HD + AC97 audio & beyond the 137GB/128GiB barrier

**Dave-H** · December 3, 2019

On 12/2/2019 at 8:10 AM, deomsh said:

@Dave-H,

Interesting results.

Did you experimented with the wave-buffer? It's in "Sounds and Audio Devices" (somewhere).

Regarding different mediaplayers: on some of them audio output can be chosen. In VLC too, as far I remember. Try difference between normal HDA output and Direct Sound.

I can't test much at the moment, because of my USB-project and no full Win98se installation available.

About pop's and click's in WinXP/Win10: are you using Window's "universal" driver, or Realtek's?

I found the wave buffer setting option, and it is set to 4.
Unfortunately I didn't seem to be able to set it to anything else.
If I change the setting, it doesn't "stick", and always reverts back to 4 again.
Where is it stored, is it in the registry or in one of the ini files?
Perhaps I could try changing it there?

I am using Realtek drivers on Windows XP and Windows 10.
R2.74 and 6.0.1.7647 (x64) respectively.

**deomsh** · December 3, 2019

Hm. sounds no good.

Better test first following files against their (updated) originals: mmsys.cpl, winmm.dll, msacm32.dll, msacm.dll and mciwave.drv.

Q77694 gives:

"Alternately, modify the size of the buffer in the SYSTEM.INI file. The numeric parameter on the "WaveAudio" line in the [mci] section specifies the size of the buffer. The following is a sample of the SYSTEM.INI file: [mci] WaveAudio=mciwave.drv 4

A four-second buffer is the default setting."

Thanks to Jeff Parsons Q-collection.

So, the numbers 2-9 are possible values.

**Dave-H** · December 4, 2019

I checked the system.ini file, and was surprised to find that it already said "Waveaudio=mciwave.drv 9" (probably where I left it after playing with the UI), although the UI still said 4!
It appears that the UI slider was changing the setting, but just not showing it.
I set it to 5 in the system.ini file, and when I went back to the UI, it now said 5.
I must say that the system sounds now sound better, thanks very much!

Edited December 4, 2019 by Dave-H
Amendment

**deomsh** · December 4, 2019

Congratulations

I have been reading our old thread, once you mentioned (page 7?) there was a difference according playback of system sounds after replacing one of my ALC883 specific HDAICOUT.HDA with a newer one.

**tillewolle** · December 8, 2019

Hey folks, sorry for the late answer,

On 11/8/2019 at 9:17 PM, jumper said:

Is there a square, 48-pin (4x12) Realtek ALC880 chip on the MSI K8NGM-V Motherboard?

I don't see one from my angle and I don't want to disassemble the machine atm. But I don't think so. Most of the chips are VIA.

On 11/10/2019 at 3:29 PM, MrMateczko said:

OP, it would be nice if you could show us the Device Manager, and the hardware ID of the unknown devices, you can see them by running "hwinfo /ui" in the Run dialog from Start Menu. Then selecting Devices with problems in the top menu.

The Device Manager says PCI Multimedia Audio Device

hwinfo gives me

Class: Unknown
	This Device Has a Problem: Code=28 (0x1C)
Die Treiber für dieses Gerät wurden nicht richtig installiert. Klicken Sie auf
"Treiber aktualisieren" im Register "Treiber", um die Treiber zu installieren.
	DeviceDesc: PCI Multimedia Audio Device
  	Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_02701462&REV_60\BUS_00&DEV_11&FUNC_05
  	Hardware Resource Section
    		Inst1 resources: 
      			Alloc resources: 
        				Logical Configuration 0
            				IO Range: Base=xEC00 End=xECFF Min=x0000 Max=xFFFF  Alias=xFF, Decode=x00
 	Extra Registry information Section
	    HWRevision: 096
  	Driver Information section
		Driver: No Information

On 11/27/2019 at 8:49 PM, Dave-H said:

See this rather large thread.

On 11/30/2019 at 6:42 PM, MrMateczko said:

Regardless, @tillewolle, feel free to test it.

So I will look at this now.

Thanks for your help!

**deomsh** · December 8, 2019

@tillewolle

Before starting with an experimental HDA-driver, you should be fully sure your board has a HD-audio codec (chip). If I search about sound for your motherboard, all I can find is ALC655. This appears to be an AC'97 codec. Did you try all Win98 drivers for this codec already?

**tillewolle** · December 8, 2019

I tried these but those bricked my machine. It wasn't able to boot into windows anymore, even in safe mode. So I installed a fresh copy of Win98SE and now I'm veeeeeery careful with installing random drivers.

**Dave-H** · December 8, 2019

The hardware ID you quoted in an earlier post, VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_02701462&REV_60, seems to definitely be an AC97 codec.
They claim here to have a Windows 98 compatible driver (don't download their no doubt spyware "driver update utility", use the link below it.)
Then click the "WDM_A406.rar" link on the next page, then make sure you select "Download the Driver File only" on the next page.
That should work, there are plenty of Windows 98 drivers for AC97 audio.

**deomsh** · December 8, 2019

@tillewolle

The risks are all yours.

I wold suggest this one, your hardware (C51G & ALC655) and your (main) VEN/DEV are mentioned.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.driverguide.com/driver/amp/detail.php%3fdriverid=732403

**tillewolle** · December 8, 2019

31 minutes ago, deomsh said:

@tillewolle

The risks are all yours.

I wold suggest this one, your hardware (C51G & ALC655) and your (main) VEN/DEV are mentioned.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.driverguide.com/driver/amp/detail.php%3fdriverid=732403

Installed this one and now I get the yellow exclamation mark on "Realtec AC'97 Audio for VIA(R) Audio Controller" in Device Manager.

hwinfo gives me

Class: MEDIA
  This Device Has a Problem: Code=10 (0xA)
Das Gerät ist nicht vorhanden, funktioniert nicht richtig oder es wurden
nicht alle Treiber installiert. Konsultieren Sie die Hardwaredokumentation.
  DeviceDesc: Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
  Registry Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\enum\PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_02701462&REV_60\BUS_00&DEV_11&FUNC_05
  Hardware Resource Section
    Inst2 resources: 
      Alloc resources: 
        Logical Configuration 0
            IO Range: Base=xEC00 End=xECFF Min=x0000 Max=xFFFF  Alias=xFF, Decode=x00
            IRQ Mask: xFFFF, Alloc Num 11
 Extra Registry information Section
    HWRevision: 096
  Driver Information section
    Driver: MEDIA\0002
    DriverDate: 12- 8-2019
    Driver: Alcrmv.exe
      File Size: 217088 (0x35000)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      CompanyName: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileVersion: 2, 0, 0, 3
      LegalCopyright: Copyright (C) 2000-2005 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileDescription: Driver Removing for Windows x64 or x86_32
      Comments: Developed by Desker ( Modify by Archeng )
    Driver: RTLCPAPI.dll
      File Size: 135168 (0x21000)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      FileVersion: 1, 0, 0, 9
      LegalCopyright: Copyright 2004
      FileDescription: RtlCPAPI Module
    Driver: RTLCPL.EXE
      File Size: 10527232 (0xA0A200)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      CompanyName: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileVersion: 1.0.1.60
      LegalCopyright: Copyright (c) 2003-2004 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileDescription: Realtek Audio Control Panel
    Driver: ALSNDMGR.WAV
      File Size: 141016 (0x226D8)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
    Driver: ALSNDMGR.CPL
      File Size: 18796544 (0x11ED000)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      CompanyName: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileVersion: 2, 2, 0, 60
      LegalCopyright: Copyright (c) 2001-2004 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileDescription: Realtek AC97 Audio Control Panel
      Comments: 060503
    Driver: SOUNDMAN.EXE
      File Size: 577536 (0x8D000)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      CompanyName: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileVersion: 5, 1, 0, 52
      LegalCopyright: Copyright (c) 2001-2004 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileDescription: Realtek Sound Manager
      Comments: Realtek AC97 Audio Sound Manager
      SpecialBuild: 060301
    Driver: ALCXWDM.SYS
      File Size: 3964736 (0x3C7F40)
      File Date: 12/8/2019 9:14 AM
      CompanyName: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
      FileVersion: 5.10.00.6080 built by: WinDDK
      LegalCopyright: Copyright (c) Realtek Semiconductor Corp.1998-2005
      FileDescription: Realtek AC'97 Audio Driver (WDM)

**Dave-H** · December 8, 2019

Does Device Manager say what's wrong?

"Cannot start code 10" for instance?

**tillewolle** · December 8, 2019

Edit

Edited December 9, 2019 by tillewolle
Double Posting

**tillewolle** · December 8, 2019

46 minutes ago, Dave-H said:

Does Device Manager say what's wrong?

"Cannot start code 10" for instance?

Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA(R) Audio Controller

Device type: Audio-, Video- und Gamecontroller

Manufacturer: Realtek

Hardware version: 096

Device status

This device is either not present, not working properly, or does not have all the drivers installed. (Code 10.)

Try upgrading the device drivers for this device.

**deomsh** · December 8, 2019

@tillewolle

At least you know an AC'97 driver is needed. On a MSI-forum about the same problem as yours, I found a link to A3.52

http://www.opendrivers.com/download/driver-11088.html

Another idea on that forum was to try Win95 drivers.

Edited December 8, 2019 by deomsh
Typo's

**Dave-H** · December 8, 2019

IIRC "Code 10" is an absolutely useless generic general failure message which doesn't tell you anything specific about what the problem actually is!
FWIW, the last Realtek AC97 driver I used (for many years) on Windows 98SE was version 4.00.
I only had to stop using it when I changed the motherboard for an updated version and one of the manufacturer's changes was to put HD Audio hardware on the board instead of AC97 hardware.

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