First post, by Trekkie4
Hey guys!
I would like to ask for a favor & helping hand. I recently built a genuine 4x86 DX2 system running DOS 6.22 & Windows 3.11, but for some (odd) reason, I seem to be having an issue with the sound card. Well two of them actually, as I only just found out few moments ago.
The biggest issue is with the memory consumption - after SB16 got initialized, integrated into AutoExec.BAT & Config.SYS, I've started experiencing memory issues to the point where I can't run the single game! I've been experimenting with Config/Autoexec & conformed that it's indeed actually the sound card itself and not something else - once the lines are removed (commented out), system works perfectly fine & much faster. Any ideas how to resolve this problem, speed things up & increase the available memory? I'm running 8MB of physical memory (2x 4MB 72-pin configuration)
Autoexec.BAT
@ECHO OFF
C:\DOS\MODE CON RATE=32 DELAY=2
C:\DOS\MODE CON CP PREP=((852) C:\DOS\EGA.CPI)
C:\DOS\MODE CON CP SEL=852
LH /L:2 C:\DOS\KEYB YU,852,C:\DOS\KEYBOARD.SYS
ECHO.
LH /L:2 C:\DOS\MOUSE
ECHO.
PROMPT $p$g
PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\SB16
SET TEMP=C:\TEMP
SET TMP=C:\TEMP
SET TZ=CET-1CDT,3,-1,0,7200,10,-1,0,10800,3600
SET SOUND=C:\SB16
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
SET MIDI=SYNTH:1 MAP:E
C:\SB16\DIAGNOSE /S
C:\SB16\MIXERSET /P /Q
C:\WINDOWS\net start
GOTO %CONFIG%
:EMSBOOT
LH /L:2 C:\DOS\MSCDEX /D:CD-524E /M:15 /E /S /L:D /V
ECHO.
LH /L:0;2 /S C:\DOS\SMARTDRV 2048 128 /V
GOTO END
:NOEBOOT
LH /L:2 C:\DOS\MSCDEX /D:CD-524E /M:15 /S /L:D /V
ECHO.
LH /L:0;2 /S C:\DOS\SMARTDRV 2048 /V
GOTO END
:MINBOOT
LH /L:0;2 /S C:\DOS\SMARTDRV 2048 /V
GOTO END
:WINBOOT
LH /L:2 C:\DOS\MSCDEX /D:CD-524E /M:15 /E /S /L:D /V
ECHO.
LH /L:0;2 /S C:\DOS\SMARTDRV 2048 128 /V
WIN
GOTO END
:END
Config.SYS
[MENU]
MENUITEM=EMSBOOT, Start with EMS support.
MENUITEM=NOEBOOT, Start without EMS support.
MENUITEM=MINBOOT, Minimal Boot
MENUITEM=WINBOOT, Windows 3.11
MENUDEFAULT=EMSBOOT,30
[COMMON]
BREAK=ON
DOS=HIGH,UMB
FILES=40
REM FCBS=1,0
BUFFERS=10,0
LASTDRIVE=J
STACKS=9,256
COUNTRY=038,,C:\DOS\COUNTRY.SYS
REM ** DEVICE=C:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICE=C:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS /V
DEVICEHIGH /L:1 =C:\DOS\DISPLAY.SYS CON=(EGA,,1)
SHELL=C:\DOS\COMMAND.COM C:\DOS\ /E:1024 /P
[EMSBOOT]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM /MIN=0 /V
DEVICEHIGH /L:1 =C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\CDROM\GSCDROM.SYS /D:CD-524E
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\SB16\DRV\CSP.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220
[NOEBOOT]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS /V
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\CDROM\GSCDROM.SYS /D:CD-524E
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\SB16\DRV\CSP.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220
[MINBOOT]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE NOEMS /V
[WINBOOT]
DEVICE=C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE RAM /V
DEVICEHIGH /L:1 =C:\DOS\ANSI.SYS
DEVICEHIGH /L:1 =C:\WINDOWS\IFSHLP.SYS
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\CDROM\GSCDROM.SYS /D:CD-524E
DEVICEHIGH /L:2 =C:\SB16\DRV\CSP.SYS /UNIT=0 /BLASTER=A:220
The 2nd issue is that I can't get MIDI to work ... at all! I'm getting SFX, a "standard" sound output from SB16 and I'm also getting the system to automatically detect MPU-401 port, which is located at its 330 address (default) but when it comes to playing actual MIDI playback, all I hear is background static. You know, so called tape noise but not the MIDI signal itself. Haven't tried hooking extension (daughterboard) since I don't have one available at the moment, but I don't think it's a hardware fault (at least I hope so anyway) since rest of the sound card seems to be working just fine. Including the CD-ROM controller which I'm actually using for the CD drive!