KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q122325: Gateway 2000 Sound Board Not Compatible with WSS Drivers

Article: Q122325
Product(s): Miscellaneous Windows Products
Version(s): 2.0,2.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 13-JUN-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows Sound System, versions 2.0, 2.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The Gateway 2000 sound cards may behave erratically when used with the drivers
that ship with the Microsoft Windows Sound System. Drivers that are available
from Gateway should be used in place of the drivers installed by Setup.

MORE INFORMATION
================

During installation of the Windows Sounds System software, the Gateway 2000
sound boards are often incorrectly detected as Microsoft (or compatible) audio
hardware, Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro, or Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or
16 ASP sound board. If you confirm that this is the type of sound board you
have, Windows Sound System Setup installs drivers that are incompatible with the
Gateway 2000 sound board.

To attempt to use the Windows Sound System with these sound boards, the drivers
installed by the Setup program should be manually removed and replaced with
drivers available from Gateway. The process for doing so is described below.
This should provide some Windows Sound System functionality; however, such
configurations are not supported by Microsoft.

Replacing the Drivers Installed by Setup
----------------------------------------

NOTE: You should run the Windows Sound System Setup and select a sound board from
the list that appears before attempting this procedure. After you have run Setup
at least once, proceed with step 1.

1. After exiting Windows, make a backup copy of your SYSTEM.INI file by typing
  the following at an MS-DOS command prompt

  " copy c:\windows\system.ini c:\windows\system.bak " (without the quotation
  marks)

2. Using a text editor such as the MS-DOS Editor (EDIT.COM), remove the drivers
  that were installed by Setup from the SYSTEM.INI file. The drivers installed
  will vary in each case depending on the sound board that was selected during
  Setup. (One the following groups will appear.)

     Microsoft (or Compatible) Audio Hardware
     ----------------------------------------

     wave=sndsys.drv
     aux=sndsys.drv
     midi=sndsys.drv
     mixer=sndsys.drv
     device=vsndsys.386

     -or-

     Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro
     -------------------------------

     wave=wsssbpro.drv
     aux=wsssbpro.drv
     midi=wsssbpro.drv
     mixer=wsssbpro.drv
     device=wsssbpro.386

     -or-

     Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or 16 ASP
     ----------------------------------------

     wave=wsssb16.drv
     aux=wsssb16.drv
     midi=wsssb16.drv
     mixer=wsssb16.drv
     device=wsssb16.386

3. Install the drivers provided by Gateway according to manufacturer's
  instructions.


The Gateway 2000 sound board is manufactured by Gateway 2000, independent of
Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's
performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3rdparty 2.00 2.00a

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinSoundSysSearch kbWinSoundSys200 kbWinSoundSys200a
Version           : :2.0,2.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.