Packard Bell 900 Series - Hardware

If you get problems with this soundcard where everything appears to be working in DOS but windows comes up with a yellow exclamation mark in device manager, try the following:

Remove the Sound 16 SRS 3d from device manager restart in DOS mode type in

cd\voyetra\utility
config.exe

check that in the MPU401 (MIDI) is set to -

• Enabled - YES
• Port Address - 330H
• Interrupt - IRQ10 (default is 2 DO NOT USE THIS)

Save any changes and re-boot into Win '95. Manually add the sound 16 SRS using the default settings, shut down restart, and hopefully everything should be fine again

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• Click on Start, then Run, and in the Run box type SYSEDIT, and click on OK. Find the file AUTOEXEC.BAT.
• Then add one of the following lines
  • If the computer came with the program Bugs, add the line, LH C:\BUGS\MOUSE
  • If the computer came with the program 3D Body, add the line,
    LH C:\3DBODY\MOUSE

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Radio Not on Taskbar

FMRADIO - When you minimise it, it goes down onto the toolbar. However, when it has been reinstalled FM Radio (either from the disks or the Diskimag directory), minimising no longer puts it on the toolbar. Instead it puts it into a little floating icon.

Reason: The version of FM Radio in Diskimag is an earlier version than the one installed at factory.

Answer: Deltree C:\Fmradio. Then reinstall the directory from Master CD.

Getting sound on PB RADIO

If you go into START\PROGRAMS\ACCESSORIS\MULTIMEDIA\VOLUME CONTOL Make sure that there are at least SIX (YES 6) Volume controls. Four of these control the sound for the PB RADIO

• MASTER
• CD
• LINE
• MIC

Then goto Start\Programs\Packardbell\MiroMwaveSoftware\Audio Control. Make sure Radio has a tick and that all volume controls are on full especially INPUT SOURCE and MASTER as these are also for the PB RADIO volume.

MWave Audio - Tick Doesn't Stay in Radio Box

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On turning on computer goes through BIOS checks, and then hangs on a black screen (Or machine continually reboots). Check BIOS

Primary IDE Slave - Not Installed
Secondary IDE Master - Not Installed
Secondary IDE Slave - Not Installed

Go into each and check that they are not set to Auto Detect if so computer will go off and search for devices which takes time. Set to DISABLED.

Also go into the Advanced section and Peripheral Configuration, and make sure the External DB9 line is set to COM1, and if present Internal Header is set to COM4. save settings and exit and machine should boot normally.

If the machine has an MWave Modem/Soundcard, and the above makes no difference, then go into Windows in Safe Mode. Click on Start / Run, and run the program SYSEDIT. In the file AUTOEXEC.BAT, make sure the line CALL MWAVE START is the last line in the file.

If this doesn't work and the machine has recently been remastered, check that the MWAVE modem is set to the correct settings. (See FASTCFG)

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If you cannot get into the BIOS because of a password then do the following...

• Go to the DOS prompt
• Type DEBUG and press Enter
• Type o70 25 and press Enter
• Type o71 6 and press Enter
• Type q and press Enter

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If you are trying to install a device onto the Serial port, and it isn't working, try the following -

• Restart the computer and go into the BIOS (F1 on the first screen).
• Go to the Advanced section, and then Peripheral Configuration.
• Make sure External DB9=COM1, and (if present) Internal Header=Com4.
• Press F10 to Save and Exit.
• When the machine is in Windows, Click on Start and Run.
• Enter Sysedit and click on OK.
• In the SYSTEM.INI file look for the section [386ENH].
• Remove the lines PBIRPORT=1 (OR 2...) and DEVICE=PBEWD01S.386 (or .VXD).
• Save and Exit out of Sysedit, and reboot the machine. All should be fine now.

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If you find that the Rocky modem is not working, and removing and reinstalling makes no difference, try -

• Shutdown Windows and Restart in MSDOS Mode.
• Type in CD\VOYETRA\UTILITY and press Enter.
• Type in CONFIG and press Enter.
• In the Modem properties section, make sure the Com port is set to 2, and the IRQ is set to 3.
• Save and Exit, and then restart the computer.

It might also be worth going into the Bios (F1 on Startup), the Going to Advanced / Peripheral Configuration, and making sure the External DB9 line is set to COM1, and if present, the Internal Header line is set to COM4.

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You may get this message when starting the computer up. The reason is the PnP Bios is corrupted. The solution is to reset the Bios by using the jumper on the motherboard (this will vary from board to board).

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This affects games such as Dungeon Keeper, and Speedster, on some Packard Bell machines with some PB 1015 / 14xx monitors. The fault lies with the ability of some tubes to switch refresh rates fast enough between different graphics modes.

The intro will play fine, but the game itself looks like someone switched display area to 1024x768 - you get three blurry screens and a lot of horizontal lines.

To solve this,

• Right-Click My Computer, Click Properties, then Performance, and Graphics
• Move the hardware acceleration to none
• Click OK/Close until prompted to reboot and do so.

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Testing the Soundcard

• In WIN95, click on Start, Shutdown, and Restart in MS-DOS Mode.
• CD\SOUND144\UTILITY or CD\VOYETRA\UTILITY
• Type EASYSTAR and press Enter, to access the soundcard testing program.

Resetting the Soundcard

• In WIN95, click on Start, Shutdown, and Restart in MS-DOS Mode.
• CD\SOUND144\UTILITY or CD\VOYETRA\UTILITY
• Type in HWSET /MR, and then restart the computer.

Reinstalling the Soundcard

To reinstall the Aztech Sound Galaxy Washington 16, try the following -

• Go into System, Device Manager, and Sound Video and Game Controllers. Remove the Aztech Washington 16 line.
• Close Device Manager, start up Add New Hardware Wizard.
• Manually install Aztech Sound Galaxy Washington 16.
• While copying files from the CD, the following message appears:

  "Version Conflict. The files on your hard drive are newer than the ones you are trying to install. It is recommended that you keep your existing versions. Keep existing versions? Y\N?"

• Enter 'No', then the files will be overwritten and when Windows reboots, the sound is back to normal.

If you still get no sound, then try the following -

• Put in Windows 95 CD.
• Goto Start / Programs / MS-DOS Prompt.
• Type D:
• Type CD\Drivers\Audio\PackBell Or CD\Drivers\Audio\Aztech
• Type COPY AZ*.* C:\
• Exit MS-DOS prompt, then Start / ShutDown / Restart in MS-DOS MODE.
• Type COPY C:\AZ*.* C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM
• Say Y to Overwrite in both cases
• Restart the computer. Should now get sound.

Static Resource Conflict

If you get an Aztech Sound Galaxy Washington 16 card giving the above error, try going into the EasyStar program (either C:\SOUND144\UTILITY or C:\VOYETRA\UTILITY) and make sure that it is not using the same settings as the Serial Port. Also check that the MPU401 compatible in Easystar is set to use IRQ 9 as it defaults to using IRQ 2.

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Not reading certain CDs - Lasalock?

One possible explanation for this problem is a copy protection facility called 'Lasalock' that prevents illegal duplication. Sadly, some CD drives (notably NEC) have trouble reading this (essential) piece of info, and the software will not run.

If this occurs, you may be able to contact the game manufacturers who may be able to supply a 'non-lasalock' version.

Lost CD-ROM Drive in Win 95

If the CD-ROM drive goes missing in Windows 95, try this -

Shutdown Windows and Restart in MS-DOS mode.
Type in CD\WINDOWS\COMMAND
Then type in FDISK /MBR and press Enter
Insert either the Master CD or Win95 boot disk, and type in SYS A: C: and press Enter
When it has finished, reboot the computer (remembering to take the disk out first).

Enabling CD-ROM in DOS

• In Win95, click on Start, then Settings, and choose Control Panel.
• Double click on System, and then select Device Manager.
• Click on the '+' sign next to the CD-ROM line.
• Note down what the line says.
• Close Device Manager, and Control Panel.
• Click on Start, then Run, and type in SYSEDIT, and Click on OK.
• In the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, add the line LH C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\MSCDEX.EXE /D:PBCD1
• Click on the File Menu, and then on Save.
• Click on the Cross in the top right corner of the AUTOEXEC.BAT window.
• In the CONFIG.SYS file,
  • If the drive is an NEC, add the line, DEVICEHIGH=C:\NEC_IDE.SYS /D:PBCD1
  • If the drive is MATSHITA, add the line,
    DEVICEHIGH=C:\CR_ATAPI.SYS /D:PBCD1
  • If the drive is SONY, add the line, DEVICEHIGH=C:\ATAPI_CD.SYS /D:PBCD1
• Click on File, then Exit, and click on Yes to save the changes.
• Click on Start, then Programs, then MS-DOS Prompt.
• Type in CD\ and press Enter.
• Type in DIR *.SYS and press Enter. If the Driver file you need is not there (see config.sys above) then insert either the Master CD or Win95 boot disk
• Then type in COPY A:\(driver name) and press Enter.
• Remove the Disk, and Type in Exit and Press Enter.
• Click on Start, then Shutdown, and Restart Computer.
• Allowing for typing mistakes, next time you restart the computer in MS DOS mode, the CDROM should be working.

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Remote Control Not Working

1. Check that the handset is working. Point it at anything else that is operated by a remote control and press a button. If the "other" device has a light that indicates when it is receiving a signal it should show the remote control is working.

2. If this works, then check that C:\FMEDIA\FMEDIA.EXE is present on the RUN= line in the C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI file.

3. In the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI file, check that the line PBIRPORT=1 is present and not set to =0 or =2.(normally in the [386enh] section)

4. It also might be worth going into the BIOS, and in Advanced/Peripheral Configuration, setting the Configuration Mode to Auto.

FMedia Appliant Failure

This means that you need to get hold of the Fast Media Update disk (REFFIUP00530100). After installing the disk you will probably need to edit the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.INI file, and change the following 2 lines (both are in the [386ENH] section),

Batteries

On the Packard Bell remote control, if the handset is left upside down for any period of time, then it will cause the battery to drain rapidly. May be worth considering if the batteries seem to run out very quickly. This is a design "feature" of the remote control according to Packard Bell.

FMedia Shortcut Keys

If the FN menu key stops working properly, then you need to copy the file FMEDIA.INI from the FMEDIA directory into the WINDOWS directory, and overwrite the one that's already there.

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