Omnibook XE3 GC Sound Card problems

[Daniel Augustine]

Hey everyone,

I recently received my copy of Windows .NET Enterprise Server RC1 (build 3663) and I think I'm probably one of the first ones to install it on a HP notebook and a small problem cropped up.

Main installation went fine, but when I attempted to fire up any sound file it popped up a window telling me I did not have any proper sound driver installed. I found this rather odd because in the device manager it clearly states that I have my ESS Allegro (WDM) driver installed. Initially it also didn't install my modem so I went to the ESS Web site and downloaded the latest and that solved the problem of recognizing it (it was showing up in the device manager as "PCI Communications Device"). But the sound card issue still remains. I have tried uninstalling the card, then using the latest drivers for it for both XP in addition too Windows 2000 drivers for the audio card and in each attempt it tells me the card is installed and the drivers check out, makes a little gurgle/pop in the "install new hardware screen" and then says the driver is finished installing, yet when one goes to the sound control panel the only things that show up on the playback device list and record list is "modem line output 1" or something to that nature, and not the ESS Allegro card.

The card itself works fine, I am currently dual-booting and it works flawlessly in Windows 2000 Professional when I boot it up with that. I'd like to migrate to .NET instead of having to switch back and forth between .NET and 2000 Pro. Perhaps someone can suggest something that might coax the ESS Allegro card into life in .NET? Thanks!

Dan

[Ron Kinner]

You can't use the ESS driver. You need to use an HP one from:

http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix31650en_US.html

HP does something strange to the ESS in their BIOS so that it only works with their driver. I expect the Win2000 driver would work for you:

essw2k48.exe

which is on the above mentioned page.

Ron

[M Smith_1 · Accepted solution]

It's not a driver issue.

Considering that M$ has built this as a server O/S, none of the "user friendly" services are run by default, this includes sound. Other services that are disabled by default are Themes, Direct-X, Active desktops, and several others.

To enable the sound service you need to enable it in the Computer Management snapin;

Start -> Run -> "compmgmt.msc /s" -> Services and Applications -> Services -> Windows Audio -> Properties

Set the startup type to automatic, then start the service if it does not automatically.

[Daniel Augustine]

Thanks M. Smith! That solved my problem. You were correct in my problem wasn't the drivers, it was the .NET Services panel. I think that MS in the future might want to put a message somewhere on the Sound control panel alerting users that if this is thier first time trying to access the control panel, that no sound will work on the system until the Service is activated for it.

Thanks to both of you for answering my question!
Dan

[M Smith_1]

You're Welcome.

Glad I could help. :-)