ruthan wrote:

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1PLease use Windows software applet to enable 
2Sound Blaster, MPU4041 for real / Windows DOS

Copy the ESSOLO.INI file to C:\.

you are missing the essolo.ini in the root..use my package it works.

Thanks for info, i will try it.

I also discovered, that at least on i865 machine, when i load ess*.sys i get Unrecoverable EMS error in EMS and NOEMS mode, Realmode its working. EMS, NOEMS without this line is working fine.

BTW ESSSOLO.ini is very small binary file, i wonder that is inside, it could be some important variable as IRQ, DMA etc.. which could be set only in Win9x
In 1 driver package is also very small binary file ESSSOLO.nin and ESSaudion.bin

Used drivers packages:
1)From dr.Zeissler - it looks like that this driver is older and some executable inside not working because there are wanting ESS1868 something.. ESSOLO.com reports version 2.11 There also some setup utility, but it looks like for 1868, it suggets some autoexec + config lines, but i dunno if it is working for 1938. Setvol is not working from CMD, because 1868 is not find, i maybe its working when you run it from autoexec with direct params as is in dr.Zeislerrs autoexec example..
2) From Vogons driver library - ESS PCI Card Drivers for DOS: // Looks newer but more small binary files. ESSOLO.com report version 2.31D

On i865 both trying to use TDMA mode.

I used one from your drivers package.

Its is #1 from my previous post.

It makes no difference how old the driver is, I did not found any differences between the oldest and the newest driver, so I always use the oldest.
The Mixer does work with ES1938 from the terratec-card. Other ESS-Chips might work too, If you have the wrong chip/card the mixer does not work.

ruthan wrote:

I also discovered, that at least on i865 machine, when i load ess*.sys i get Unrecoverable EMS error in EMS and NOEMS mode, Realmode its working. EMS, NOEMS without this line is working fine.

BTW ESSSOLO.ini is very small binary file, i wonder that is inside, it could be some important variable as IRQ, DMA etc.. which could be set only in Win9x
In 1 driver package is also very small binary file ESSSOLO.nin and ESSaudion.bin

The ESSOLO.SYS tries to change the PCI IRQ of the Solo-1, also had it crashing myself. It can also load as a TSR for emulating the IRQ, but I think it only happens if it's not able to change the PCI IRQ.

Here's some info about the ESSOLO.INI file, use a HEX editor for altering the file.

The IRQ7 modified esssolo.ini does not work for me. I always get IRQ5.

Kamerat wrote:

The ESSOLO.SYS tries to change the PCI IRQ of the Solo-1, also had it crashing myself. It can also load as a TSR for emulating the IRQ, but I think it only happens if it's not able to change the PCI IRQ.

So resutl is that on some boards this card simply working in EMS mode or there is some workaround? Or its working only with certain IRQ is *.ini file? For i dunno if there are any parameters for *.com or *.sys ? I dunno have manual and read is very short.

Kamerat wrote:

Here's some info about the ESSOLO.INI file, use a HEX editor for altering the file.

This IRQ is real IRQ or some virtual for SB blaster emulation?
Drivers during boot giving me this line:
Current Solo PCI IRQ: 5 PCI IO Base BC00
..next line is SBPro setting - this is emulation for sure
A-220, I-5 DMA-1

I tried CheckIT, HWinfo and SysInfo interupts info but i dont see anything what could be soundcard here. You can check it here:

Is there any recommended IRQ to try? I would nice if someone could provide that modified file, i never learned that Hex editor magic properly..
Update: Ok at least Rayers SMB utility shows some IRQ for ESS card, i reported logs in previous posts.. I have to check if IRQ is real one, or assigned by drivers - so i need to recreate log without sound drivers loaded...

With i865 and ini file in root, Music is working, FX doesnt - blood setup is giving me Conflicting or Invalid DMA channel classic message. I tested both drivers.

Other interesting thing is that sound not good from green jack (which im used too) but from silver one - last from gameport..

My card photo:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fIQAAOSwK~VbSfkJ/s-l1600.jpg

Now i am a bit confused, what would be next step.. its time for some ini - IRQ hex magic, or card will not work on my i865 machine?

Do you have essaudio.ini or similar file placed in C:\ (root directory)?
I did make working ES1988 Allegro on my 'new' old laptop:
http://rayer.g6.cz/hardware/evon400c.htm#DOSSND
BTW I very doubt you will find a better card than YMF/Vortex for modern MB. I tried some ESS, Crystal, MediaForte craps and none works...

That IS in fact the real problem.
"With i865 and ini file in root, Music is working, FX doesnt - blood setup is giving me Conflicting or Invalid DMA channel classic message. I tested both drivers."

There is NO difference between these drivers. Duke3d will we the same.

You will see if you choose the wdm-drivers and it will be working within win9x.

ruthan wrote:

So resutl is that on some boards this card simply working in EMS mode or there is some workaround? Or its working only with certain IRQ is *.ini file? For i dunno if there are any parameters for *.com or *.sys ? I dunno have manual and read is very short.

Just run the ESSOLO.SYS before EMM386, or skip it completely.

ruthan wrote:

This IRQ is real IRQ or some virtual for SB blaster emulation? Drivers during boot giving me this line: Current Solo PCI […]
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This IRQ is real IRQ or some virtual for SB blaster emulation?
Drivers during boot giving me this line:
Current Solo PCI IRQ: 5 PCI IO Base BC00
..next line is SBPro setting - this is emulation for sure
A-220, I=5 DMA-1

As long as ESSOLO.SYS isn't loaded as a TSR (check with MEM /C /P) you must use the PCI IRQ for Sound Blaster.

ruthan wrote:

I tried CheckIT, HWinfo and SysInfo interupts info but i dont see anything what could be soundcard here. You can check it here: […]
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I tried CheckIT, HWinfo and SysInfo interupts info but i dont see anything what could be soundcard here. You can check it here:

IRQS.zip

Is there any recommended IRQ to try? I would nice if someone could provide that modified file, i never learned that Hex editor magic properly..

With i865 and ini file in root, Music is working, FX doesnt - blood setup is giving me Conflicting or Invalid DMA channel classic message. I tested both drivers.

Other interesting thing is that sound not good from green jack (which im used too) but from silver one - last from gameport..

My card photo:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fIQAAOSwK~VbSfkJ/s-l1600.jpg

Now i am a bit confused, what would be next step.. its time for some ini - IRQ hex magic, or card will not work on my i865 machine?

Yes, that's probably the outcome. In best case about the same game compatibility as the CMI8738.

Load ess *.sys driver after himem, before emm386 is working, no ems crash, result the same FM only.

I will try play with IRQ and DMA modes with Hex editor tomorrow..

I though that i865 + ESS 1938 is proven combination, but it was probably my mistake and its proven that it is working with VIA Core 2 chipsets. Regardless i have some VIA Core 2 Duo board too and its good to be sure that is not some hidden gem for new boards.

No! i845g(v) and ESS1938 is proven.

I have tried to edit essolo.ini with HexIT editor and regarding of info from Kamerat:
Re: SoftMPU project needs your help! (game & sound card testing)
But regardless of changes driver giving me same loading message IRQ 5 / TDMA info (i tried to change IRQ and DMA mode too, i tried IRQ 7/9/10) so if didnt something wrong with Hex editing this only hint for driver.. I tried to fill file with complete nonsense, to check if not ignored at all, but i got some configuration error.

Its working hex magic for you?

I also checked Rayers SMB utility and without loaded ESS driver is card IRQ 11, without loaded ESS driver is IRQ is 5, so if IRQ change would work, it would probably make a sense fiddle with it to redirect driver to real card IRQ.

I uploaded some hint file and file which should be for IRQ11 to check my editing.

Yeah, it seems to just ignore the settings of the ESSOLO.INI.
Did some investigation on my Asus P4C800-E Deluxe and ESSOLO.SYS seems to prioritize the PCI IRQ in the following order 5-7-10. ESSOLO.INI configured to IRQ 9.

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 5
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 5 (no TSR loaded)

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 7 (IRQ 5 reserved in BIOS)
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 5 (no TSR loaded)

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 7 (LPC MPU-401 interface configured to IRQ 5)
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 7 (no TSR loaded)

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 10 (IRQ 7 reserved in BIOS, LPC MPU-401 interface configured to IRQ 5)
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 7 (no TSR loaded)

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 10 (IRQ 5 reserved in BIOS, LPC MPU-401 interface configured to IRQ 7)
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 5 (no TSR loaded)

ESS PCI IRQ at startup = 11 (LPC MPU-401 interface configured to IRQ 5 and paralell to IRQ 7)
ESS PCI IRQ after ESSOLO.SYS load = 10 (no TSR loaded)

I'm using ESSOLO.SYS 2.30D and ESSOLO.COM 2.31D BTW.

Thanks for info, i hoped that some IRQ block could help, but you did exactly that.. Cmedia8738 has from at least for virtual SB pro IRQ is always 5.

I can confirm that its the same with oldest driver, at least without IRQ blocking by other virtual device.

But remember if your ESS IRQ is 7 at startup and you want to use that IRQ then don't load ESSOLO.SYS at all.

For testing of the Solo-1 you can use Impulse Tracker (it will refuse to work with a lot of games, especially newer titles).

normally inherita-player and glx-player do work fine with solo1, ft101 is also working, but later ones don't.

Did some more experiments with ESS-Solo 1 on X58 + Oldest driver, FM is working, FX doesnt.

I tried to mess with ESSolo.ini i was able to force IRQ10 for it, but was not big deal, because game and Blood etc, are saying that SB should be IRQ 7 or bellow i tested it with virtual SB IRQ 5 regardless not fun. I tried also IRQ3 with old driver - i get incompatible value, with Newer its not complaining but IRQ was again 5.
Regarding of Rayers utility its live on IRQ-3 before driver is loaded.