound Blaster Audigy SE after two weeks of frustration trying to find out how to solve the problem of not being able to access the Internet with my dialup. Goodbye Audigy SE... hello Diamond XtremeSound 7.1. So did I need to disable the sound card just to access the Internet? The answer is...

...YES!!!

Only problem I had with the XtremeSound 7.1 was that the PC crashed as I used one of the environment settings. I've since disabled environment settings. So for the most part, I can enjoy sound offline and online. And another problem is that I now can't play streaming Internet material. Not sure if any codecs or anything are needed or if I'm just unable to access Internet material via Windows Media Player. Otherwise... and oh yeah, Media Player 11 runs a bit slow playing WAV files.

So I have to negotiate those problems. Otherwise, my sound card issues have pretty much been solved. Just have to be a bit careful with this thing. No need to disable the sound card. And as far as sound fonts go, I took the sound font used by TiMIDIty, and its sounds are pretty close to what I've been accustomed to with the Creative Sound Fonts. I may just get rid of the remaining Creative SoundFonts I backed up and just use the TiMIDIty SoundFont.

So mission pretty much accomplished. I got worried when I wasn't getting many comments from you all. I was thinking of maybe updating the drivers for my motherboard as kind of a last resort to get my onboard audio back up and running. However, I'm not sure who makes my motherboard. To those who offered hints, thank you for your help.



IN REVIEW:

* 6/19/2008 - onboard audio not working after plugging the computer back in from a thunderstorm
* 6/20/2008 - did a System Restore... problem not solved

* 6/28/2008 - bought a Sound Blaster Audigy SE as my new sound card. Would later have issues trying to log on to the Internet. Eventually had to disable the Audigy SE before going online. I actually chanced having a random restart.

* Today (7/12/2008) - returned Sound Blaster Audigy SE to store and bought a Diamond XtremeSound 7.1 sound card for about the same price of the Audigy SE. Only issue was the sound card (with EAX effects enabled) randomly restarted my system while playing a game on my PC. Since disabling, all seems to be well except for some Media Player 11 issues (no problems with sounds)





And that's how it ends. Thanks for your help for all of you who chimed in.
 
[UPDATE] Never mind the Windows Media Player deal. I just needed some extra codecs to enjoy visualizations. I'm fine! Honest!
 

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