Hey all!

I am in the need for a PCMCIA card that will give me audio in old DOS games and Windows 98 as well. I am using an old ThinkPad T41 that natively runs Windows 98 and has 2 PCMCIA card slots.

Does such a card exist? I apologize if it's a dumb question; the OP is really confusing to my limited brain. Hopefully something that is readily available on eBay and will give me audio in both DOS and Win98, if such a card exists.

Thanks so much in advance!

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-03, 20:58:

Hey all! […]
Show full quote

Hey all!

I am in the need for a PCMCIA card that will give me audio in old DOS games and Windows 98 as well. I am using an old ThinkPad T41 that natively runs Windows 98 and has 2 PCMCIA card slots.

Does such a card exist? I apologize if it's a dumb question; the OP is really confusing to my limited brain. Hopefully something that is readily available on eBay and will give me audio in both DOS and Win98, if such a card exists.

Thanks so much in advance!

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … t/ddfm/T41.html
For instance DOS games run fine with both FX and FM sound on TP A31 under W98 with the same audio driver. So possibly T41 will work as well.
Another option is Dosbox in WinXP.

As for PCMCIA sound card - I'm not sure it will work with newer controller. And even if it works you'll probably get only FM sound(Adlib music). Let alone that such cards are almost impossible to find.
Overall T41 is not optimal for DOS gaming in pure DOS. So I'd look at other options. Like buying a Pentium laptop with onboard sound.

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 11:34:

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/suppor […]
Show full quote

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-03, 20:58:

Hey all! […]
Show full quote

Hey all!

I am in the need for a PCMCIA card that will give me audio in old DOS games and Windows 98 as well. I am using an old ThinkPad T41 that natively runs Windows 98 and has 2 PCMCIA card slots.

Does such a card exist? I apologize if it's a dumb question; the OP is really confusing to my limited brain. Hopefully something that is readily available on eBay and will give me audio in both DOS and Win98, if such a card exists.

Thanks so much in advance!

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … t/ddfm/T41.html
For instance DOS games run fine with both FX and FM sound on TP A31 under W98 with the same audio driver. So possibly T41 will work as well.
Another option is Dosbox in WinXP.

As for PCMCIA sound card - I'm not sure it will work with newer controller. And even if it works you'll probably get only FM sound(Adlib music). Let alone that such cards are almost impossible to find.
Overall T41 is not optimal for DOS gaming in pure DOS. So I'd look at other options. Like buying a Pentium laptop with onboard sound.

Thanks but what am I looking for in that link? I see a bunch of drivers but I don't see anything on that page about Sound Blaster emulation?

As for a PCMCIA sound card, there's a Wavjammer on eBay. Would that get me Sound Blaster sound?

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:15:

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 11:34:

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/suppor […]
Show full quote

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-03, 20:58:

Hey all! […]
Show full quote

Hey all!

I am in the need for a PCMCIA card that will give me audio in old DOS games and Windows 98 as well. I am using an old ThinkPad T41 that natively runs Windows 98 and has 2 PCMCIA card slots.

Does such a card exist? I apologize if it's a dumb question; the OP is really confusing to my limited brain. Hopefully something that is readily available on eBay and will give me audio in both DOS and Win98, if such a card exists.

Thanks so much in advance!

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … t/ddfm/T41.html
For instance DOS games run fine with both FX and FM sound on TP A31 under W98 with the same audio driver. So possibly T41 will work as well.
Another option is Dosbox in WinXP.

As for PCMCIA sound card - I'm not sure it will work with newer controller. And even if it works you'll probably get only FM sound(Adlib music). Let alone that such cards are almost impossible to find.
Overall T41 is not optimal for DOS gaming in pure DOS. So I'd look at other options. Like buying a Pentium laptop with onboard sound.

Thanks but what am I looking for in that link? I see a bunch of drivers but I don't see anything on that page about Sound Blaster emulation?

As for a PCMCIA sound card, there's a Wavjammer on eBay. Would that get me Sound Blaster sound?

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well with this exact driver. https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … es/aftp1g98.exe

Yes, Wavjammer emulates SB in Windows. But the one that is for sale has no cable, so it's useless.
I also found Wavjammer SB emulation very noisy, it produces a lot of hiss and clicks.

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:41:

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well wi […]
Show full quote

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:15:

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 11:34:

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/suppor […]
Show full quote

I would rater install Win 98 and see if Sound Blaster emulation works. T41 is officially supported https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … t/ddfm/T41.html
For instance DOS games run fine with both FX and FM sound on TP A31 under W98 with the same audio driver. So possibly T41 will work as well.
Another option is Dosbox in WinXP.

As for PCMCIA sound card - I'm not sure it will work with newer controller. And even if it works you'll probably get only FM sound(Adlib music). Let alone that such cards are almost impossible to find.
Overall T41 is not optimal for DOS gaming in pure DOS. So I'd look at other options. Like buying a Pentium laptop with onboard sound.

Thanks but what am I looking for in that link? I see a bunch of drivers but I don't see anything on that page about Sound Blaster emulation?

As for a PCMCIA sound card, there's a Wavjammer on eBay. Would that get me Sound Blaster sound?

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well with this exact driver. https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … es/aftp1g98.exe

Yes, Wavjammer emulates SB in Windows. But the one that is for sale has no cable, so it's useless.
I also found Wavjammer SB emulation very noisy, it produces a lot of hiss and clicks.

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks!

I just tried to install that driver on my t41. Now I am no longer getting any sound in Windows at all, and I get a pop-up with the message "3Com EuSynth: ADI/ICH Hardware not prsent. 3Com EuSynth will be unavailable."

Any ideas? Did I do something wrong?

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:37:

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks! […]
Show full quote

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:41:

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well wi […]
Show full quote

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:15:

Thanks but what am I looking for in that link? I see a bunch of drivers but I don't see anything on that page about Sound Blaster emulation?

As for a PCMCIA sound card, there's a Wavjammer on eBay. Would that get me Sound Blaster sound?

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well with this exact driver. https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … es/aftp1g98.exe

Yes, Wavjammer emulates SB in Windows. But the one that is for sale has no cable, so it's useless.
I also found Wavjammer SB emulation very noisy, it produces a lot of hiss and clicks.

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks!

I just tried to install that driver on my t41. Now I am no longer getting any sound in Windows at all, and I get a pop-up with the message "3Com EuSynth: ADI/ICH Hardware not prsent. 3Com EuSynth will be unavailable."

Any ideas? Did I do something wrong?

It's hard to say what the problem is. The radical solution is to do a clean install of W98 and then install all dedicated IBM drivers.
A half measure is to delete all sound devices in Device Manager, reboot, and install audio drivers all over again. And see what happens.

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:50:

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:37:

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks! […]
Show full quote

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 14:41:

You need the Audio driver there. If it's not installed on your laptop yet, of course. As I wrote my A31 emulates SB very well with this exact driver. https://thinkpads.com/support/Thinkpad-Driver … es/aftp1g98.exe

Yes, Wavjammer emulates SB in Windows. But the one that is for sale has no cable, so it's useless.
I also found Wavjammer SB emulation very noisy, it produces a lot of hiss and clicks.

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks!

I just tried to install that driver on my t41. Now I am no longer getting any sound in Windows at all, and I get a pop-up with the message "3Com EuSynth: ADI/ICH Hardware not prsent. 3Com EuSynth will be unavailable."

Any ideas? Did I do something wrong?

It's hard to say what the problem is. The radical solution is to do a clean install of W98 and then install all dedicated IBM drivers.
A half measure is to delete all sound devices in Device Manager, reboot, and install audio drivers all over again. And see what happens.

Thank you!

Are the sound drivers you linked me to definitely for the T41?

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:51:

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:50:

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:37:

Thanks so much for the reply. I was so close to buying the WAVJammer. You just saved me fifty bucks!

I just tried to install that driver on my t41. Now I am no longer getting any sound in Windows at all, and I get a pop-up with the message "3Com EuSynth: ADI/ICH Hardware not prsent. 3Com EuSynth will be unavailable."

Any ideas? Did I do something wrong?

It's hard to say what the problem is. The radical solution is to do a clean install of W98 and then install all dedicated IBM drivers.
A half measure is to delete all sound devices in Device Manager, reboot, and install audio drivers all over again. And see what happens.

Thank you!

Are the sound drivers you linked me to definitely for the T41?

Yes, you can see my first link, there is a readme file.

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:55:

Guy With 3 Cats wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:51:

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 15:50:

It's hard to say what the problem is. The radical solution is to do a clean install of W98 and then install all dedicated IBM drivers.
A half measure is to delete all sound devices in Device Manager, reboot, and install audio drivers all over again. And see what happens.

Thank you!

Are the sound drivers you linked me to definitely for the T41?

Yes, you can see my first link, there is a readme file.

Which one do you recommend for the Soundblaster emulation support? There's:

Audio driver for Windows 98 - ThinkPad A31/p, R40, T30, T40/p, T41, T42, X30, X31 ... Learn more
Version: 4.11.01.0627a

and

Audio driver for Windows XP, 2000, 98SE - ThinkPad R40, R50, R50e, R50p, R51, T40, T40p, T41, T41p, T42, T42p, X31, X32, X40 ... Learn more

Version: 5.12.01.5410

on that page

The one that works 😀
I'd try the latest driver. And if it does not work try the other one.

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 16:32:

The one that works 😀
I'd try the latest driver. And if it does not work try the other one.

haha 😀

OK so I got aftp1g98.exe to work (it was tricky). I hear Windows sounds just fine, and the MIDI in Chip's Challenge works too.

How do I know if SoundBlaster emulation is working?

I tried running a DOS CD-ROM disc in Windows 98....it's Discworld (great game) but I am not getting any audio.

Maybe I am unsure of what to put in for settings. Could you please tell me which ones I should choose?

I wouldn't even know where to begin in which options I should choose. It's been about 20 years since the last time I had to mess with this stuff! Even then I'd have no idea what the ThinkPad is looking for in terms of settings.

First you want to make sure that SB emulation is enabled.
Device Manager -> Sound devices -> SoundMax Integrated...-> Settings -> click Enable Sound Blaster emulation

Bondi wrote on 2021-02-04, 17:27:

First you want to make sure that SB emulation is enabled.
Device Manager -> Sound devices -> SoundMax Integrated...-> Settings -> click Enable Sound Blaster emulation

soundmax.png

Wow, good catch. It was unchecked so I checked it and rebooted.

May I ask what options I should be selecting in games now that it's checked?

Start off with the most basic "Soundblaster" - base 220, interrupt 5, dma channel 1 (or match whatever you set in the Soundmax settings). Most games should work with that, though you may miss out on stereo sound from Soundblaster Pro and Soundblaster 16 support.

If a game doesn't support Soundblaster, you can always try "Adlib", which is just the music/fm synth side of things.

megatron-uk wrote on 2021-02-04, 21:50:

Start off with the most basic "Soundblaster" - base 220, interrupt 5, dma channel 1 (or match whatever you set in the Soundmax settings). Most games should work with that, though you may miss out on stereo sound from Soundblaster Pro and Soundblaster 16 support.

If a game doesn't support Soundblaster, you can always try "Adlib", which is just the music/fm synth side of things.

Thanks so much for the reply. Sadly I tried both "Soundblaster" and "Adlib" with base 220, interrupt 5, dma channel 1 (which is what it says in the Soundmax settings) and I am getting nothing in Discworld. No music or sound effects at all.

Is there anything else I can try? I really really want to get this working 🙁

Edit: I just ran Wolfenstein 3D from inside Win98. For the first time it actually detected a SoundBlaster card! However, I am only getting sound effects but no music. Maybe this info helps in figuring this thing out?

Tested the EXP Multimedia kit that I bought NOS recently. Works flawlessly in DOS, does not require CS and SS if the PCMCIA controller is Intel 82365-compatible. But the stupid thing is that sound does not work if the CD-ROM is not connected. The driver just does not load, complaining that CD unit not found. I tried to use EXP Soundnote drivers and Argosy PCMCIA sound card driver - they don't work as well due to card ID mismatch, I guess.

That is weird, I had that exact card without the cdrom drive and sound was working fine with the S16 drivers.

lolo799 wrote on 2021-02-08, 12:35:

That is weird, I had that exact card without the cdrom drive and sound was working fine with the S16 drivers.

Now that you wrote this, I thought that maybe S16 driver requires CS/SS drivers. I think I tried without them.

lolo799 wrote on 2021-02-08, 12:35:

That is weird, I had that exact card without the cdrom drive and sound was working fine with the S16 drivers.

Maybe you had a different version of the card? Mine still does not work with S16 driver, neither with SC/SS nor without.

Did you try loading the driver from config.sys?