No sound after installing DVD-CDRW drive!

[Computer Deb]

I've done it again ... I've added something to my system and lost or screwed something else up ... my system has a AMD-450 processor, 10 gig harddrive, plus slave harddrive. Since I put the new processor and motherboard in I have had very few problems, but this is another one. I run WIN98SE. I have 512 RAM.

I added an internal DVD-CDRW to my system. Since I have installed it, I have get NO sound from any audio CD's. I do have computer sounds from both the speakers and from my mobo. But when I try play any music, I get nothing.

I purchased an audio wire that connects two CD-ROM's to one sound card. I can get some sound from a DVD but I have to turn the volume up really high.

My sound card is a SoundBlaster 16. I thought I should check for an updated driver. I did so, but actually downloaded and installed the wrong update. My sound card is an ISA connection, but I downloaded a version for a PCI card. Then I uninstalled that program and reinstalled my original SoundBlaster cards and drivers.

I think that somewhere I lost the CD ROM driver from WIN98 MSCDEXE? Does that make sense? I remember booting up and seeing a few lines from my Autoexec.bat that identified a couple of things (sorry, I can't remember exactly what they were).

I did find a new version of MSCDEXE. Do I have to do anything special to load? I thought I loaded when I was at the C http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/tongue.gifrompt.

Anyways, I think I am now mucking everything up because I may not have done these things in the right order.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Randy_tx]

I have a different route for you........for about $20 you can get a modern sound card [hopefully with two inputs for both the cd players]. The old SB-16 may just be worn out....thus, low volume when using a "splitter" as you describe.
Here are some options in the $20 range: http://www.pricewatch.com/
Good luck with it.

------------------
XP didn't save Me !

[Computer Deb]

Thanks for the advice. I have actually thought about a new sound card for awhile. It was on my original system and I have replaced almost every other original card. It has been good, but you're probably right.

[BigBlue66]

Yep, I agree that it's time to replace the soundcard. The volume is probably getting knackered because of the split in the audio cable.

------------------
This space reserved for highly intelligent observations and witty remarks.

"After the wedding, we all went up to the conception room and had a big time up there"
-------- Tommy Smothers

[Computer Deb]

Thanks for all your comments ... I did buy a new card and will install this weekend.

I did, however, get everything to work again ... Creative support got back to me and recommended that boot up in Safe Mode and delete or rename a few files from the "wrong" update that I had installed. I completely uninstalled my sound. For some reason, when I rebooted it couldn't find my drivers on my disks, so I used my WIN98 CD and loaded a similar driver and both the CD-RW and the DVD-RW played music CD's again! The sound from the speakers was fair, but with my headphones on, it was great!

I use the soundcard for my nephew's computer who needs it badly!

Thanks again ... computer case closed ... until my next upgrade or install purchase!