Before i start let me say i am a total amateur with computers so go easy on me!

I have a J-542B Rev:3 motherboard (Jetway). I've downloaded the manual for it but it is simply too complex for me to understand.

There are two ISA slots on the motherboard and all i want to do is install my sound card. I have all the correct drivers but Windows will just NOT detect it. I don't understand! I've tried it with the other ISA slot too which still didn't work, then tried different devices in both ISA slots, all to no avail. My conclusion: Something is wrong with the ISA slots...right?

Can anyone out there help me to get this problem sorted out? I know how to change settings in BIOS but by the same token don't really know what effect it will have on my system. Is there something in here i need to change, regarding IRQ ports or something? If there is then please help me (in childlike English so i understand!)

Thanks so much for your help and patience.

Jonathan

Being an ISA Sound Card the chances are it is not Plug & Play so Windows will never detect it.

You need to install the sound card. Boot up and install the drivers. The drivers installation software should then detect the sound card.

Stuart

Stuart

Hi Stuart, thanks for the reply.

Unfortuntely i have already downloaded and installed the drivers for the product (Creative ct4520) but Windows 98 SE won't pick it up, nor will it work at all. It's not a problem with the actual card because it works fine in other computers (and is picked up automatically). Any further suggestions?

This may not be relevant but i thought i'd better mention it. After turning the ACPI function in BIOS off at the suggestion of a guy from Uni, Windows started picking up a 'Universal Serial Bus' when i logged onto it. However, my USB card is already installed and working fine with no conflicts (i'm even connecting to the internet via it right now). I don't suppose there's any way at all that Windows 98 SE could mistake this sound card for a USB device?

hello
some isa cards have jumpers on them to set to match them to the irq settings asigned to them.in the slot your useing.

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Hi Dave,

If jumpers are the little pins sticking out of the cards then yes, it does have them. Question is, how am i supposed to tell what to do with them to make it work?! I don't have any manuals for these pieces of equipment you see.

I'm wondering if that is the problem, coz it seems that neither of the ISA slots are for picking up any card, jumpers or not.

ISA slots are the black ones aren't they?!

Yea, ISA slots are black, they're usually longer than PCI slots, & they're the lowest slots on the board.

1st of all, did you look in "device manger" to make sure the card's not listed under "other devices" or "sound, video, & game controllers"?

If it's not listed, you're gonna have to "force" Windows to recognize your card. Go to Control Panel/Add New Hardware...start the "Add New Hardware Wizard"...when you get to, "Do you want Windows to search for your hardware?", select "No, I want to select hardware from a list"...in the next window, select "sound, video, & game controllers"...then click on "have disk"...pop in the floppy or CD, browse to the disk, then click OK

Hi Jam,

Yes, i've already checked device manager. The only strange thing is this 'PCI USB' thing it keeps finding but cannot find a driver for. My USB ports are already installed and i have the drivers for them so this is a little odd. May not be relevant to this particular case though.

I've tried forcing Windows to recognise the card, but then it simply shows up in Device Manager with a yellow exclamation mark. It's as though there's no recognition of ANY cards i put in the ISA slots by the motherboard upwards!

I've heard somewhere it could be IRQ related so i've fiddled with BIOS settings but i'm a bit of an amateur there. I don't want to flash the BIOS because frankly i'm not sure what to do.

Is this beginning to look like a job for the repair people?!