Chronic engine sound problem

[docsavage]

Everyone, mostly my pleas for help have rendered very little to help with this problem.

No engine sound at all.

here is my sys info:
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name HAL9000
System Manufacturer Compaq Presario 061
System Model DF262A-ABA S4010CL NA210
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2391 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software, Inc. 3.10, 5/6/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name HAL9000\Wes
Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 180.27 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.19 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
Name Aureal Vortex 8830 Audio (WDM)
Manufacturer Aureal, Inc.
Status OK
PNP Device ID MF\PCI#VEN_12EB&DEV_0002&SUBSYS_30031092&REV_FE\5&31B5D710&0&48F0#CHILD0001
Memory Address 0xFFE80000-0xFFEBFFFF
I/O Port 0x0000FFF0-0x0000FFF7
IRQ Channel IRQ 21
Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\adm8830.sys (5.12.01.2500, 729.88 KB (747,392 bytes), 5/15/2006 4:14 PM)
c:\windows\system32\iac25_32.ax Intel Corporation Indeo® audio software OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IAC25_32.AX 2.05.53 195.00 KB (199,680 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\imaadp32.acm Microsoft Corporation imaadp32.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAADP32.ACM 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 16.00 KB (16,384 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\l3codeca.acm Fraunhofer Institut Integrierte Schaltungen IIS Fraunhofer IIS MPEG Layer-3 Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\L3CODECA.ACM 1, 9, 0, 0305 284.00 KB (290,816 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\msadp32.acm Microsoft Corporation msadp32.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSADP32.ACM 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 14.50 KB (14,848 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\msaud32.acm Microsoft Corporation Windows Media Audio OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSAUD32.ACM 8.00.00.4487 288.00 KB (294,912 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\msg711.acm Microsoft Corporation msg711.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSG711.ACM 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) 9.00 KB (9,216 bytes) 8/23/2001 8:00 AM
c:\windows\system32\msg723.acm Microsoft Corporation msg723.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSG723.ACM 4.4.3400 116.00 KB (118,784 bytes) 6/19/2005 11:44 PM
c:\windows\system32\msgsm32.acm Microsoft Corporation msgsm32.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSGSM32.ACM 5.1.2600.0 (xpclient.010817-1148) 19.50 KB (19,968 bytes) 8/23/2001 8:00 AM
c:\windows\system32\sl_anet.acm Sipro Lab Telecom Inc. Sipro Lab Telecom Audio Codec OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\SL_ANET.ACM 3.02 84.00 KB (86,016 bytes) 8/3/2004 7:56 PM
c:\windows\system32\tssoft32.acm DSP GROUP, INC. tssoft32.acm OK C:\WINDOWS\system32\TSSOFT32.ACM 1.01 8.00 KB (8,192 bytes) 8/23/2001 8:00 AM

Furthermore, no I am not trying to run 3d sound.

Yes I do run an aftermarket soundcard, but it works fine for everything but gtp.

If anyone out there has any HELPFUL suggestions, I am all ears.\

Without engine sound, I am afraid there is no point in thinking about racing gtp.

With this in mind, without a fix my resignation will be official with my DNS Sunday night.

I am really bummed about this problem, almost always I am able to fix anything that is wrong with the computer. This one has had me baffled all summer.

Doc

[jankyster]

Don't you have an idea of what you've changed since it worked last time? And isn't there an earlier system restore point, you can choose?

An often mentioned "tip" is to change the hardware accelerator, but since your system worked before, it probably won't help...?

Perhaps one or more of your sound files have become corrupted? Try reinstalling the sound files (you are using MethylEthyl sounds?) or you could try a new GTP install?

I had a couple of races, where I suddenly lost my engine sound and after a bit of searching I found this tip. In your core.ini you change the sound-section like this:

[Sound]
allow_buffer_recreation=1 ; re-create sound buffers to improve quality
convert_3d_stereo=1 ; convert stereo to mono for positional sounds in 3d mode
enable_3d_interpolation=0 ; enable volume interpolation for 3d sound
force_default_buffer_size=0 ; buffer size in 1/36 second units. Value of 3 or larger
force_min_readahead=0.000000 ; Set forced read ahead, expressed in 1/36 second ticks.
interpolationValue=0

If that did it for me, I don't know, but I haven't had any sound problems since...

Hope you can sort it out. Please report back...


Of course, naming ones system HAL is like begging for trouble? ;D

[docsavage]

Sorry Jan, I gotcha on the HAL9000 thing.

See Arthur C. Clarkes HAL was a confused neo-conservative/pro-corpratist artificial intelligence.

My HAL9000 is a post capitalist anarcho-syndicalist autonomous intelligence. He does my bidding willingly. Not under duress.

At any rate, all political drollness (a word??) aside.

I am going to try your sugg right now.

AND THANKS!!!

Yes I have tried repeated install/uninstall tactics, to no avail.

I guess I will have to make a new hardware profile for gtp. And run on the old soundcard.

Doc

[jankyster]

You are not having two soundcards in your PC? On-board plus a card? Not sure how to read your specifications, but if that's the case, disable your on-board. How about sound drivers? Updated recently?

Btw. the last thing I would *ever* want my computer to do, is talking to me or send me friendly greetings

[docsavage]

Yeah onboard (which is a piece of crap) has all sorts of bleed over and static, always has.

And a really nice (but old) one.

I never thought to disable it. I will try that.

I tried the tweaks, and I tried your sound ini's too. Now gtp doesnt work at all.

Will try reinstalling AGAIN! And disable the on-board card.

Doc

[docsavage]

Well I reinstalled nr2k3 and gtp, yes with the update.

Still no bloody engine sound.

What I dont understand is, all the other sounds work! Tire noise, wind, tranny, crashing, and squeeling of tires.

It;s like racing a bloody electric car.

I doubt this is a soundcard issue.

I have no idea I been trying to figure this out since friggin 4th of July.

I am fed up with it.

Consider me resigned. Sorry chaps, but I can't deal with this anymore. I have like 40+ hours in trying to solve this problem (just recently), and nothing really very helpful has come my way.

UNLESS, someone could send me thier sound files. Perhaps, and just perhaps, my engine noise wavs have been corrupted somehow somway.

I highly doubt it though.

What really pisses me off is nascar sounds are fine, and ad67 too, even PWF trans am.....

Unless someone comes up with something really brilliant for me, it was a pleasure to race with you fellas, catch you on the flipside.

DOC

BTW- there is no way for me to disable the old soundcard (on the board) because it simply doesnt exist in my device profile!

[jankyster]

docsavage said:

What I dont understand is, all the other sounds work! Tire noise, wind, tranny, crashing, and squeeling of tires.
<snip>
BTW- there is no way for me to disable the old soundcard (on the board) because it simply doesnt exist in my device profile!

Exactly my symptoms too! Engine was only (highly) missed noise!? I got my engine "back" by going into Single Player, Testing Session, load a track and jump into cockpit... stressful with 3 minutes to racetart... but after that and some searching I found the above solution to change the [Sound]-section, and haven't had problems since... ?
On-board sound has to be disabled in BIOS.

Hope you'll get things sorted out. Perhaps try another board with this problem? RSC?

[jankyster]

Ah - one last thing....

This is the latest driver from HP for your computer:
Release Date: 2005-11-08, Version: 5.10.0.5730

Does that compute with your version...


Can be found here:
h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?lc=en&cc=us&x=7&dlc=en&os=228&product=339956&lang=en&y=8&softwareitem=pv-36798-1

[docsavage]

I have the latest system drivers anyway...

on board sound is disabled in bios...

GTP and N2k3 reinstall (AGAIN)....(yes the update)

CORE INI SOUND CHANGES MADE....

still no engine sound.

I just got the ME sounds.....should I install them, cryptic freekin Dane, sheesh!

Doc

[docsavage]

docsavage said:

I have the latest system drivers anyway...

on board sound is disabled in bios...

GTP and N2k3 reinstall (AGAIN)....(yes the update)

CORE INI SOUND CHANGES MADE....

still no engine sound.

I just got the MEthyl sounds.....and installed them.....now I have no sounds at all! @#$%^*& awesome!!!

I feel like a real moron spending this much time on one %$#@!@! sound.

I give up someone send me an email when you start the racing season with rFactor, ok?

Doc

[harrison]

Doc,

Try changing slots on your sound card. Uninstall drivers etc...then boot with no sound card. Then replace sound card in a different pci slot and install all drivers. This has helped me in the past.

[Ced Collins]

I have to ask the stupid question. Are you sure the engine sound isn't turned off in the game?

I have to ask.

What changed in your machine since you last race with us. Was it the sound card you mentioned?

Not all old games are compatible with new equipment. Especially Papy games were designed around creative labs sound cards.

[docsavage]

Ced,

As one of my instructors in "A" school once told me, "McCann, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!"

But yeah, it's turned on.

The soundcard is very old. Funny thing is all my sounds for ad67 are beauty.

System changes:
from 256 mb ram to 512
New secondary HDD (paid too much for it)
installed the old soundcard (monster mx300 pci)
re-wired crappy chinese made powersupply (the internal leads were falling off) which is always nice.

NOTE: I haven't re-installed windows in a while. Since it decays like teeth in a soda drinking junkie, maybe it's a good idea to do so.

Harrison,

Here's the thing, my box is set up in such a goofy way inside, the way I have the cards now, is how they have to stay. Unless I take the tap set, and framing hammer to the pci mounting area.

Lets hear it for COMPAQ, and chinese "goods" in general.

I suppose I could go back to the onboard souncard. Although it is a total piece of crap, and has bleed-over static (always has). Which really burns me up cause I'm an audio guy. I love my tunes, and my SFacid studio suite.

I will try all of these suggestions in the days to come, and let you guys know. I won't be at Tally, as racing at a place I have like no laps on is pretty unfair to everyone else. And I don't have the time between now, and 7:30p!

I do appreciate the help. And I will take the framing hammer to the box to get the cards to move.

Doc

[Ced Collins]

You can always try and reseat the card. But doing what HArrison said isn't a bad idea.

When you reinstalled n2k did you hear the engine sound when it asked?

[Harison]

I am familiar with the old MX series soundcards. They are very picky. If I were you I would buy a Sound Blaster by Creative. The older versions are 50 bucks or less. Audigy, gamer etc...they are compatible with almost everything. Good luck. I would put money on the fact that diamond hasn't upgraded the drivers for that series soundcard since 2000 or so. My two cents...I hope it helps.