Re: Problem with running Pandora Directive

Mary wrote:

><snip>

I'll try to answer several questions from different messages here. First, I've noticed when comments get technical past a certain point, you seem to lose track of the discussion. I'm not trying to be insulting, just having problems making simple descriptions of technically complex problems. Please tell me if I'm mistaken about your ease with the guts of computers.

There are two forms of DOS in Win98SE systems. The first is what you get as you boot if you prevent Windows from running. If you hold down the CTRL key while booting and select command mode, you are in DOS. If from Windows, you "shut down" and restart in MSDOS mode you get to the same DOS.

The second form of DOS is the DOS Window which you can get to from several routes after Windows is running. You can RUN/command or click on several of the DOS .pif files. This second "type" of DOS is mostly emulation. Hardware is still accessed via Windows commands rather than directly. That's why you can play MIDI files with MediaPlayer but can't from Pandora with our hardware.

Pandora will run either as a pure DOS program or from a Windows .exe file which starts a DOS Window. The game will work equally well either way on most systems.

The sound problems which we both have can be by passed to some extent but not completely with the A7V8X-X motherboard. My last suggestion of using Audigy2 drivers with the SBLive card means that first you install the SBLive and the usual manner, then uninstall the SBLive Windows drivers. This will leave all of the support programs such as AudioHQ and soundfont management programs. You then install only the Audigy2 .vxd drivers and Audigy2 SB16 emulation. This leaves you with a set of drivers which won't support the SBLive AudioHQ etc. but will give SB16 emulation in a DOS Window. You still won't have audio in a pure DOS mode.

WDM drivers are primarily intended for DirectX systems such as those on WinXP and use very different driver coding from the .vxd type. Creative states that for best game support in Win98SE the .vxd drivers should be used although this is not true for all games. All the drivers for the SBLive card are .vxd type far as I know. You can find much better explanations of .vxd and .wdm on the Internet.

Creative Labs has updates to drivers for all their cards on their Web site. However, Creative does not have the originals posted assuming you have the CDROM that comes with the product. Typically the updates will not load without the originals already installed.

The Audigy1 CDROM contained DOS drivers. I don't know how well they worked. Significant hardware and software differences on the Audigy2 caused Creative not to supply DOS drivers for the Audigy2. Attila Padar created a patch so that the Audigy2 could use the Audigy1 DOS drivers. I have not tried the software and don't know if the NMI issued is addressed.

My previous comments on how to install SB16 emulation (DOS Windows) were only for the Audigy2 card. It is not easy to install this when using the the .vxd drivers but it is possible. It is easy to get this to work with Audigy2 drivers and an SBLive card. If the .wdm drivers are used with the Audigy2 card, then you get SBPro emulation not SB16 emulation in a DOS Window. This is automatic and nothing shows under Device Manager. To my knowledge, Creative never has mentioned the type of emulation you get with the .wdm drivers and claims that SB16 emulation can't work with the ..vxd drivers.
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