ActiMates: No Sound After Installing Actimates Barney Software (174889)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Barney Goes to the Circus 1.0
  • Microsoft Barney Under the Sea 1.0
  • Microsoft Fun on Imagination Island with the Microsoft ActiMates PC Pack 1.0
  • Microsoft Fun on the Farm with Barney
This article was previously published under Q174889

SYMPTOMS

After installing Microsoft ActiMates-compatible software, you no longer have sound on the computer.

CAUSE

This occurs if the Microsoft ActiMates Barney software is installed on a Compaq Presario 2100 or 2200 series computer and the ActiMates software installation upgrades the sound card drivers.

Certain models of the Compaq Presario series contain a Cyrix Media GX chip. This chip emulates a Creative Labs Sound Blaster sound card. During Setup the ActiMates software detects this as being an actual Creative Labs sound card and installs Creative Lab's drivers for it. However, these drivers are not appropriate for the type of hardware in the computer and are incompatible with the MIDI port needs of the ActiMates Barney hardware/software.

To verify that the computer contains a Cyrix Media GX chip, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click System.

    If "Media GX" is listed under Computer on the General tab, then the chip is a Cyrix Media GX.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, contact Cyrix to obtain the Cyrix Media GX DirectX 5.0 patch. This patch resolves the conflict with DirectX 5.0 and the Cyrix Media GX chip. You can reach Cyrix by dialing (800) 777-9988.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft ActiMates Barney software, version 1.0. Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

WORKAROUND

You can also work around this problem by downloading Sndbarny.exe from the Microsoft Download Center on the World Wide Web. The Sndbarny.exe file prevents the Microsoft ActiMates software titles from prompting you to update your existing sound card drivers. Running this program prevents the ActiMates software from upgrading the sound card drivers and allows you to run the stand-alone Barney software programs.

NOTE: After downloading Sndbarny.exe, the ActiMates PC Pack Transmitter will still not work with the Compaq Presario 2100 and 2200 computers, but the software titles that do not require ActiMates Interactive Barney should run just fine. Downloading the Sndbarny.exe file will allow you run Barney Goes to the Circus, Barney Under the Sea, and Fun on the Farm with Barney as a stand-alone software program.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

SNDBARNY.EXE

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

If you do not wish to contact Cyrix for the Medial GX patch, or download the Sndbarny.exe file, you can use one of the following workarounds.

NOTE: Both of the following methods will downgrade the sound card drivers. This means the ActiMates Barney software may not run correctly as it requires the sound card drivers that are installed with the ActiMates software. This will, however, restore sound to your computer.

Remove Sound Card Drivers

To enable sound on the computer, the new drivers need to be removed and the original drivers need to be reinstalled. To do this, do the following:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Double-click System
  3. On the Device Manager tab, double-click Sound, Video, And Game Controllers to expand the branch.
  4. Click the entry for the Sound Blaster sound card.
  5. Click Remove, and then click OK to confirm the removal.
  6. If prompted, click OK to restart the computer.
During the restart, Windows 95 should detect the new hardware and install the appropriate drivers for the sound card.

Restore System

The Compaq Presario series also comes with a Quick Restore compact disc. This disc can be used to restore the computer to its original configuration as it came from Compaq. However, all information put on the computer will be lost in the restore process and should be backed up prior to restoring the computer.

Compaq technical support can be reached at 1-800-652-6672 for questions regarding this procedure.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/5/2004
Keywords:kbdownload kb3rdparty kbenv kbfile kbprb kbsetup kbsound KB174889
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