Disabling DX Sound Hardware Acceleration in Vista

alilly · External Since: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 6

Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've got an
older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows 98, so
it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a sound
issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly, which is
very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the game. I
was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into dxdiag, then
to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off. Problem
solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has DX10,
and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my question is,
how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which I'm not
sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to make
an adjustment like that anymore?

Konstantin Shishov · External Since: Jan 16, 2007 Posts: 11

You can check DX configurations by -->RUN---> "dxdiag" ENTER

And see what you can do as well as test it ...or disable
--
Microsoft MVP 1999-2002

"alilly" wrote:

> Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've got an
> older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows 98, so
> it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a sound
> issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly, which is
> very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the game. I
> was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into dxdiag, then
> to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off. Problem
> solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has DX10,
> and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my question is,
> how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which I'm not
> sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to make
> an adjustment like that anymore?

alilly · External Since: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 6

Already have done that. That's why I'm asking here to begin with. Because the
obvious solution of tweaking settings in dxdiag doesn't work. Plus, from what
I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box anymore. So I'm looking for a
DX10/Vista equvilant of disabling the Sound Hardware acceleration.

"Konstantin Shishov" wrote:

> You can check DX configurations by -->RUN---> "dxdiag" ENTER
>
> And see what you can do as well as test it ...or disable
> --
> Microsoft MVP 1999-2002
>
>
> "alilly" wrote:
>
> > Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've got an
> > older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows 98, so
> > it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a sound
> > issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly, which is
> > very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the game. I
> > was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into dxdiag, then
> > to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off. Problem
> > solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has DX10,
> > and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my question is,
> > how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which I'm not
> > sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to make
> > an adjustment like that anymore?

Colin Barnhorst · External Since: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 2211

Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In fact
you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run dxdiag
without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a run
box.

Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the menu
pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add To
Quicklaunch.

"alilly" wrote in message

> Already have done that. That's why I'm asking here to begin with. Because
> the
> obvious solution of tweaking settings in dxdiag doesn't work. Plus, from
> what
> I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box anymore. So I'm looking for
> a
> DX10/Vista equvilant of disabling the Sound Hardware acceleration.
>
> "Konstantin Shishov" wrote:
>
>> You can check DX configurations by -->RUN---> "dxdiag" ENTER
>>
>> And see what you can do as well as test it ...or disable
>> --
>> Microsoft MVP 1999-2002
>>
>>
>> "alilly" wrote:
>>
>> > Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've
>> > got an
>> > older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows
>> > 98, so
>> > it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a
>> > sound
>> > issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly,
>> > which is
>> > very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the
>> > game. I
>> > was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into
>> > dxdiag, then
>> > to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off.
>> > Problem
>> > solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has
>> > DX10,
>> > and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my
>> > question is,
>> > how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which
>> > I'm not
>> > sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to
>> > make
>> > an adjustment like that anymore?

alilly · External Since: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 6

Again, all beside the point. I'm not the one using Vista here, and I figure
that my frend has figured out how to do all that. What I'm asking is how do
we fix this hardware accerleration issue, as that's the issue here. I don't
really care if there's a run box or not.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In fact
> you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run dxdiag
> without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a run
> box.
>
> Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the menu
> pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add To
> Quicklaunch.
>
> "alilly" wrote in message
>
> > Already have done that. That's why I'm asking here to begin with. Because
> > the
> > obvious solution of tweaking settings in dxdiag doesn't work. Plus, from
> > what
> > I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box anymore. So I'm looking for
> > a
> > DX10/Vista equvilant of disabling the Sound Hardware acceleration.
> >
> > "Konstantin Shishov" wrote:
> >
> >> You can check DX configurations by -->RUN---> "dxdiag" ENTER
> >>
> >> And see what you can do as well as test it ...or disable
> >> --
> >> Microsoft MVP 1999-2002
> >>
> >>
> >> "alilly" wrote:
> >>
> >> > Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've
> >> > got an
> >> > older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows
> >> > 98, so
> >> > it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a
> >> > sound
> >> > issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly,
> >> > which is
> >> > very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the
> >> > game. I
> >> > was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into
> >> > dxdiag, then
> >> > to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off.
> >> > Problem
> >> > solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has
> >> > DX10,
> >> > and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my
> >> > question is,
> >> > how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which
> >> > I'm not
> >> > sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to
> >> > make
> >> > an adjustment like that anymore?
>

Colin Barnhorst · External Since: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 2211

Beside what point? You said "I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box
anymore." I addressed that.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

> Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In fact
> you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run dxdiag
> without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a run
> box.
>
> Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the menu
> pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add To
> Quicklaunch.
>

alilly · External Since: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 6

Try reading the first post in the thread or the subject of the entire thread.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Beside what point? You said "I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box
> anymore." I addressed that.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
>
> > Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In fact
> > you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run dxdiag
> > without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a run
> > box.
> >
> > Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the menu
> > pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add To
> > Quicklaunch.
> >
>

Colin Barnhorst · External Since: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 2211

Why? I can address a question that comes up as the the thread progresses.

"alilly" wrote in message

> Try reading the first post in the thread or the subject of the entire
> thread.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> Beside what point? You said "I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run
>> box
>> anymore." I addressed that.
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
>>
>> > Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In
>> > fact
>> > you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run
>> > dxdiag
>> > without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a
>> > run
>> > box.
>> >
>> > Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the
>> > menu
>> > pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add
>> > To
>> > Quicklaunch.
>> >
>>

alilly · External Since: Jan 17, 2007 Posts: 6

Two Reasons:

1. It wasn't a question, just more of a side comment I was making
2. It's not the point of why I'm posting. All I want is an answer to that
question, please. Nothing more.

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> Why? I can address a question that comes up as the the thread progresses.
>
> "alilly" wrote in message
>
> > Try reading the first post in the thread or the subject of the entire
> > thread.
> >
> > "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
> >
> >> Beside what point? You said "I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run
> >> box
> >> anymore." I addressed that.
> >>
> >> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
> >>
> >> > Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In
> >> > fact
> >> > you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run
> >> > dxdiag
> >> > without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a
> >> > run
> >> > box.
> >> >
> >> > Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the
> >> > menu
> >> > pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add
> >> > To
> >> > Quicklaunch.
> >> >
> >>
>

Colin Barnhorst · External Since: Jul 25, 2006 Posts: 2211

You get what you get in a newsgroup. Sorry.

"alilly" wrote in message

> Two Reasons:
>
> 1. It wasn't a question, just more of a side comment I was making
> 2. It's not the point of why I'm posting. All I want is an answer to that
> question, please. Nothing more.

Andrew · External Since: Jun 21, 2006 Posts: 28

On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 12:19:02 -0800, alilly
wrote:

>Again, all beside the point. I'm not the one using Vista here, and I figure
>that my frend has figured out how to do all that. What I'm asking is how do
>we fix this hardware accerleration issue, as that's the issue here. I don't
>really care if there's a run box or not.

If your "friend" is as clue resistant as you are, he really shouldn't
be using Vista.
--
Andrew, contact via http://interpleb.googlepages.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.

Ken · External Since: Dec 18, 2006 Posts: 81

Vista does have a run box

Ken

"alilly" wrote in message

> Already have done that. That's why I'm asking here to begin with. Because
> the
> obvious solution of tweaking settings in dxdiag doesn't work. Plus, from
> what
> I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run box anymore. So I'm looking for
> a
> DX10/Vista equvilant of disabling the Sound Hardware acceleration.
>
> "Konstantin Shishov" wrote:
>
>> You can check DX configurations by -->RUN---> "dxdiag" ENTER
>>
>> And see what you can do as well as test it ...or disable
>> --
>> Microsoft MVP 1999-2002
>>
>>
>> "alilly" wrote:
>>
>> > Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've
>> > got an
>> > older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows
>> > 98, so
>> > it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a
>> > sound
>> > issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly,
>> > which is
>> > very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the
>> > game. I
>> > was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into
>> > dxdiag, then
>> > to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off.
>> > Problem
>> > solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has
>> > DX10,
>> > and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my
>> > question is,
>> > how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which
>> > I'm not
>> > sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to
>> > make
>> > an adjustment like that anymore?

Jane C · External Since: Aug 20, 2006 Posts: 998

Your friend won't be able to 'downgrade' to DX9, or 'downgrade' to XP. If
he wanted to revert back to XP then he would have to reformat and reinstall
XP from scratch.

I have been unable to find a way to disable sound hardware acceleration in
Vista. DxDiag gives no options for changing anything, and neither do the
sound options in control panel.

--
Jane, not plain Wink

64 bit enabled Smile

Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation Wink

"alilly" wrote in message

> Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've got
> an
> older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows 98,
> so
> it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a
> sound
> issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly, which
> is
> very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the game.
> I
> was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into dxdiag,
> then
> to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off.
> Problem
> solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has
> DX10,
> and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my question
> is,
> how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which I'm
> not
> sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to
> make
> an adjustment like that anymore?

Vista Newsgroups · External Since: Dec 09, 2006 Posts: 7

You made an incorrect statement, showing your lack of knowledge of the
product, and spreading more FUD, so it was corrected...if you don't like
people helping you with Vista....maybe you should go elsewhere...

"alilly" wrote in message

> Try reading the first post in the thread or the subject of the entire
> thread.
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:
>
>> Beside what point? You said "I've heard, Vista doesn't even have a run
>> box
>> anymore." I addressed that.
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message
>>
>> > Click Start and type "run" in the Start Search box. Hit return. In
>> > fact
>> > you can type "dxdiag" in the Start Search box and hit return to run
>> > dxdiag
>> > without bothering with the run box at all. Start Search doubles as a
>> > run
>> > box.
>> >
>> > Also, if you don't hit return you will see the tool at the top of the
>> > menu
>> > pane and you can right click on it and select Send to...Desktop or Add
>> > To
>> > Quicklaunch.
>> >
>>

Chuck Walbourn [MSFT] · External Since: Oct 25, 2006 Posts: 40

Windows Vista audio stack does notsupport hardware acceleration (precisely
because of issues on Windows XP that required turning it off more often than
not).

--
Chuck Walbourn
SDE, Game Technology Group

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Paul Smith · External Since: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 828

"alilly" wrote in message

> Ok, I myself am not running vista, but a friend of mine is, and we've got
> an
> older game we'd like to play together. The game was made for Windows 98,
> so
> it still runs fine on XP and even Vista. The only problem is there's a
> sound
> issue with the game that makes the sound crackle and pop constantly, which
> is
> very annoying, especially durring the cinematics in the start of the game.
> I
> was able to fix this quite easily on my XP maching by going into dxdiag,
> then
> to the sound tab, then turning the sound hardware acceleration off.
> Problem
> solved, for me. However, as my friend is running Windows Vista, he has
> DX10,
> and there's no option to turn the sound acceleration off. So my question
> is,
> how do we make this work in vista, besides downgrading to DX9c (which I'm
> not
> sure is possible in Vista), or downgrade to XP. Is it even possible to
> make
> an adjustment like that anymore?

....And the name of the game is?

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/
Get ready for Windows Vista: http://www.windowsvista.com/getready/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

Piscesis83 · External Since: Mar 02, 2009 Posts: 1

If you folks are done bickering, I'd really like to hear from someone
who can actually ANSWER alilly's question. I've run into a similar
problem and would like to know if there is actually a solution, or if I
will have to downgrade to XP...

--
Piscesis83

Joe · External Since: Jan 21, 2009 Posts: 19

Piscesis83 wrote in

>
> If you folks are done bickering, I'd really like to hear from someone
> who can actually ANSWER alilly's question. I've run into a similar
> problem and would like to know if there is actually a solution, or if I
> will have to downgrade to XP...
>
>

Probably is a simple solution to get the game running, Vista does drivers
differently than Windows XP which is why there's no sound acceleration
setting in DirectSound for Vista, Vista doesn't need it.

I'd try uninstalling the games and installing them into a custom folder.

Usually when you install an application it'll ask what folder you want to
install it into. The default is usually something like:

C:\Program Files\Gamename

You should be able to change the folder to something like:

C:\Games\Gamename

A folder outside of Program Files isn't protected, thus older programs
that write files where they aren't supposed to are free to run around any
crash your OS files (kidding, sort-a).

Once the game is installed you might try right-clicking and choose run as
administrator, just in case.

Write back if that fails and post your hardware specs. We're not sitting
at your computer, it's hard to tell what the problem is if we don't know
what we're dealing with.

GL,
-JQP

--
Joe

EN4CER · External Since: Mar 05, 2009 Posts: 3

Start > Run > dxdiag (So you know what you're looking for, a sound card or
integrated sound)

Start > control panel > hardware and sound (for vista) > manage audio
devices

Start > control panel > system (for other version of windows) > hardware.
From there you should be able to find it. If you have further problems let
us know.

"Piscesis83" wrote in message

>
> If you folks are done bickering, I'd really like to hear from someone
> who can actually ANSWER alilly's question. I've run into a similar
> problem and would like to know if there is actually a solution, or if I
> will have to downgrade to XP...
>
>
> --
> Piscesis83