you can fully test it in either dos or windows or even linux. win98 & up (not sure about win95 versions) will have driver support built-in. if you want, you can also install the nt4.0 awe control panel in compatibility mode under xp (and possibly later) to load sf2 soundfonts. win9x should have the awe control panel out of the box, but i can't remember if it's a separate install.

Thank you.
I asked because the seller already has negative feedback about selling items as working while they aren't.
I suppose that I can use dos 7.1 with unisound with some games?

The easiest way to test the card is in pure DOS.

First, install the DOS drivers from the official CD. After the installation is complete, run Creative's DIAGNOSE.EXE and go through all the tests.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-03-22, 04:08:

The easiest way to test the card is in pure DOS.

First, install the DOS drivers from the official CD. After the installation is complete, run Creative's DIAGNOSE.EXE and go through all the tests.

Thanks! I'll report the results when I get the card (next week)

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-22, 04:49:

Thanks! I'll report the results when I get the card (next week)

Just noticed that you mention DOS 7.1 aka Win9x.

Creative's pure DOS drivers on the installation CD are meant for DOS 6.22 and may not work correctly on 7.1. You will likely need to install the Win9x drivers from that CD instead, which can also (optionally) install the DOS support component. I'm not sure if that version of the drivers contains DIAGNOSE.EXE though.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-03-22, 04:56:

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-22, 04:49:

Thanks! I'll report the results when I get the card (next week)

Just noticed that you mention DOS 7.1 aka Win9x.

Creative's pure DOS drivers on the installation CD are meant for DOS 6.22 and may not work correctly on 7.1. You will likely need to install the Win9x drivers from that CD instead, which can also (optionally) install the DOS support component. I'm not sure if that version of the drivers contains DIAGNOSE.EXE though.

Ok I should also have a compact flash with dos 6.22. Can I extract the cd image to a temporary directory and proceed to install from there on the testing machine or do I need to burn the image? I watched the directories in the iso and I couldn't find a "dos" driver directory.

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-22, 05:11:

Can I extract the cd image to a temporary directory and proceed to install from there on the testing machine or do I need to burn the image? I watched the directories in the iso and I couldn't find a "dos" driver directory.

You need to burn the image to a disc.

After that, running the installation utility from the CD should automatically detect that you're in a pure DOS 6.22 environment and install the corresponding driver.

if you want a dead simple test grab unisound and add it to your autoexec.bat. You should need be able to test sb16, FM, AWE32 functionality. To test the midi synth you will need the aweutil tsr.

Edit: once running unisound you will of course need to run a game. Descent setup is a good one with many options.

So I received the card, it's detected fine but when I use diagnose to play sounds nothing can be heard, I noticed that the card maybe need a special cable since it has connector for left and then right channel?

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-25, 18:01:

So I received the card, it's detected fine but when I use diagnose to play sounds nothing can be heard, I noticed that the card maybe need a special cable since it has connector for left and then right channel?

Yes, you need a 2xRCA (male) to 1x3.5mm (female) adapter. Something like this.

Do not attempt to plug in speakers or headphones directly into the RCA jacks, without using an adapter.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-03-25, 18:21:

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-25, 18:01:

So I received the card, it's detected fine but when I use diagnose to play sounds nothing can be heard, I noticed that the card maybe need a special cable since it has connector for left and then right channel?

Yes, you need a 2xRCA (male) to 1x3.5mm (female) adapter. Something like this.

Do not attempt to plug in speakers or headphones directly into the RCA jacks, without using an adapter.

Ok thank you I proceed to order the cable.
Overall the card seems in discrete conditions, very dusty and some corrosion on the metal bracket.
https://imgur.com/a/gbR2zM3

I'd like to wash it but I wouldn't like if the stickers would come off, any advice about how to proceed?

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-25, 18:45:

Overall the card seems in discrete conditions, very dusty and some corrosion on the metal bracket.
https://imgur.com/a/gbR2zM3

You can take off the metal bracket and then remove the corrosion using very fine sandpaper. After that, possibly paint over any places on the bracket that were damaged before putting it back on the card. As for the RCA jacks, clean them with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

I'd like to wash it but I wouldn't like if the stickers would come off, any advice about how to proceed?

I haven't washed mine, just cleaned it up carefully using a brush. It's probably best to use a dedicated anti-static brush for that purpose. You can also use isopropyl alcohol on a cotton swab to gently clean any caked dust.

Thank you, I'm not a huge fan of Isopropylic alcool when used to clean I noticed that on very dusty cards it leaves stains behind, while soapy water is more effective. For the gold contacts I used brasso\sidol (according to where you live) both of the isa slot and the audio connectors, then I washed.

That's the result after the cleaning:
https://imgur.com/a/eKuEPn5

One sticker obviously came off :\

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-26, 04:22:

That's the result after the cleaning:
https://imgur.com/a/eKuEPn5

I just noticed that your card model is CT4540. This is a slightly newer revision than my CT4390 so you might need these drivers for Win9x instead of the ones that I linked to previously.

There was a discussion about the CT4540 in this thread.

Joseph_Joestar wrote on 2024-03-26, 05:23:

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-26, 04:22:

That's the result after the cleaning:
https://imgur.com/a/eKuEPn5

I just noticed that your card model is CT4540. This is a slightly newer revision than my CT4390 so you might need these drivers for Win9x instead of the ones that I linked to previously.

There was a discussion about the CT4540 in this thread.

Thank you, I installed the sd with dos 6.22 and it worked fine (I also tested the installed ram), later I will test the audio output but hopefully it will work. Yes I noticed later that this is the later revision, I was worried already that it was a cheaper creative oem version 😁

In your opinion does it makes sense to buy the simmconn to use the soundfonts?

Nemo1985 wrote on 2024-03-26, 05:32:

In your opinion does it makes sense to buy the simmconn to use the soundfonts?

It depends. Note that manually loading soundfonts which use the newer .SF2 format only works from within Windows. Under pure DOS 6.22 you are limited to the older .SBK soundfonts, and those usually aren't larger than 4MB.

Also, when using stock drivers, soundfonts in pure DOS don't work with protected mode games like Doom and Duke3D. Only with older, real-mode games like Space Quest V etc. Under Win9x, any DOS game will work fine with soundfonts loaded when using General MIDI music, as long as the game isn't incompatible with Windows itself.

Personally, I never felt the need to add extra memory to my AWE64 Gold. The stock drivers provide a decent enough soundfont which fits neatly into the card's existing 4MB. I have some recordings of that here. But then again, I mostly use my Roland SC-155 for General MIDI music.

Protected mode problem can be worked around with dos32awe

Cable arrived and using diagnose everything works perfectly, I did all the 4 tests, each channel and then both combined.

But I also just noticed this:
https://imgur.com/a/EMKDMpo

Some traces don't seem in good conditions

Green rubber dremel tips work well to get to the copper traces.
Some might suggest fiberglass pen
Nail polish can work as a solder mask to protect the cleaner traces