Weird sound card problem

porty · 09-23-2007, 09:06 PM

I'm trying to fix up an older pc for a friend. The motherboard is an Asus MEW-AM, v.2.01, (an Asus\HP hybrid), the OS is XP Pro SP2.

The motherboard has no onboard sound, so I added an un-branded sound card which had been working OK in a Win98 pc. Its chipset is Fortemedia, labelled FM801-AU. The only labelling on the card itself are the words 'VER:2.3' but it also bears a paper sticker that says 'SP 8.01'.

The installation software (for which I've got several sets of XP drivers) inserts audio and joystick drivers. After the drivers are installed the card tests OK, either by using the 'ForteMedia Control Panel' which has been added to the system tray, (and which can speak the words 'LEFT' and 'RIGHT' when you click TEST), or by using any of the standard Windows control panel sound bytes. Everything seems normal.

The weirdness kicks in after the first boot. Instead of the familiar and melodious Windows startup music, all that can be heard is a sound that might be generated by a weasel who's been half garotted then strung up by his plums.

All other sound tests produce similar results, that is, every sound that worked before the boot, now won't.

Maybe it's the drivers, though I've tried all the ones I have without any change. Perhaps it's because Windows moans during the install about them not having been approved by Microsoft, though that's a common enough message that rarely seems to mean a lot.

One thing I did note is that when I use the ForteMedia Control Panel after the boot (which had worked pre-boot), and try to run a test, it crashes and a Windows Error report pops up.

But even if I use msconfig to prevent the ForteMedia Control Panel from further starts, it doesn't help. Neither does disabling Windows Audio in services, disabling the FM joystick controls in System, or shifting PCI slots.

Any suggestions will be gratefully received :-)

**Deleted090308** · 09-25-2007, 11:37 AM

Hi,

See if this driver works: driver.zip

porty · 09-25-2007, 02:30 PM

Thanks Nicholas. I downed the file OK, but I'm having trouble opening it. What version of WinZip did you use to pack it?

I haven't used WinZip for many years; Winrar is my archiver of choice and normally handles all packed files with no probs. But just lately I've noticed that a few zip files won't respond.

Cheers,
porty

**Deleted090308** · 09-25-2007, 02:36 PM

I use WinZip 10. Try this (different compression method): driver2.zip

porty · 09-25-2007, 05:54 PM

Yep, that download unpacked OK, thanks. I note that the FM801.sys is an earlier one than is contained in several of those that I've got - 5.0.1319.112. Most of the others are 5.0.1319.200.

I'll give it a go shortly and see what transpires.

But I can't help thinking that there's something else kicking in when Windows reboots for the first time after the install that's screwing up the process. I'd try it in Safe Mode, but there's no sound there anyway, so that's out.

It's very mysterious.....:-(

09-23-2007, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
porty Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14 OS: XPP	Weird sound card problem I'm trying to fix up an older pc for a friend. The motherboard is an Asus MEW-AM, v.2.01, (an Asus\HP hybrid), the OS is XP Pro SP2. The motherboard has no onboard sound, so I added an un-branded sound card which had been working OK in a Win98 pc. Its chipset is Fortemedia, labelled FM801-AU. The only labelling on the card itself are the words 'VER:2.3' but it also bears a paper sticker that says 'SP 8.01'. The installation software (for which I've got several sets of XP drivers) inserts audio and joystick drivers. After the drivers are installed the card tests OK, either by using the 'ForteMedia Control Panel' which has been added to the system tray, (and which can speak the words 'LEFT' and 'RIGHT' when you click TEST), or by using any of the standard Windows control panel sound bytes. Everything seems normal. The weirdness kicks in after the first boot. Instead of the familiar and melodious Windows startup music, all that can be heard is a sound that might be generated by a weasel who's been half garotted then strung up by his plums. All other sound tests produce similar results, that is, every sound that worked before the boot, now won't. Maybe it's the drivers, though I've tried all the ones I have without any change. Perhaps it's because Windows moans during the install about them not having been approved by Microsoft, though that's a common enough message that rarely seems to mean a lot. One thing I did note is that when I use the ForteMedia Control Panel after the boot (which had worked pre-boot), and try to run a test, it crashes and a Windows Error report pops up. But even if I use msconfig to prevent the ForteMedia Control Panel from further starts, it doesn't help. Neither does disabling Windows Audio in services, disabling the FM joystick controls in System, or shifting PCI slots. Any suggestions will be gratefully received :-)

09-25-2007, 11:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Weird sound card problem Hi, See if this driver works: driver.zip

09-25-2007, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
porty Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14 OS: XPP	Re: Weird sound card problem Thanks Nicholas. I downed the file OK, but I'm having trouble opening it. What version of WinZip did you use to pack it? I haven't used WinZip for many years; Winrar is my archiver of choice and normally handles all packed files with no probs. But just lately I've noticed that a few zip files won't respond. Cheers, porty

09-25-2007, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Weird sound card problem I use WinZip 10. Try this (different compression method): driver2.zip

09-25-2007, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
porty Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14 OS: XPP	Re: Weird sound card problem Yep, that download unpacked OK, thanks. I note that the FM801.sys is an earlier one than is contained in several of those that I've got - 5.0.1319.112. Most of the others are 5.0.1319.200. I'll give it a go shortly and see what transpires. But I can't help thinking that there's something else kicking in when Windows reboots for the first time after the install that's screwing up the process. I'd try it in Safe Mode, but there's no sound there anyway, so that's out. It's very mysterious.....:-(