Vista problem running certain games., dxdiag: how do I change sound hardware acceleration? Options

[iamtheman]

I need help.

I’ve recently had my computer replaced due to a manufacturing fault - luckily it was still under warranty. Problem is, now I have Vista... I didn’t want it, but the techies said all new computers come bundled with it, so I couldn’t really do anything about it. I could have got them to install XP on a separate partition but I was persuaded by them that Vista has patches and is constantly ironing out the bugs with each update so I thought, “what the hell”.

Anyway, I’ve got a bunch of games that won’t run properlly, if at all, on Vista. The compatibility modes are no help either.
Firstly, I cannot get ‘The Longest Journey’ to run at all. It’s a shame because I bought it recently and had been playing it on my previous computer and haven’t gotten very far into it yet. I have tried all the compatibility modes but it locks up the moment a new game is started.

Secondly, I’ve been playing the ‘Resident Evil’ games for the first time in my life and I’m now up to the third installment. I need to run “dxdiag” and lower the sound hardware acceleration slider in order to get the cutscenes to run correctly and to bypass a lock-up point but I cannot do this with Vista and Direct X 10. I don’t know why. I’ve looked through the net for answers but haven’t found anything I understand. Please, can someone tell me what the Vista-equivalent of this feature is?

Much appreciated.

[Almirena]

I can't help with that... I absolutely REFUSE to get Vista on my soon-to-be-forthcoming new computer unless it's got dual partitioning with XP. Collector mentioned that it would be a good idea to hold back on getting Vista until the first service pack was released (if I recall correctly) - but at any rate, the point was that Vista has many things that still need to be worked out. (I think they lied to you!)

I hope some Vista-enabled person is able to answer your question...

[Collector]

I would seriously think about doing a dual boot. There might be some Vista workarounds that will be devised, but not that many have Vista, yet. I might need to get Vista just for this reason, but don't really want to spend the money on it yet.

[Elsa Von Spielbu...]

I'm dual booting XP Pro and Vista 64 currently Best solution

But I hate the idea that Vista doesn't have any Greek language support like the previous Windows versions have

[iamtheman]

If I knew how to do this (dual boot), I would. I've been told you absolutely must know exactly what to do or it’ll stuff-up your computer in a very bad way. But this could be an old wives’ tale.

As I said, I really had little choice in the matter as I got the phone call explaining the whole situation which included, “Oh yeah, now you have Vista installed”. “Crap, just... crap”, I thought.

Remember awhile ago in the Sierra VU forums I mentioned how my computer kept shutting itself off at random? Well, this is why; a manufacturing fault that caused the CPU to overheat – I thought it was an accumulation of dust (well, that too in a sense.) It was under warranty so I was given a brand new system that matched the specs of when my previous computer was first purchased – that meant the upgrades I had were now obsolete because most of the computers these days are dual core and have different sockets and what not. So, I’ve got 2 gig of RAM and a 128 mb video card that needs to be sold. And I have to buy a brand new video card that fits these new sockets. Thankfully I’ve already had 2 new sticks of RAM installed.

The way I see it; wouldn't Microsoft be frequently improving the compatibility of programs and even though so many have complained about Vista, they will be pretty much forced into getting it anyway in order to keep up with the latest features and security etc. Though this is hard to say because I know people that still use Windows 98 and stick by their OS religiously.

What I don’t get is the complete absence of a Sound Hardware Acceleration Slider in dxdiag. This Vista-exclusive Direct X 10 is whacked out!

I'll keep checking around the net from time to time. It's not really a priority at the moment.

Thanks anyway for the replies.

[Collector]

What I don't get is the complete absence of a Sound Hardware Acceleration Slider in dxdiag. This Vista-exclusive Direct X 10 is whacked out!

Part of it is adding to stability. Some of the architectural change in drivers for Vista was to move more drivers out of ring 0. As amazingly stable that XP has proven to be, the majority of BSODs that people have encountered in XP are from bad drivers, or faulty hardware (i.e. your over heating CPU). By moving a driver out of ring 0, if the driver crashes, it will not take down the OS.

The only danger from setting up a dual boot is to existing data. If you are not too far along in setting up your Vista and or you have all of your personal data backed up, you can proceed with impunity. The best way is to install XP first, creating a partition during the install and then install Vista afterwards on the 2nd partition.

Another way to do it is to simply get a 2nd HDD and disconnect the first drive to install XP on the new drive, then reconnect the 1st drive. No partitions and Vista will not be touched by the XP install. Most modern BIOSs allow you to choose the boot drive before an OS starts to load.

[iamtheman]

Well, I wasn't even given a recovery disc for Vista so I'd need to buy one from Microsoft or something if I had to reinstall it. Actually, if my computer crashed, I'd probablly just reinstall XP.

I guess it's too late to bother about setting a dual boot at this time, huh?

Although, I do have a portable HDD - would that work instead?

In my case it will most probably be more trouble than it's worth just to play a few games.

Thanks a lot anyway, Collector, for your help.

[Paladin Wizard]

I'm late here in asking, but are you using a Sound Blaster card? MS removed the audio hardware layer. This helps every sound card except Creative sound cards because creative built APUs into the cards. Give me some details and I'll see what I can digg up to get you running properly. I'm running Ultimate and I love it, the same on both accounts for my sister.

Now I don't like to disagree with people, really I don't. But there is a lot of FUD about Vista that just isn't true. I've seen/heard way to many people bad mouth this os when they've never even used it. The root of the problem is once again drivers. And that is part of the reason I'm done with nVidia.

This post has been edited by Paladin Wizard: Aug 12 2007, 09:16 AM

[iamtheman]

Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate any and all help I can get in this matter.

Here is my sound hardware info from the dixdiag:

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_11D4&DEV_1986&SUBSYS_1458A000&REV_1005
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ADIHdAud.sys
Driver Version: 6.10.0001.6070 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 12/14/2006 13:02:34, 309760 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: AnalogDevices
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No

[Paladin Wizard]

SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Microsoft Windows Vista build 5308 uses Windows Update (herein called WU) to get the latest drivers for the SoundMAX chipset. These drivers stutter, hiss, snap, crackle, and pop, nonstop and do not have support for digital audio. This is an improvement over 5270 where you had to find your own drivers, AND it was impossible to get digital audio.

1. Download these drivers and extract them to a folder somewhere with WinZip.
2. Open Device Manager (Control Panel | System | Hardware | Device Manager) find the entry for the SoundMAX, and update its driver with the one in the \SMAXWDM\W2K_XP\ directory that you just extracted.
3. Restart your computer.
4. Open Control Panel | Audio Settings | SoundMAX | Properties. In the ‘Other’ tab uncheck the first entry and check the second for digital audio. If you have analog speakers, leave both unchecked.
5. If sound quality is not that great, try changing the Format settings in that last tab on the page. Try going up or down until it works out…. I have this card and was quick to replace it… Time to get a new sound card if you are still having issues
6. Vista will tell you that Windows Update has found newer drivers. Ignore it or you’ll lose the sound!

[Paladin Wizard]

Update please?

[iamtheman]

I apologise for not getting back to you sooner.

When I tried to update my drivers with the ones you supplied it reported that "the best driver software for your device is already installed" and "Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date". I don't want to roll back to old drivers if that's the case.

The second part of those instructions does not apply because those settings are active already.

I don't think this sollution is for my particular problem as mine is a dxdiag issue with Vista's Direct X 10. There is no sound hardware acceleration slider anymore - I'm trying to understand why.

Thanks all the same.

[Paladin Wizard]

Even thought it's a year old I'm going to respond anyway since I'm actually having issues with classic games & Vista.

There is no more sound hardware acceleration in Vista. I said this in a previous post that MS removed it. The only cards that are really affected are Creative Sound Blaster cards.