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Article: Q263047
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 1.0,2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbsound kbimu msgame
Last Modified: 18-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, version 2.0 
- Microsoft Age of Empires II Expansion: The Conquerors 
- Microsoft Baseball 2001 
- Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2: WWII Pacific Theater, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 Professional Edition 
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2002 Professional Edition 
- Microsoft International Soccer 2000, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Links 2001 
- Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Black Knight 
- Microsoft MechWarrior 4: Vengeance 
- Microsoft Midtown Madness, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Midtown Madness 2, version 2.0 
- Microsoft Motocross Madness 2, version 2.0 
- Microsoft NBA Inside Drive 2000, version 1.0 
- Microsoft NFL Fever 2000, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Pandora's Box, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Plus! Game Pack: Cards and Puzzles 
- Microsoft StarLancer, version 1.0 
- Microsoft Train Simulator, version 1.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article explains how to troubleshoot the following sound related issues in
the Microsoft games listed at the beginning of this article:

- No sound in the game.

- Sounds in the game are too quiet.

- Sounds in the game are distorted.

- Sounds in the game are scratchy.

- Computer stops responding (hangs) when sounds are played in the game.

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

To troubleshoot sound related issues in Microsoft games, use the following
methods in the order in which they are presented.

Disable Real-Mode (16-bit) Sound Driver
---------------------------------------

Disable any real-mode (16-bit) sound driver lines in the Autoexec.bat file or the
Config.sys file on your computer. To do this, use the appropriate method for
your version of Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Windows 98:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type "msconfig" (without the quotation marks), and then
  click OK.

3. Click the Config.sys tab.

4. Click to clear the check box for each line that refers to your sound driver.

5. Click the Autoexec.bat tab.

6. Click to clear the check box for each line that refers to your sound driver.

7. Click OK.

8. Restart the computer.

Microsoft Windows 95:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type "sysedit" (without the quotation marks), and then click
  OK.

3. In the Autoexec.bat window, type "REM" (without the quotation marks) at the
  beginning of each line that refers to your sound driver.

4. On the Window menu, click C:\Config.sys.

5. In the Config.sys window, type "REM" (without the quotation marks) at the
  beginning of each line that refers to your sound driver.

6. On the File menu, click Exit.

  If you are prompted to save the changes, click Yes for each prompt.

7. Restart the computer.

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Quit Unnecessary Programs
-------------------------

To quit all unnecessary programs, use the appropriate method for your version of
Microsoft Windows:

Windows 95 or Windows 98:

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

2. In the Close Program dialog box, highlight the program, except Explorer or
  Systray, you want to quit, and then click End Task. If you receive a message
  stating that the program is busy or not responding, click End Task again.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to quit all unnecessary programs that are running on
  your computer.

Windows 2000 or Windows XP:

1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.

2. On the Applications tab, click any program, and then click End Task. Repeat
  this step to quit all unnecessary programs that are running on your computer.

3. Quit Windows Task Manager.

NOTE: Some programs start automatically every time you restart your computer. For
information about how to disable these programs, see the printed or online
documentation for the program.

Install the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX
-----------------------------------------------

Download and install the latest version of DirectX from the following Microsoft
Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp

For additional information about how to obtain and install the latest version of
DirectX, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q179113 How to Download and Install DirectX

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Update Sound Drivers
--------------------

Contact the manufacturer of your sound card to inquire about how to obtain and
install the latest version of the sound driver for your sound card.

For information about how to contact the manufacturer of your sound card, click
the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

  Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

  Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Turn Off DirectSound Hardware Acceleration
------------------------------------------

If Microsoft DirectX 6.0 or later is installed on your computer, turn off
DirectSound hardware acceleration. To do this:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type "dxdiag" (without the quotation marks), and then click
  OK.

3. Click the Sound tab.

4. Under DirectX Features, move the Hardware Sound Acceleration Level slider all
  the way to the left (the "No acceleration" setting).

5. Click Exit and then start the game. If sounds can be heard, repeat these
  steps and increase the hardware sound acceleration level setting a notch at a
  time.

  If the issue continues to occur, proceed to the next method.

Change the Preferred Playback Device to the Game Compatible Device
------------------------------------------------------------------

To change the preferred playback device to the Game Compatible device:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click Multimedia.

3. Under Playback on the Audio tab, click Game Compatible Device in the
  "Preferred device" box.

  NOTE: If Game Compatible Device is not listed in the "Preferred device" box,
  install the Game Compatible Device. To do this:

  a. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

  b. Double-click Modems.

  c. If a modem is not already installed in your computer, proceed to step D.

     If a modem is installed in your computer, click Add in the Modems
     Properties dialog box.

  d. Click to select the "Don't detect my modem; I will select it from a list"
     check box, and then click Next.

  e. In the Manufacturers box, click 3X.

     NOTE: 3X is not included with some versions of Microsoft Windows.

  f. In the Models box, click 3X 14.4 Data Fax Modem Voice.

  g. Click Next.

  h. Click any port, and then click Next.

  i. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish installing the Game
     Compatible Device.

  j. Click Finish, and then click Close.

4. Click to select the "Use only preferred devices" check box, and then click
  OK.

5. Close Control Panel.

6. Restart the computer.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by
companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty,
implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these
products.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information about sound issues, click the article numbers below
to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q136983 No Sound, MMSystem or MCI Errors In Windows 95/98

  Q133365 Windows 95/98: Troubleshooting Problems with Compressed Audio

Additional query words: 1.00 msgame tshoot trouble shoot audio problems

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbsound kbimu msgame 
Technology        : kbHomeProdSearch _IKkbbogus kbLinkGolfSearch kbGamesSearch kbFlightSimSearch kbGolfSearch kbNFLFever2000 kbNFLSearch _IK kbPandoraSearch kbPlusSearch kbMotocrossSearch kbStarlancerSearch kbBaseballSearch kbMidtownMadSearch kbAOESearch kbMidtownMadness kbStarlancer kbAOE2ExpConquerors kbAOE2Kings kbBaseBall2001 kbCombatFlightSim2 kbCombatFlightSimSearch kbFlightSim2000 kbMidtownMadness2 kbPandorasBox kbMotocrossM2 kbLinks2001 kbNBAInsideDrive2000 kbIntlSoccer2000 kbPlusGamePk kbTrainSim kbFlightSim2002 kbFlightSim2002Pro kbSimSearch
Version           : :1.0,2.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

=============================================================================
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.
Q263047: Games: How to Troubleshoot Sound Related Issues
