Microsoft KB Archive/107181

= Contents of the Windows Sound System 2.0 README.TXT =

Article ID: 107181

Article Last Modified on 6/13/2001

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Sound System 2.0

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This article was previously published under Q107181



SUMMARY
This article contains the complete text of the Microsoft Windows Sound System version 2.0 README.TXT file located on disk 1. ====================================================================== MICROSOFT WINDOWS SOUND SYSTEM (Version 2.0) Copyright (C) 1991-1993 Microsoft Corporation

This document supplements the "Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) Sound System Software User's Guide" and accompanying software.

CONTENTS

1. Troubleshooting 1.1 Trouble Hearing Sound with Sound Finder or Music Box 1.2 Windows on a Network Installation 1.3 Using Music Box with a Future Domain SCSI Card 1.4 Using Quick Recorder with a 386 Computer with a 25 MHz or Lower CPU 1.5 Playing Stereophonic Files with a Monophonic Audio Board 1.6 Playing MIDI Files with Sound Blaster Pro Audio Hardware 1.7 Opening More Than One Instance of a Quick Recorder File 1.8 Detecting Installed Hardware 1.9 Playing 44kHz files with Sound Blaster Pro Audio Board

2. Voice Pilot 2.1 Using Multiple Mixer Devices 2.2 Confirmation Option Limitations 2.3 Using Audio Cues

3. ProofReader 3.1 Versions Supported 3.2 Using Multiple Instances 3.3 Installation Sequence 3.4 Removing or Reinstalling ProofReader 3.5 ProofReader Dictionary for Non-U.S. English-Speaking Countries 3.6 Using ProofReader for Lotus 1-2-3 with International Country Settings 3.7 Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4

4. Using Windows Sound System with Windows NT

5. Compatibility with Windows Sound System 5.1 Windows Sound System and Other Audio Drivers 5.2 Windows Sound System and MIDI Sequencing Software 5.3 Potential IRQ Conflicts in IBM PC/AT Bus Class Computers 5.4 Installing EMM386 on Stacked Drives 5.5 Using IRQ 7 on Gateway 2000 Computers 5.6 Using Windows Sound System in Windows Standard Mode 5.7 IRQ and DMA Conflicts on EISA Computers

6. Removing Windows Sound System from Your Computer

7. Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16, and Sound Blaster 16 ASP Issues

8. Sound Blaster Compatibility with the Windows Sound System Sound Board 8.1 Problems Playing Music 8.2 Using GAMES.PIF 8.3 Choosing between Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro 8.4 Playing Mickey's ABC 8.5 Playing Alphabet Blocks 8.6 Playing Broderbund Games

1. Troubleshooting

1.1 Trouble Hearing Sound with Sound Finder or Music Box

If you do not hear sound when using Sound Finder or   if Music Box cannot find your CD-ROM drive, ensure that you have the following entries or files in the appropriate locations:

In the WIN.INI file in the Windows 3.1 directory:

[MCI extensions] wav=waveaudio mid=sequencer rmi=sequencer

In the SYSTEM.INI file in the Windows 3.1 directory:

[MCI] CDAudio=mcicda.drv WaveAudio=mciwave.drv Sequencer=mciseq.drv

In the Windows 3.1 system directory:

MCICDA.DRV MCIWAVE.DRV MCISEQ.DRV

1.2 Windows on a Network Installation

If you're running Windows from a network installation, you cannot play MIDI files. You must install Windows on your local hard disk to play MIDI files.

If you're running Windows from a network installation, CTL3D.DLL does not get copied to your hard disk. Either install Windows on   your local hard disk, or copy CTL3D.DLL to your Windows Sound System directory on your local hard disk.

1.3 Using Music Box with a Future Domain SCSI Card

If you have a Future Domain SCSI card installed in your computer and Music Box doesn't play, ensure that you have the latest version of the CD-ROM driver, FDCD.SYS (version 2.23 or later).

1.4 Using Quick Recorder with a 386 Computer with a 25 MHz or Lower CPU

Quick Recorder cannot record reliably at high sampling rates on some computers, particulary 386 computers with 25 megahertz (MHz) or   lower CPUs.

To correct the problem:

1. Record at a sampling rate lower than CD Quality (less than 44      kHz). This reduces your computer's processing.

2. Close other applications, if possible.

3. If you must make CD-quality recordings, keep them as short as possible.

1.5 Playing Stereophonic Files with a Monophonic Audio Board

Quick Recorder cannot play some CD-quality stereophonic files in   Recorder view. Try playing these files using Sound Finder or use Quick Recorder in Expanded View.

1.6 Playing MIDI Files with Sound Blaster Pro Audio Hardware

If you are using Sound Blaster Pro audio hardware, and you have the microphone turned on in Voice Pilot, you will not be able to   hear a MIDI file while it is playing. Turn off the microphone.

1.7 Opening More Than One Instance of a Quick Recorder File

To open more than one instance of a Quick Recorder file, you must have SHARE.EXE installed in MS-DOS. For instructions on installing SHARE.EXE, see the "MS-DOS User's Guide."

1.8 Detecting Installed Hardware

If your audio hardware does not function correctly, ensure that you selected the right audio hardware when you ran Setup. If an outdated driver is present, Setup may not detect the presence of the correct audio hardware.

1.9 Playing 44kHz files with Sound Blaster Pro Audio Board

Quick Recorder cannot play some 44kHz stereophonic files in   Recorder view. Try playing these files using Sound Finder or use Quick Recorder in Expanded View.

2. Voice Pilot

2.1 Using Multiple Mixer Devices

Voice Pilot uses the mixer device with the lowest number (the one    listed in the first "mixerX=" line in your SYSTEM.INI file) that meets its requirements. If you want to use a driver other than the default driver for your Voice Pilot input, manually renumber the "mixerX=" lines in your SYSTEM.INI file so that the number of the mixer device you want to use is the lowest.

2.2 Confirmation Option Limitations

The Confirmation option cannot be used on commands that are not top-level commands; that is, the Confirmation option can be used only with commands that appear on the menu bar or with commands that are not contained on menus.

2.3 Using Audio Cues

If you are using Voice Pilot's audio cues, Voice Pilot may attempt to sound a cue at the same time another application, or VoicePilot itself, tries to issue a sound. As a result, you may not be able to   use Voice Pilot to start ProofReader or you may receive a warning that the device is being used by another application. To correct this situation, in the Audio Cues section of the Preferences dialog box, select None.

3. ProofReader

3.1 Versions Supported

ProofReader is supported only in Microsoft Excel version 3.0 or   higher and Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows versions 1.0, 1.0a, 1.1.01, and 4.

3.2 Using Multiple Instances

If you run more than one instance of Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows, ProofReader is present only on the menu of the first instance.

3.3 Installation Sequence

You must install your Windows-based spreadsheet application before installing ProofReader with the Windows Sound System Setup program.

3.4 Removing or Reinstalling ProofReader

To remove or reinstall ProofReader for Microsoft Excel, see your Microsoft Excel documentation for information on how to remove or   install an add-in.

To remove or reinstall ProofReader for Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows (123RDR), see your Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows documentation for information on how to remove or install an add-in.

3.5 ProofReader Dictionary for Non-U.S. English-Speaking Countries

The ProofReader dictionary NON-US.DCT contains terms that accommodate the differences between English as spoken in the United States and English as spoken in some other English-speaking countries.

To use this dictionary, add it to the list of active ProofReader dictionaries:

1. From the Microsoft Excel or Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows Proof menu, choose Options.

The Options dialog box appears.

2. In the Category box, choose Dictionary.

The Dictionaries dialog box appears.

3. Choose Add Dictionary.

The Add Dictionary dialog box appears.

4. In the Directories box, choose the Windows Sound System directory (the default is C:\SNDSYS).

NOTE: If you installed Windows Sound System in a directory other than C:\SNDSYS, choose the proper directory name.

The list of available dictionaries (*.DCT files) appears in the File Name box.

5. In the File Name box, select NON-US.DCT.

6. Choose OK.

7. Choose Done.

3.6 Using ProofReader for Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows and International Country Settings

Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows uses its own country settings, not the country settings used by Windows. If ProofReader does not read some numbers correctly, verify that the country settings selected in the Windows Control Panel match the country settings that are set for Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows.

3.7 Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows Release 4

Lotus 1-2-3 Release 4 does not support accelerator keys for add-ins, such as ProofReader. Use the mouse or the arrow and Enter keys to select commands.

4. Using Windows Sound System with Microsoft Windows NT(TM)

The Windows Sound System sound board can be used in ISA/EISA computers running Microsoft Windows NT. Sound applications that are shipped with Windows NT play sounds through the Windows Sound System sound board by using an audio driver included with Windows NT. Windows NT-based applications that use the Microsoft Windows version 3.1 Sound Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) should operate properly with the Windows Sound System sound board.

5. Compatibility with Windows Sound System

5.1 Windows Sound System and Other Audio Drivers

The Windows Sound System audio driver may conflict with other audio drivers. If you use multiple sound boards and drivers, you may experience interrupt (IRQ) channel, I/O address, or   DMA channel conflicts that can cause your computer to stop or to repeat sounds. Therefore, we recommend that you remove all other audio drivers by using the Windows Control Panel Drivers application.

If you remove an old audio board and install a new board, you may have to manually remove the driver entries from your SYSTEM.INI file.

For information on how to remove Windows Sound System software, see DEINSTAL.TXT in your Windows Sound System directory (the   default is C:\SNDSYS).

5.2 Windows Sound System and MIDI Sequencing Software

Windows Sound System is incompatible with certain Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) sequencing applications.

Sound Finder cannot play a file with an .MID or an .RMI extension while a sequencing application is open, regardless of whether a file is actually loaded into the sequencer. If   you want to use Sound Finder to browse MIDI files and other types of files, close your sequencer first. Alternatively, you can use your sequencing application to play MIDI files.

Finale 2.2 for Windows from Coda Music Technology is compatible with the Windows Sound System sound board and software if you modify the WIN.INI file. For more information on using Finale for Windows or MusicProse for Windows with the Windows Sound System sound board, contact Coda Music Technology at (612) 937-9611.

If you experience difficulties while using your MIDI sequencer with your Windows Sound System sound board:

1. See the Windows Sound System documentation to ensure you have installed and configured both the sound board and the software properly.

2. See the documentation for your sequencer.

3. If you continue to experience problems, contact Microsoft Product Support Services.

5.3 Potential IRQ Conflicts in IBM PC/AT Bus Class Computers

IRQ 2 is unavailable to add-in cards on IBM PC/AT bus class computers. If you are using an IBM PC/AT bus class computer and you select IRQ 2, your selection defaults to IRQ 9.

5.4 Installing EMM386 on Stacked Drives

Installing Windows Sound System on stacked drives and running the MS-DOS Configuration program to enable Sound Blaster compatiblity may cause your stacker drive to load incorrectly. Stacked drives are often loaded into UMB space; therefore, EMM386 must be present to   provide UMBs. Copy EMM386 onto a nonstacked boot drive. The nonstacked drive is usually the drive that contains the MS-DOS system files.

5.5 Using IRQ 7 on Gateway 2000 Computers

Windows Sound System cannot use IRQ 7 on some Gateway 2000 computers. However, you may be able to make IRQ 7 available for use on such a computer by changing a   BIOS setting. Contact your Gateway 2000 representative to determine how to make IRQ 7 available. (For information   on IRQ settings, see the "Microsoft Windows Sound    System Software User's Guide.")

5.6 Using Windows Sound System in Windows Standard Mode

You cannot perform a sound check if you are running Setup in Windows Standard mode. To check hardware operation, run Windows in Enhanced mode or use Sound Finder or Quick Recorder to play a file.

5.7 IRQ and DMA Conflicts on EISA Machines

If an EISA machine is incorrectly configured, Windows Sound System may report that all IRQ or DMA channels are in use.

To solve this problem:

1. Use the EISA configuration utility supplied by your hardware manufacturer to configure the computer properly. This is the preferred solution.

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2. Disable the EISA resource scan of SNDSYS.DRV and VSNDSYS.386 by adding the EnableEISAResourceScan=FALSE flag to the [SNDSYS.DRV] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. Note that disabling this feature can cause problems with enhanced SCSI adapters, such as the Adaptec 1742.

6. Removing Windows Sound System from Your Computer

If you want to remove Windows Sound System from your computer, see DEINSTAL.TXT, in your Windows Sound System directory (C:\SNDSYS by default).

7. Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16, and Sound Blaster 16 ASP Issues

Setting the MIDIInPersistence= variable in the [WSSSBPRO.DRV] or [WSSSB16.DRV] section of your SYSTEM.INI file allows you to configure the amount of data that will be processed in the MIDI-in interrupt. The default value is 50, the recommended range is 50 to 1024. Decreasing this value may prevent the MIDI-in device from being completely serviced and may cause data loss or may stop input.

8. Sound Blaster Compatibility with the Windows Sound System Sound Board

8.1 Problems Playing Music

If your game offers the choice, select Ad Lib compatibility for music output and Sound Blaster compatibility for sound effects. This will prevent music from playing too slowly.

8.2 Using GAMES.PIF

If you're using a user-specified shell in MS-DOS, ensure that the file GAMES.PIF (located in the directory   in which you installed Windows Sound System, C:SNDSYS    by default) references the same shell as your COMSPEC system variable. To edit the GAMES.PIF file, use Windows PIF Editor. For more information on the COMSPEC system variable, see your MS-DOS documentation.

8.3 Choosing between Sound Blaster andSound Blaster Pro

If your game offers choice between Sound Blaster and Sound Blaster Pro, you must select Sound Blaster, not Sound Blaster Pro, as your audio board.

8.4 Playing Mickey's ABC

Mickey's ABC cannot detect the presence of   the Windows Sound System sound board. However, it will work correctly if you select Ad Lib compatibility as the option for music.

8.5 Playing Alphabet Blocks

If you experience problems playing Sierra On-Line Alphabet Blocks with the Windows Sound System sound board, add AcceptCloseSamplingRates=TRUE to the [SNDSYS.DRV] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. Alphabet Blocks uses a nonstandard sampling rate that is not directly supported by the Windows Sound System sound board. Setting this flag to true allows the driver to accept sampling rates that are within 5% of the actual supported rate.

8.6 Playing Broderbund Games

If you experience problems while playing Broderbund games, set the VirtualHDIRQ=FALSE switch in the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.

Additional query words: 2.00 read me

Keywords: KB107181

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