Ok, Now the games are working but on Sierra games I get a "Unable to initialize audio hardware".... any advice?

Originally posted by Unregistered Sierra games I get a "Unable to initialize audio hardware".... any advice?

(Read all the way to the bottom please)
Well, there's no single fix for all Sierra games, but I grabbed this from Vlad's old compatibility listings:

*** Castle of Dr. Brain 1 (C) MIDI=ok SB=ok Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/pa […]
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*** Castle of Dr. Brain 1 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error. With the new driver, digital sound in this game may loop indefinitely.

*** Castle of Dr. Brain 2 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Eco Quest 1 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Eco Quest 2 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** King's Quest 6 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Laura Bow 2: The Dagger of Amon Ra (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error. With the new driver, digital sound in this game may loop indefinitely.

*** Mixed Up Fairy Tales (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error. With the new driver, digital sound in this game may loop indefinitely.

*** Conquest of the Longbow (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error. With the new driver, digital sound in this game may loop indefinitely.

*** Freddy Pharkas Frontier Pharmacist (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Police Quest 3 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest MTBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/486sbdrv.exe), or else you might get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Quest for Glory 1 SCI (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Quest for Glory 3
MIDI=ok
SB=ok ?
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Quest for Glory 4
MIDI=ok
SB=no
Rem=Game crashes periodically. Game crashes at load time when SB sound is enabled.

*** Space Quest 1 SCI (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest MTBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/486sbdrv.exe), or else you might get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

*** Space Quest 5 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error.

You might also want to check the "Ultimate AGI & SCI Web Site" and check up on the new AGI and SCI interpreters available.
http://www.classicgaming.com/agisci/sierradm.shtml

You also might want to try the "gosierra" patch at:
http://www.os2voice.org/VNL/past_issues_DE/VN … 01H/vnewsn3.htm
(search for Sierra, under a Dec.16 entry)

Thanks a million!!! I d'loaded the sb16drv.exe file and now I can hear audio on games.... the only problem is that when a sound plays, the last part of the sound goes into a loop that's only stopped when a new sound plays.... anyone else has this problem!!???

Originally posted by Unregistered the only problem is that when a sound plays, the last part of the sound goes into a loop that's only stopped when a new sound plays.... anyone else has this problem!!???

*sigh*
From the first entry of Vlad's listing:

*** Castle of Dr. Brain 1 (C) MIDI=ok SB=ok Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/pa […]
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*** Castle of Dr. Brain 1 (C)
MIDI=ok
SB=ok
Rem=Make sure you have the latest AUDBLAST.DRV from Sierra (http://ftp.sierra.com/patches/pc/sb16drv.exe), or else you will get an "Unable to initialize audio hardware" error. With the new driver, digital sound in this game may loop indefinitely

Then at the bottom of my post:

You also might want to try the "gosierra" patch at:
http://www.os2voice.org/VNL/past_is...01H/vnewsn3.htm
(search for Sierra, under a Dec.16 entry)

That is a "homemade" patch designed to deal with the looping audio issue.

If your game titles are supported by the newer AGI or SCI interpreters, those are the best solutions (setting them up may be kind of involved, though).
http://www.classicgaming.com/agisci/sierradm.shtml

Can you give me the URL of the old compat. list?? I'd like to check some other games..... Thanks for all the info!!!

Originally posted by Unregistered Can you give me the URL of the old compat. list?

http://ntvdm.cjb.net/

Same as the original program. The old listings are under the "Compatibility list" area, not the "What's new" area.

I Patched Laura Bow 2 CD with new audblast.drv. Now speech works, but it always cuts after a secound of playback or so with every line. Is there anything to be done here? I Also tried the gosierra patch, but it didn't do anything.

I am using Vdmsound 2.04 with launcher patch and Windows XP SP1.

EDIT: looks like I fixed it. Solution was to set sbversion to Sbpro.

Originally posted by Fisu I Patched Laura Bow 2 CD with new audblast.drv.

When it comes to the later Sierra titles (like this one) try the Windows version first. Laura Bow 2: Dagger of Amon Ra, was one of the titles I was testing while back, and the Windows version seemed to run fine.

I did try it, nothing happened when I tried to run the windows excutable. Besides I have always felt that windows versions of Sierra adventure titles lack the feeling of dos ones with ugly black cursors and windows titlebars.

Fisu, you tried running it with Win95 compatibility mode in the ACT right? Also, if you change your window into 640x480 there is no top menu bar. The DOS versions of all the games that have Windows interpreters also had the black cursors, BTW. 😀

Wait -- how was the initial problem fixed? I'm still at the "non responding black screen" stage when attempting to run mid era Sierra games with VDMS. The initial poster apparently fixed that problem in about a half hour, but, how? Inquiring minds want to know.

Originally posted by Unregistered I'm still at the "non responding black screen" stage when attempting to run mid era Sierra games with VDMS.

Don't lump a group of games together. Different titles may have different solutions, trying to deal with all of them at once causes migraines.

The initial poster apparently fixed that problem in about a half hour, but, how?

You would need to ask that person.

Unregistered wrote:

The initial poster apparently fixed that problem in about a half hour, but, how?

I got rid of the black screen simply using the launcher..... then running the game with the "Run with VDMS" option that has music icon

Fisu wrote:

I Patched Laura Bow 2 CD with new audblast.drv. Now speech works, but it always cuts after a secound of playback or so with every line. Is there anything to be done here? I Also tried the gosierra patch, but it didn't do anything.

I am using Vdmsound 2.04 with launcher patch and Windows XP SP1.

EDIT: looks like I fixed it. Solution was to set sbversion to Sbpro.

Try adding this line on the DOS Environment tab, under the AUTOEXEC.BAT area.... :

SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330

But leave the IRQ option under Sound Blaster at 7

Some Sierra (especially Dynamix) games will crash if EMS is enabled ort disabled, depending on the game, and all you'll see is a black screen. If the scroll-lock led is blinking though be patient, it hasn't crashed yet.
V.