I suppose you are talking about old DOS version of Tie Fighter from 1994 (there is also Windows'95 DirectX version - collector's series from 1997 AFAIR ).
I was able to run that old DOS version under Windows XP using VDMSound only (on Athlon 1800, GF2MX, sound built-in Realtek AC'97).

Try to install patch for sound from:
http://support.lucasarts.com/patches/tie.htm

This is old VGA game so don't expect resolution higher than 320x200 or 320x240.

Sorry, I should have been more specific - it is the Tie Fighter Collector's Edition. I added the sound file fix as specified from Lucasarts, but to no avail... on both attempts on both machines. I always hit the web for patches, fixes, and info before I write in. Sometimes it is just because of info overload (some of it conflicting) that I write in to clarify it... need some practice at that too 😉 .

On my XP box, with VDMSound everything worked... except the resolution which stayed at (480x320 or something maybe?) which is almost unplayable. After a few attempts at this (even got some old drivers ready but backed out when I figured it would apply to ALL my graphics, including the newest games - no way!) I got greedy and wanted the whole thing 😦 so, I found a free machine and monitor and a copy of Win98. Should work easy! And here I am... 😉

I posted about the reso problem before, and even had email contact with a DOS writer who had a VGA fix, but he couldn't help me either. It might be a small thing I am doing or not doing, but with all the fixes, I should've hit on it.

Maybe I should just go hunting for an old pci soundcard and install it. Sooner or later I should hit the jackpot of obsolete and pow! gaming! It's funny now: I am not sure I want to play the game anymore really (lots of great ones out that will run on either box) but I dislike giving up on a problem that should be solvable, you know?

Thanks for the post! 😀

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that hi-res VESA modes are broken in XP. It might be microsoft's fault or faulty graphics bioses I don't remember (this makes you wonder...if they could make fully compliant VESA bios 10 years ago, why can't they now? 😜). So I doubt you'll be seeing hi-res in XP. Second option is DOSBox...I got it working, hi-res, sound, everything but it's still to slow for gameplay. A high end A64 might be enough....or not. Either wait for faster cpu or start coding, i'm sure everyone will appreciate it 😉 😉
Third option - win98 (or perhaps...a pure dos would be even better): I'm afraid what you're missing are dos sound drivers. I'm not familiar with your card (does it have sb16 emulation? Some other ISA card emulation?), so it all depends what you can do with it. The best option would be to get SB16 (or AWE32 even better) or some other card that is directly supported by the game. I'm pretty sure it should work w/o problems then...

First time I had heard of this soundcard too. Diamond used to make gfx cards (according to a search, and the Tie readme mentions a problem with the gfx Diamonds).

Apparently the Diamond audio supports or is compatible with SB16, in fact, it "recognizes" the card, but no sound or music comes out except "beeeee-beeeee". This is lovely, but wrong 😉 . I was so excited when I read the specs on the card - SB compatible!! Let's game!! Ah, teaser. Kinda like dating, "Oh your apartment is fine, I love it." No she doesn't, 🤣!

If I can find one, I am going to head back into the depths of sound tech and get a SB16 or AWE... if that doesn't do it, I am going to build a catapult and send the box back to MS, and let them solve it 😉 .

If Lucasarts would give up on their lightsabre fighting franchise and give me an updated flight sim with StarWars ships I could stop this, and play that. But noboby asked me... rude. 😉

Thanks for the posts!