How to: Install a sound card.
Solution:
Observe ESD considerations, and install the internal legacy sound card.
WARNING: Electrical shock hazard! Make sure the power is turned off and the external power cables have been disconnected before removing the computer cover.
CAUTION 1: This task should be performed by a qualified computer technician.
CAUTION 2: Please observe steps to reduce the potential damage to computer components from electrostatic discharge.
NOTE 1: If you are installing a sound card with a CD-ROM drive controller, you will have to configure the sound card first and then install the CD-ROM drive. You will not be able to install drivers from the Windows 95 CD-ROM from your CD-ROM drive until the CD-ROM drive has been reconfigured. If this causes any problems, contact next-level support or a qualified computer technician.
NOTE 2: If you already know what resources to use for the sound, skip steps 1) through 12).
1) Click the 'Start' button to display the 'Start' menu.
2) Select 'Settings' and select 'Control Panel'. (The 'Control Panel' window appears.)
'Control Panel' window
3) Double-click the 'System' icon. (The 'System Properties' dialog box appears.)
4) Click the 'Device Manager' tab. (The system devices are displayed.)
Device Manager
5) Select the 'Computer' icon, and click 'Properties'.
Select Computer and click Properties
6) Click 'Properties'. (The 'Computer Properties' dialog box appears.)
Computer Properties
7) Select the 'Interrupt request (IRQ)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with interrupt assignments and radio button name.)
IRQ
8) Record which interrupts are not assigned.
9) Select the 'Direct memory access (DMA)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with DMA assignments and radio button name.)
DMA
10) Record which DMAs are not assigned.
11) Select the 'Input/output (I/O)' radio button. (The dialog box lists the devices with memory addresses and radio button name.)
I/O addresses
12) Record two or three 'I/O Range' addresses that are not assigned.
13) Refer to the sound card manual to determine what device resources (DMAs, IRQs, and I/O Range addresses) are addressable by hardware jumpers on the sound card.
Example of hardware jumpers
14) Identify device resources addressable by the sound card that are not currently being used.
15) Click the 'Reserve Resources' tab.
16) Select the 'Interrupt request (IRQ)' radio button, and click 'Add...'. (The 'Edit Resource Settings' dialog box appears.)
17) Enter a IRQ value to be used by the sound card in the 'Value' list box, and click 'OK'
NOTE: If more than one IRQ is needed for the sound card, repeat step 17.
18) Select the 'Direct Memory Access (DMA)' radio button in the 'Value' list box, and click 'Add...'. (The 'Edit Resource Settings' dialog box appears.)
'Edit Interrupt Request' dialog box
19) Enter a DMA value to be used by the sound card in the 'Value' list box, and click 'OK'
NOTE: If more than one DMA is needed for the sound card, repeat step 19.
20) Select the 'Direct Memory Access (DMA)' radio button, and click 'Add...'. (The 'Edit Resource Settings' dialog box appears.)
'Edit Direct Memory Access' dialog box
21) Enter a I/O Range address to be used by the sound card in the 'Value' list box, and click 'OK'
NOTE: If more than one I/O Range address is needed for the sound card, repeat step 21).
22) Select the 'Memory' radio button, and click 'Add...'. (The 'Edit Resource Settings' dialog box appears.)
'Edit Input/Output Range' dialog box
NOTE: 'Memory' is also referred to as the 'base memory address'.
23) Enter a memory address to be used by the sound card in the 'Value' list box, and click 'OK'
NOTE: If more than one memory address is needed for the sound card, repeat step 23).
24) Click 'OK' again.
25) Shut down Windows 95, and turn off the computer.
26) Disconnect the external power cord from computer.
27) Remove the computer cover.
28) If you are replacing an existing sound card, do the following:
a) Locate the existing sound card.
NOTE: The external edge of a sound card may have a 15 pin game port, at least three stereo jack connectors, and some older cards will have a thumb wheel volume control.
Example of a sound card profile
b) Unplug all of the cables connected to the external jacks and disconnect any devices connected to the joystick port.
c) Disconnect the sound cable connecting the sound card to an internal CD-ROM if present.
d) Remove the screw securing the sound card to the computer.
e) Lift the sound card from the expansion slot with both hands.
CAUTION: Be careful not to snag any cables or scratch components when lifting the sound card from the computer.
29) Set the jumpers on the sound card to match the device resources reserved in steps 16) through 23).
NOTE: Refer to the sound card manual for proper jumper settings.
30) Determine the expansion slot type for the sound card.
31) Align the sound card parallel with an empty slot matching the card, and insert the card into the slot.
CAUTION: Keep the card vertical while inserting it into an expansion, and be careful not to bend the sound card board. Bending the sound card board can damage the circuitry.
32) If necessary connect the internal sound cable to the sound card and the internal CD-ROM drive.
33) If necessary connect speakers and microphone to the external jacks, and connect a joystick to the joystick port.
34) Reconnect the external computer power cord, and turn on the computer. (Allow Windows 95 to load normally.)
NOTE: Windows 95 may auto-detect the new sound card and will prompt you to add the sound card as new hardware. If so, skips steps 35) through 37).
35) Open the 'Add New Hardware' icon, and click 'Next'.
'Add New Hardware Wizard' dialog box
36) Select the 'No' radio button and click 'Next'.
Select 'No' radio button and click 'Next'
37) Select 'Sound, video, and game controllers' from the 'Hardware types' list box, and click 'Next'.
Select 'Sound, video, and game controllers'
38) Select manufacturer and model of the sound card from the 'Manufacturers' and 'Models' list boxes respectively, and do one of the following:
a) To install the drivers for the sound card supplied by the manufacturer, click 'Have Disk...', and follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Click 'Have Disk...'
NOTE: It is recommended that you install the sound card with drivers supplied by the manufacturer. Refer to the sound card manual for detailed installation steps.
b) To install the drivers for the sound card supplied with the Windows 95 CD-ROM do the following:
Select the manufacturer and models
NOTE: To install the sound card with drivers from the Windows 95 CD-ROM, you will need to have access to the Windows 95 CD-ROM.
39) Play a *.WAV file to test the sound card installation.
40) Shut down Windows 95, and turn off the computer.
41) Replace the computer cover, and turn on the computer.
NOTE 1: To activate the joystick port on the sound card, a separate driver may be required. Consult your sound card manual for additional information on joystick port activation under Windows 95.
NOTE 2: Sound card support for DOS based games may require editing the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to include a line 'SET BLASTER Axxx Ix Dx', where Axxx is the input/output range memory address, Ix is an interrupt request, and Dx is a direct memory access value. Refer to your sound card manual for information concerning support for DOS based applications and games.
