Political Crossfire Forums

HomoUniversalis · Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:00 pm Post subject: Empire at War: Sound Problem

I guess I might as well ask it here since LucasArts seems to take their 48 hours pretty liberal.

Okay, so when I run Empire at War, my speakers make a poof, and for the duration of the session my sound no longer functions. If I shut Empire at War down, I can't run music, and when I start music, I hear a poof, and when I change the slider, and stop (so start on a new location at the track) I hear a poof too.

Now, someone advised me to reinstall direct x, which solved the problem for a short while, but now I'm back to having the problem.

I have a SoundBlaster Live! MB I think. I purchased this computer a couple of months ago, so it shouldn't be a too old a system...

I can't find any solution... Any help would be very much appreciated! :)

Mr U

David · Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 12416 Location: Louisiana

Have you tried reinstalling the drivers?How many speakers do you have plugged in and are they plugged into the correct hole?There are 3 holes if you're using the surround speakers.Do you have the control console installed (you really don't need it unless you want to tweak the settings somewhat) and have you set it for the number of speakers you are using?

HomoUniversalis · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 5:41 am Post subject:

Quote: How many speakers do you have plugged in and are they plugged into the correct hole?

2, and a subwoofer. That's still just stereo, right?

Quote: Do you have the control console installed (you really don't need it unless you want to tweak the settings somewhat)

Quote: and have you set it for the number of speakers you are using?

Well, yes.

Drivers? Well, you see, the sound normally works.. It works when I play music, or other games. The only problem comes when I run Empire at War, than, until I restart my computer, no sound works.

Mr U

David · Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 12416 Location: Louisiana

I don't have the control console installed and I don't have any problems is why I asked about that.next time you run EatW and you close it out, hit your task manager and see if it closed out properly.If not, then close it from there and see if that doesn't clear it up.For some reason it's not releasing the sound card like it should,but then you pretty much know that part.If that doesn't do it you might get a better response from Creative support.

HomoUniversalis · Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2006 6:44 am Post subject:

Yeah, but the sound doesn't work during the game either. I tried logging off, and logging back in, but that didn't work either, even though it should shut down and restart all of the applications (which does make it seem as if this is somehow a driver problem).

Maybe I'll send Creative a message, yeah.. Thanks anyway :).

Mr U

David · Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 12416 Location: Louisiana

While you're there see if there are any updated drivers and make sure you have the latest.

Gus · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 7609 Location: Tampa, FL

Do the speakers work? Have you tried connected something else to them?

HomoUniversalis · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:46 pm Post subject:

Gus wrote: Do the speakers work? Have you tried connected something else to them?

Yeah, but I have found the solution. Reinstalling the whole software package seemed to fix it. I don't know what I need to be angry with, LucasArts, or Creative. Anyway, thanks for your help! :)

Mr U

David · Joined: 28 Dec 2003 Posts: 12416 Location: Louisiana

Most likely something that was installed after you installed the card shared some of the resources the card needed as well and wouldn't release them.Reinstalling the software forced Windows to reallocate them.