Gateway 2000 Sound Board Not Compatible with WSS Drivers

MORE INFORMATION

During installation of the Windows Sounds System software, the Gateway 2000 sound boards are often incorrectly detected as Microsoft (or compatible) audio hardware, Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro, or Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or 16 ASP sound board. If you confirm that this is the type of sound board you have, Windows Sound System Setup installs drivers that are incompatible with the Gateway 2000 sound board.

To attempt to use the Windows Sound System with these sound boards, the drivers installed by the Setup program should be manually removed and replaced with drivers available from Gateway. The process for doing so is described below. This should provide some Windows Sound System functionality; however, such configurations are not supported by Microsoft.

Replacing the Drivers Installed by Setup

NOTE: You should run the Windows Sound System Setup and select a sound board from the list that appears before attempting this procedure. After you have run Setup at least once, proceed with step 1.

1. After exiting Windows, make a backup copy of your SYSTEM.INI file by typing the following at an MS-DOS command prompt

   copy c:\windows\system.ini c:\windows\system.bak

2. Using a text editor such as the MS-DOS Editor (EDIT.COM), remove the drivers that were installed by Setup from the SYSTEM.INI file. The drivers installed will vary in each case depending on the sound board that was selected during Setup. (One the following groups will appear.)

         Microsoft (or Compatible) Audio Hardware
         ----------------------------------------
   
         wave=sndsys.drv
         aux=sndsys.drv
         midi=sndsys.drv
         mixer=sndsys.drv
         device=vsndsys.386
   
         -or-
   
         Creative Labs Sound Blaster Pro
         -------------------------------
   
         wave=wsssbpro.drv
         aux=wsssbpro.drv
         midi=wsssbpro.drv
         mixer=wsssbpro.drv
         device=wsssbpro.386
   
         -or-
   
         Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 or 16 ASP
         ----------------------------------------
   
         wave=wsssb16.drv
         aux=wsssb16.drv
         midi=wsssb16.drv
         mixer=wsssb16.drv
         device=wsssb16.386
   						

3. Install the drivers provided by Gateway according to manufacturer's instructions.

The Gateway 2000 sound board is manufactured by Gateway 2000, independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.