I recently installed a lil soundblaster card. I am having many problems. My problem seems to be with my IRQ's. Here is the message I'm getting :

This device cannot find any free Interupt Request (IRQ's) resources to use. (code 12).

In device manager under computer properties it list the sound card at IRQ 5, but says it is in use by an "unknown device'.

I have sounds playing just fine all over the place, but the problem is, I'm trying to play a particular game (oh my problems are grand aint they?), and it really, really needs directX to recognize my sound card. I apparently don't have any open IRQ's to swap out...or so the hardware troubleshooter tells me, and I wouldn't really know how to do that anyway.

My question is this : Is there someway I can switch my IRQ's around? I was told the sound card must be in IRQ 5,7,9,10. I don't see any other devices using IRQ 5, so I don't think there is a conflict...

Here is a listing of my IRQ's right now and behind that I'll post my dxdiag report. (I had to take the DX components out due to length, lmk if you need to see them.) Thanks to anyone with time to spare for me on this!

03 Via pci to usb enhanced host controller
03 Agere Systems pci soft modem
04 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ steering
04 VIA tech 3038 PCI to USB universal host controller
05 in use by unknown device
06 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
08 System CMOS/real time clock
09 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 ACPI IRQ HOlder for PCI IRQ steering
10 VIA tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ steering
11 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
11 SB PCI
11 NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 MOdel 64/Model 64 Pro
13 Numeric Data Processor
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
14 Primary IDE Controller (dual fifo)
15 VIA bus master PCI IDE Controller
15 Secondary IDE Controller (dual fifo)

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 8/11/2004, 01:25:55
Machine name: Lostaglia
Operating System: Windows 98 (4.10, Build 2222) A
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: n/a
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 1800+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.5GHz
Memory: 256MB RAM
Page File: 120MB used, 1672MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 4.09.0000.0904 32bit
DxDiag Previously: Crashed in DirectSound (stage 1) & DirectMusic (stage 2) & DirectShow (stage 1)

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: The file nvdisp.drv is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL). Current drivers tested for a WHQL logo are only available on Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. New Windows 98 drivers are no longer tested for WHQL logos.
Music Tab: No DirectMusic ports were found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type:
DAC type:
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_002D&SUBSYS_02211043&REV_15\000800
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 960 x 720 (32 bit)(85Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: nvdisp.drv
Driver Version: 4.14.0010.6176 (English)
DDI Version: 7
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/12/2004 16:50:00, 126624 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: No
WHQL Date Stamp: None
VDD: *vdd
Mini VDD: nvmini.vxd
Mini VDD Date: , 0 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-436D-11CF-D36B-2B22B4C2C935}
Vendor ID: 0x10DE
Device ID: 0x002D
SubSys ID: 0x02211043
Revision ID: 0x0015
Revision ID: 0x0015
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
DLS Path:
DLS Version:
Acceleration: n/a
Ports: Registry: OK
Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
Device Name: Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: Keyboard
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
FF Driver: n/a

Device Name: PS2/USB Browser Combo Mouse
Attached: 1
Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: 0x05FE, 0x0011
FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: Yes
Registry: OK

-----------
USB Devices
-----------

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------

----------------------------
DirectPlay Service Providers
----------------------------
DirectPlay8 IPX Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider - Registry: OK, File: dpnet.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Serial Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Modem Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpmodemx.dll (4.09.0000.0900)
Internet TCP/IP Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.09.0000.0904)
IPX Connection For DirectPlay - Registry: OK, File: dpwsockx.dll (4.09.0000.0904)

DirectPlay Voice Wizard Tests: Full Duplex: , Half Duplex: , Mic:
DirectPlay Test Result: Not run
Registry: OK

-------------------
DirectPlay Adapters
-------------------
DirectPlay8 TCP/IP Service Provider: PPP Adapter. -
DirectPlay8 Modem Service Provider: Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem
DirectPlay8 Serial Service Provider: COM1

-----------------------
DirectPlay Voice Codecs
-----------------------
Voxware VR12 1.4kbit/s
Voxware SC06 6.4kbit/s
Voxware SC03 3.2kbit/s
MS-PCM 64 kbit/s
MS-ADPCM 32.8 kbit/s
Microsoft GSM 6.10 13 kbit/s
TrueSpeech(TM) 8.6 kbit/s

-------------------------
DirectPlay Lobbyable Apps
-------------------------

------------------
DirectX Components
------------------

------------------------------------
Inactive Display Entries in Registry
------------------------------------
None

----------------------------------
Inactive Sound Entries in Registry
----------------------------------
None

Is this a DOS game?

If not, the soundblaster installed a line in your autoexec.bat file with an IRQ and DMA address. REM it out.

Before you do that, do to device manager and see if there are any yellow exclamation points.

Please advise.

thanks for the reply.

Yes there is the one yellow exclamation point by my SB PC legacy drive.

And you'll have to walk me through that 'REM' it out process, I'm not sure what that means.

Thanks again

Uninstall the sound blaster software and then re-install, but don't install the legacy software. Only install the Windows driver

I will try that. I assume the windows drivers are on the windows 98se disc?

The drivers will be on the disc that came with the sound card or have to be downloaded from the Creative site.

Ok, there are some install options here on the driver disk:

Creative Mixer
Creative PlayCenter
DOS Drivers
Creative Recorder
Midi Samples

I think it must load the Windows drivers automatically, because it paused before this and said 'please wait while windows drivers are installed'

Does that mean I should bypass all this other (I can choose which of the above options to install)

Thanks again, I'll wait for the answer.

Creative Mixer..........Optional
Creative PlayCenter.....Optional
DOS Drivers............. NO!
Creative Recorder....... Optional
Midi Samples............ Why waste the disk space

lol @ NO!

Gotcha

Well, that didn't work. I still have the same error as before:

"This device cannot find any free Interupt Request (IRQ) resources to use. (Code 12)

If you want to use this device, you must disable another device that is using the resoursed this device needs. To do this, click Hardware Troubleshooter and follow the instructions in the wizard."

And if i do thattroubleshooter, it tells me I can disable my mouse and replace it with my soundcard... gee thanks. And actually I even tried it and it doesnt do anything except render my mouse useless while not fixing my sound issue.

Any other suggestions?

Go to start->programs->MS DOS Prompt

When you see C:\Windows> Type cd\ and press enter

When you see C:\> Type edit autoexec.bat

The file editor will open and copy the contents of the file and post it
here.

Also, how many com/serial ports do you have? You can always disable one in the bios to free up an IRQ.

Let's check the autoexec.bat first