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HP Pavilion and CS4232 codec in MS-DOS Mode

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Jeff QUade

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Jan 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/29/96
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I am trying to configure an HP Pavilion with a CS4232 sound chip.
It works like a champ under win95 but for the life of me I cannot
get it to work at all under MS-DOS mode. If I run it in a DOS
box under win95 it is fine. Anyone got this working??

Clark O. Morgan

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Jan 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/29/96
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Comment #1:

Jeff, your newsreader has completely botched the From: line. No one
can reply to you via e-mail. Note the following headers:

Xref: netcom.com comp.sys.hp.misc:8277
Path: netcom.com!ix.netcom.com!howland.reston.ans.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!nwgw.infi.net!news2.infi.net!news.infi.net!usenet
From: <Unknown> (Jeff QUade) <<------ bogus
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp.misc
Subject: HP Pavilion and CS4232 codec in MS-DOS Mode
Date: 29 Jan 1996 13:14:59 GMT
Organization: InfiNet
Lines: 4
Message-ID: <4eih8j$5...@nw002.infi.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: h-adopt.richmond.infi.net
X-Newsreader: WinVN 0.92.6

And now, back to the question at hand...


I personally own an HP 7050 Pavilion and I think it's a great machine.
Unfortunately, HP's choice of the CS4232--most likely dictated by
price--turned out to not be very wise vis a vis DOS games.

This sound card appears to use a DSP to emulate standard SoundBlaster
features that so many DOS-based games seem to expect/require.
Apparently, the CS4232 programs its DSP for SoundBlaster compatibility
somewhere in the Win95 boot process. This means that if you want to
use the card to run a game in MS-DOS mode, you must force the DSP to be
programmed (somehow). With some help from HP tech support, here's what
I did to get the CS4232 to properly play "Comanche" (a CDROM-based
helicopter flight game) from a straight MS-DOS boot disk.

On your boot diskette you will need to have at least these 3 files:
config.sys, autoexec.bat, and cs4232.ini . Here are their contents:


==========
config.sys
==========
device=c:\windows\himem.sys /testmem:off

[common]
buffers=40
dos=high,umb
DEVICE=c:\cdrom\ACERCDH.SYS /D:IDECD000
Rem The CS4232C.EXE file configures the Sound System in the PC
device=c:\windows\cs4232c.exe /o /v


============
autoexec.bat
============
@ECHO OFF
SET BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 T4
rem
set path=c:\windows\command

c:\windows\command\mscdex /D:IDECD000 > nul
c:\mouse\mouse > nul

rem adjust smartdrv parameters to taste
c:\windows\smartdrv.exe /x 5120 5120


==========
cs4232.ini
==========
[PNP]
WssIO=534
WssInt=5
WssDmaPlay=1
WssDmaCapture=0
SbIO=220
OplIO=388
OplInt=Disabled

GameIO=200

4232IO=538
4232Int=Disabled

MPU401IO=disabled
MPU401Int=disabled

CDIO=Disabled
CDInt=Disabled
CDDma=Disabled

[IniUpdate]
;SysIniFile=C:\windows\system.ini

;SoundBlasterIRQ=[sndsys.drv],SoundBlasterIRQ
SoundBlasterAddr=[sndsys.drv],OldMSDOSGameIOAddress
;SoundBlasterDMA=[sndsys.drv],SoundBlasterDMA

;UsePnP=[sndsys.drv],UsePnP

;WSSIRQ=[sndsys.drv],Interrupt
;WSSAddr=[sndsys.drv],IOAddress
;WSSPlayDMA=[sndsys.drv],DMADAC
;WSSCaptDMA=[sndsys.drv],DMAADC
;
;MPU401IRQ=[mpu401.drv],int
;MPU401Addr=[mpu401.drv],port

;Opl3Addr=[opl3.drv],portFM
; For now keep this disabled
;Opl3IRQ=[opl3.drv],Int
;JoystickAddr=[sndsys.drv],Joystick


===================================================================
There is still one very nasty problem associated with the CS4232.
Suppose you have a DOS game that requires SoundBlaster compatibility
and suppose this DOS game can be correctly played in a Win95 DOS box
(i.e, you can play the game without rebooting into MS-DOS mode).
Examples of such games are Reader Rabbit and Treasure Math Storm.

Now, go to the Start menu and select "Suspend" to emulate an idle
power down. Next, move the mouse to "awaken" the Pavilion. Now
try to play the DOS game that requires SoundBlaster compatibility.
Surprise! No sound. How come? Well, Win95 didn't reprogram the
CS4232's DSP for SoundBlaster emulation mode. If anyone has a
workaround for this problem, I'd like to hear it. HP says it's a
(gasp) Windows 95 bug. The problem is so annoying to me that
I'm thinking of dumping the CS4232 and replacing it with a true
SoundBlaster card.

Hope this helps.
--
Clark O. Morgan cmo...@netcom.com

Clark O. Morgan

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Feb 6, 1996, 3:00:00 AM2/6/96
to
Since I published my article on how I got the CS4232 sound card to
operate in raw DOS, a couple of netizens have sent e-mail regarding
this issue. Consequently, I know that there's some general interest in
this subject. That being said, I personally experienced the fact that
my published algorithm for turning on the sound card in raw DOS doesn't
work all the time. Sorry about that. Correction noted below using >>>
and <<< leaders:

=============================================================

With some help from HP tech support, Here's what I did to get the


CS4232 to properly play "Comanche" (a CDROM-based helicopter flight
game) from a straight MS-DOS boot disk.

>>> Begin Change <<<
On your boot diskette you will need a copy of cs4232c.exe
(it's in the c:\windows directory)
>>> End Change <<<
and at least these 3 files: config.sys, autoexec.bat, and cs4232.ini .
Here are their contents:


==========
config.sys
==========
device=c:\windows\himem.sys /testmem:off

[common]
buffers=40
dos=high,umb
DEVICE=c:\cdrom\ACERCDH.SYS /D:IDECD000
Rem The CS4232C.EXE file configures the Sound System in the PC

rem >>> Begin Change <<<
rem Force cs4232 driver to look for cs4232.ini file on a: drive
rem by loading the driver from a: .
device=a:\cs4232c.exe /o /v
rem >>> End Change <<<

GameIO=200

4232IO=538
4232Int=Disabled

MPU401IO=disabled
MPU401Int=disabled

CDIO=Disabled
CDInt=Disabled
CDDma=Disabled

[IniUpdate]
;SysIniFile=C:\windows\system.ini

;UsePnP=[sndsys.drv],UsePnP


===================================================================

One of my correspondents mentioned finding a way to get the sound card
to work by renaming some files and booting directly into Win95's MS-DOS
mode. If that correspondent reads this message, 'twould be nice if
s/he posted his/her algorithm.

Apologies and best wishes,

Clark

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