rick12373 wrote on 2020-09-07, 19:16:

Is between 549K to 582K of conventional memory enough for games?

If you never encounter a game that requires more conventional memory (possibly because you've stuffed this box in a corner to collect dust), then yes, you have enough conventional memory and you should stop worrying about this.

Is there a better way to load the CTSB16.SYS and CTMMSYS.SYS in the CONFIG.SYS so that it doesn't use so much conventional memory?

If the only thing you need these for is to set the volume levels, then you could try to use DDL/DDU to unload the device drivers after the volume is adjusted. (DEVLOAD or LOADSYS might have that capability as well.)
https://www.ibiblio.org/pub/micro/pc-stuff/fr … til/system/ddl/

Anyway, have you not tried using DEVICEHIGH on those lines, as you have with VIDECDD.SYS ?

rick12373 wrote on 2020-09-07, 19:16:

On my 486 running DOS 6.22 for some reason I have to use SB16SET in the AUTOEXEC.BAT to set the volume levels all the way to max. If I don't do this my speakers are too quiet (have tried multiple speakers).

Have you tried doing a soft reboot (i.e. ctrl-alt-del) after setting the volume levels? Do they stay correct afterwards without having to run that utility?

Haven't used it for a while. Not had a problem since I set it up again with games so far. I tried DEVICEHIGH and it does not change anything.

I will look to see if I can use DDL/DDU to unload it.

I would try a soft reboot but for some reason every since I put this machine together years ago the ctrl-alt-del does not work. Maybe there is something in the BIOS that needs to be switched to fix that? It is the same 486 motherboard that LGR from YouTube used for his 486.

Could not get DDL/DDU to work. I tried looking for some examples online of it's usage but did not find much mention of it either.

Well, I have not had any issues with any games yet so I will just go with it.

rick12373 wrote on 2020-09-07, 19:47:

I would try a soft reboot but for some reason every since I put this machine together years ago the ctrl-alt-del does not work. Maybe there is something in the BIOS that needs to be switched to fix that?

Strange indeed. I'm not familiar with any means of disabling that in the BIOS. I suppose you've tried both the "Delete" key below the "Insert" key and also the one on the numpad?

rick12373 wrote on 2020-09-07, 20:30:

Could not get DDL/DDU to work. I tried looking for some examples online of it's usage but did not find much mention of it either.

It is definitely somewhat nonstandard. What happens when you try to use it? (To be clear, you should use it after your system has finished booting. Loading device drivers and then loading something else before unloading them would likely be problematic.)

As I said, DEVLOAD or LOADSYS might work instead, but I'm not sure those support unloading.

Jorpho wrote on 2020-09-07, 22:40:

I'm not familiar with any means of disabling that in the BIOS. I suppose you've tried both the "Delete" key below the "Insert" key and also the one on the numpad?

Yes, tried both keys. The keyboard is a fairly new AT connector one made by Key Tronic that I bought new. There was nothing on the BIOS that I could see. The only other thing I can think of is maybe there a jumper on the MB that disables it for some reason?

You do not need to put up with CTMMSYS.SYS and CTSB16.SYS just to run the mixer. You need to update your drivers to a version that includes SBMIX.EXE which does not need the architecture TSRs to work; I think the update file SB16UP.EXE, wherever you find it, is the one you want.