Deciphering my sound system - help!

[bigred]

Trying to install a win 95 compatible game on an XP system (Command and Conquer if anyone cares) but as I go thru setup, there's no sound and the sound setup doesn't seem "compatible." My sound card (SoundMAX) isn't listed, and the only one it seems to accept is the Roland option; there is no "other sound card" option and it won't even accept MS Sound System.

Then when I get to PORT/IMA/IRQ settings, the only thing I can even find is the IRQ, which I changed to no avail. I did find where it says "PCI device 0, bus 30, function 2" - whatever the flip that means.

Am I "SOL?"

[rockoon]

By "win95 compatible" they must have meant "DOS"

XP isnt likely going to run any DOS games without help from an emulator of some kind.

(and thats DMA, not IMA)

[bigred]

Pardon typo (DMA) - no, actually they mean win95 compatible - ie there's a win95 install and there's a DOS install. win95 install halts almost immediately because it detects that I'm not running win95. DOS install (either in XP DOS window or DOSBox) works up to the point I mention above.

On further review it does sound like I'm SOL, but appreciate the reply.

[Rat]

Just to check, have you tried this:
http://files.ea.com/downloads/eagames/cc/tiberium/Anniversary/CCGOLD_XP_INSTALL.doc

I realize that you haven't specified that you have the Gold version, but the pointers in this should work anyway.

[Rat]

In case you don't have Word or a similar viewer installed, it looks something like:
INSTALLING AND RUNNING C&C GOLD ON WINDOWS XP

Follow the instructions below to install and play C&C GOLD

Preparing to Install
Insert either C&C disc into your CD drive
Open My Computer and explore the CD
Right click either the install.exe or setup.exe
select PROPERTIES
Select the COMPATIBILITY tab
Check the check box for “Run this program in compatibility mode for”
Select WINDOWS 95 from the drop down menu
Click APPLY then OK
Double click the .exe file you just modified to launch it


Installing the Game
When you’re prompted to update DirectX, uncheck the check box so you won’t install it. It is extremely important not to install this DirectX update
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Note: Installing Westwood Chat is not required, it can be canceled if you desire

Installing the Patch
Visit ftp://ftp.westwood.com/pub/ccgold and download CCGOLDXPPATCH.ZIP
Unzip the files and copy thipx32.dll into the install directory of the game (default path is c:\WESTWOOD\C&C95). You may overwrite the old version of the .dll file


Preparing to Run the Game
Go to the install directory of the game (default path is c:\WESTWOOD\C&C95)
Right click C&C95.exe
Select PROPERTIES
Select the COMPATIBILITY tab
Check the check box for “Run this program in compatibility mode for”
Select Windows 95 from the drop down menu
Check the check box for “Disable visual themes”
Check the check box for “Turn off advanced text services for the program”
click APPLY then OK


Playing the Game
Select Start > All Programs > Westwood > Command & Conquer 95 > Command & Conquer Windows 95 Edition. Or double click C&C95.exe located in the install directory (default path is c:\WESTWOOD\C&C95)

[bigred]

Thx but I don't have "gold" - it's the orig Red Alert. Does this matter?

[Rat]

Well, it would obviously mean not installing the patch for the Gold version, but the same ftp site also has patches for Red Alert at ftp://ftp.westwood.com/pub/redalert/updates/ which you can look through. Other than that, mutatis mutandis, the other tips should still apply.

[rockoon]

Pardon typo (DMA) - no, actually they mean win95 compatible - ie there's a win95 install and there's a DOS install. win95 install halts almost immediately because it detects that I'm not running win95. DOS install (either in XP DOS window or DOSBox) works up to the point I mention above.

On further review it does sound like I'm SOL, but appreciate the reply.

It is clearly not fully a windows program (must be some sort of hybrid), as it is directly accessing your hardware rather than going through a Hardware Abstraction Layer or Device Driver.

IRQ and DMA channels is the proof in the pudding. These things are abstracted away under windows... DOS programs needed to know about them but windows programs do not.

I am assuming that there was also some mention of Port 220h, 230h, or 240h. These were the typical control and data ports for SoundBlaster compatible DAC's and ADC's. Software cannot read or write to these ports under WindowsXP unless a Driver (because it neds to run in ring0) is installed which provides an API for it. This is by design, as direct hardware manipulation prevents applications from coexisting.

[Mongrel]

Even though I have nearly all of the set anyway, I found this (http://www.amazon.com/Command-Conquer-First-Decade-DVD-Rom/dp/B000CPKIT6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1199971235&sr=8-2)an excellent purchase :)

Everything that I've installed (all but Renegade) works first time, no mucking about and it takes up a lot less room on an already overcrowded shelf

[moopet]

I found DOSbox (from dosbox.com) works really well for old games and demos.