Author Topic: Problem with soundcard and Mame32 (Read 4399 times)

Mr. Three · « **on:** October 10, 2007, 09:45:44 pm »

I'm not sure why, but Mame32 freezes when any rom is loaded. I had posted an earlier thread about this (topic=71979.0) roughly a week ago and it was determined that it was in fact a hardware problem, and if I pull my soundcard (Creative SoundBlaster AudioPCI 64V) then Mame32 works again, but now I can't actually get it to work again. With Mame32 that is. It works fine otherwise, making sound and everything without problem. It worked fine with Mame32 also for months before suddenly refusing to function. The hardware is good. I tried reinstalling drivers and that doesn't seem to help. I tried yelling at it - nothing. Updating as much as possible, new drivers, new Mame32, I don't know if this is a common problem or not or how to make it right.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2007, 06:59:56 pm »

What O/S Are you running, what version of Direct X etc..

Mr. Three · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2007, 07:33:55 pm »

Windows98se, DirectX8.1
PentiumIII 665Mhz, 128Mb RAM

Mr. Three · « **Reply #3 on:** October 13, 2007, 01:40:48 am »

I just have no idea what could be causing this and i can't stop trying to fix it.

This is very frustrating.

Is it sound card drivers? I have tried removing them and updating them. Sound on this computer works fine, and the computer functions perfectly, but again, only when Mame32 launches a game, it freezes up.

I tried updating Mame32 to a newer version. Still, the program locks up before any rom gets a chance to load. Just a blank screen.

I tried updating DirectX8.1 to no effect.

When I pull the soundcard, Mame32 launches and runs fine.

I tried moving it to a different slot, but this isn't an option to begin with, even if it did work which it doesn't.

I have looked in Mame32 preferences and don't fully understand everything there, but I have tried many variations of 3d on/off, resize and flip and as many different options as I can think of. Still nothing.

I'm certain it is a software problem.

running dxdiag gives some weird results, saying it can't deal with direct sound or direct music or some nonsense.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #4 on:** October 14, 2007, 05:52:04 pm »

Sounds like you need the direct X support for your sound card and it's not there. Either you need newer drivers or it is so old it's just not supported. You can buy a sound card for pennies that will work fine with direct X 8.1 and you should be good to go. Alternatively you can try upgrading your O/S...

Mr. Three · « **Reply #5 on:** October 14, 2007, 06:26:12 pm »

I'll try updating more directx stuff...

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #6 on:** October 14, 2007, 08:34:08 pm »

You need to apply the latest sound card and video drivers then install direct x if i remeber rightly.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #7 on:** October 14, 2007, 09:00:49 pm »

I downloaded DirectX9c and updated from 8.1 and it hasn't helped. It's still behaving the same way. The really hard part here is that it worked fine for weeks while I was building the cabinet and testing the electronics, then suddenly stopped with no explanation.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #8 on:** October 14, 2007, 09:25:23 pm »

I think I have clearly identified this as a SOUND CARD driver issue. It doesn't mean I know exactly how to fix it, but I'm fairly certain that's what it is. I just updated to the wrong driver and the mame32 ran ok, but again without sound but at least with the sound card plugged in. That's something.
When I uninstalled those incorrect drivers and replaced them with the ones specified for this card, the problem occurred again, exactly as before.

I need to figure out what drivers for a Creative Sound Blaster AudioPCI 64v and associated Win98se driver files will work with my version of Mame32.

Is there some kind of driver management tool or something I can use to figure this stuff out? I'm lost.

tikbalang · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2007, 09:40:37 am »

post the soundcard's CT# printed on it. and check your mobo for bloated/leaking caps. problems that suddenly appear are usually caused by a deteriorating mobo. is the OS stable in other aspects?

download everest and check the hardware with the installed drivers if they match.

download damnsmalllinux and boot your pc with it. play some mp3's. if they play in DSL, or any other OS for that matter, you have bad windows drivers.

try to list the irq usage as shown after the bios POST, just before windows logo. use the pause/break key.

copy your bios settings on paper. load optimized defaults in the bios. if it works, stop. if it didn't, load failsafe defaults. still not working? disable usb, onboard nic, modem, and other IRQ hoggers one by one, if you listed them as above.

finally, still in the bios, set PNP OS=NO.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2007, 02:01:50 pm »

You really do need to make sure you have the latest drivers installed for your card, alternatively i think you can get that card to work as a regular sound blaster. That might give you sound and run mame 32...

Youi could always try a different version of mame.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2007, 02:35:01 pm »

I have ordered a new sound card. I don't usually surrender like this but at least there is a high probability this will fix the problem.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #12 on:** October 19, 2007, 07:05:48 pm »

Hell damn hell. Brand new sound card installed, same exact problem as before. Damn. Hell.

vertygo · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2007, 07:15:54 pm »

It could be that the old drivers, or corrupted drivers, are not uninstalling properly. If you can format and reload the OS, might be an idea.

Perhaps someone knows how to find old drivers not in use anymore and delete them ?

Also, try killing off processes from taskmanager one by one and then loading the roms.

Best of Luck!

--- Also, what's that as your avatar ?

Mr. Three · « **Reply #14 on:** October 21, 2007, 01:46:18 pm »

--- Also, what's that as your avatar ?

My avatar is a bicycle POV system I built. You can find details here: http://www.ladyada.net/make/spokepov/

I will try to just reformat this thing I guess. I seriously sick of working on it, and I wouldn't have built this thing had I known it was going to work well then become a nightmare.

vertygo · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2007, 04:24:07 pm »

I'm sure you'll get it to work soon, and then you'll really enjoy the accomplishment.

You might have to set it aside for a week then look at it fresh.. I know when I get to the

stage of working on something, nothing ever gets fixed properly.

Cheers!

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2007, 04:42:04 pm »

Dude why not use a different operating system like XP, 98 is not supported any mroe and that might be where your driver issue is coming from.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2007, 04:40:36 am »

Because the system is a 667Mhz PIII L667r with 128MbRAM. XP wouldn't like that very much.

I'm going to nuke the disk and start from scratch I think. Ugh.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2007, 09:45:56 am »

I'm running XP on a P700 with 128mb ram. Obviously it's your choice.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2007, 02:10:11 pm »

I wouldn't think anything would run well if I had XP installed on an old machine like this. I tried it not too recently on this machine before reverting back to the old operating system. Hey, if you think it will work I will give it a stab!

GadgetGeek · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2007, 12:32:22 pm »

If you want to run XP on that machine, go read the nlite thread over in Software

tikbalang · « **Reply #21 on:** October 24, 2007, 01:52:26 am »

why not use spystyle's DOS bootcd? it supports creative sound cards.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=58809.160

Code: [Select]

SpyStyle DOS boot CD
Version beta 1 L
78 MB, 7zip compressed, ISO disk image.
Kindly hosted by Saint here:
http://tinyurl.com/2l5ky5

northerngames · « **Reply #22 on:** October 24, 2007, 02:10:56 am »

more ram may help.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #23 on:** October 24, 2007, 02:34:43 pm »

I'm still trying. Being met with constant problems. One after another.

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2007, 04:44:17 pm »

Quote from: northerngames on October 24, 2007, 02:10:56 am

more ram may help.

May help what? This is the most usless comment in the thred....

Did you install XP and if so is it working now?

northerngames · « **Reply #25 on:** October 24, 2007, 07:26:07 pm »

maybe it has an onboard video display and too many drivers running at once and between them mame and the sound card it may not have enough ram to run it is all

Barry Barcrest · « **Reply #26 on:** October 24, 2007, 07:51:31 pm »

Quote from: northerngames on October 24, 2007, 07:26:07 pm

maybe it has an onboard video display and too many drivers running at once and between them mame and the sound card it may not have enough ram to run it is all

Sorry if my comment was harsh but your suggestion was.... Erm... Well like telling a mechanic to fit go faster stripes to make his car go faster.

Mr. Three · « **Reply #27 on:** October 31, 2007, 02:25:10 pm »

Nothing yet. Frustration and lack of available time have left me with half a completed project, and I'm not sure I even want to look at the thing anymore. Sad.


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