problem with audigy card - crackle and pops

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 22:44:37 +1000, "A.Gray" <A.Gray.DeleteThis@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

 >Hi folks,
 >
 >I am having trouble with my SoundBlaster Audigy card and am wondering if
 >anyone could help me out. First, the specs on my computer:
 >
 >ABitKR7A-Raid Mobo with via chipset. (via driver 4in1 4.51 [most recent
 >I could find], System bios version 6.00PG [CX release which is the most
 >recent I could find],
 >Athlon XP 1600+,
 >SB Audigy DE (using original driver from cd, and latest downloaded ones,
 >the same problem exists)
 >Geforce 3 TI200
 >Highpoint 372 onboard raid controller (v2.32 bios and 2.34 driver)
 >
 >Now, the problem is that the sound on my audigy card crackles and pops a
 >lot, especially when there is IDE activity. It's awful! It first
 >started when I started using my HighPoint 372 raid array to mirror two
 >of my drives (which are identical). It seems that the audigy doesn't
 >like it when the highpoint raid controller is on.
 >
 >I initially thought it was the card itself, so I purchased a Vibra 128
 >card on the cheap to get me by, but it was actually worse!!! So I
 >booted up linux, and hey presto, the sound is perfect. So it's not
 >necessarily the card.
 >
 >A search on the internet shows up that a lot of people have had this
 >problem, especially with the SoundBlaster Live cards. But I haven't
 >found anyone who has a solution to the problem. They kept saying it was
 >a problem with the cards from Creative. They also said that it was
 >prevalent with via chipsets.
 >
 >So:
 >1. I started using raid, and my sound went to crap
 >2. My sound works fine under linux, as far as I could tell
 >3. many people suggest that this problem is to do with creative and via
 >problems
 >4. someone even said it was to do with a limitation of the via chipset
 >where it doesn't implement a feature of the PCI standard.
 >5. others have said it's to do with ACPI
 >6. nearly all have said either get rid of raid, or use a different sound
 >card
 >
 >So basically........HELP!!! Help me out please. How can I get my sound
 >card to work properly, and not fork out money on a new mobo or raid
 >controller or sound card?
 >
 >Does anyone have any suggestions?
 >
 >I appreciate your help in advance. Thanks.
 >
 >- Andrew Gray
 >


You probably have interrupt contention between the HPT372 and
the Audigy. The HPT372 shares interrupts with one or more
MB slots. Have you tried moving the Audigy card to another slot ?

Via boards are notorious for having problems with the 4-in-1
drivers and video cards/driver-versions. However, I am not sure
of conflicts with Sound cards.

John Lewis<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Hi, here <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/" target="_blank">http://www.georgebreese.com/net/software/</a> might have something you
can use to fix your crackling issues.....
Chris C
"TomG" <tgeery-NOSPAM-.RemoveThis@cox.net> wrote in message
news:VO5Vb.2871$Yj.2063@lakeread02...
 > have you tried matching the Highpoint bios and driver versions? that is
 > usually a good idea, to have them matched. I carry mobo bios sets on my
 > server at the address below and the custom bios sets, in the event Abit
did
 > not release a version with 2.34 Highpoint bios insert already in it, are
 > located under the /beta section.
 >
 > sometimes, in the past, folks got some relief from this problem by playing
 > with the PCI Latency timer if matching the Highpoint bios and driver
 > versions don't provide relief.
 >
 > --
 >
 > Thomas Geery
 > Network+ certified
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</font</a>>
 > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
 > This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
 > over 120,000 FTP users served!
 > ^^^^^^^
 >
 >
 >
 >
 > "A.Gray" <A.Gray.RemoveThis@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
 > news:c02mjk$2opo$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
  > > Hi folks,
  > >
  > > I am having trouble with my SoundBlaster Audigy card and am wondering if
  > > anyone could help me out. First, the specs on my computer:
  > >
  > > ABitKR7A-Raid Mobo with via chipset. (via driver 4in1 4.51 [most recent
  > > I could find], System bios version 6.00PG [CX release which is the most
  > > recent I could find],
  > > Athlon XP 1600+,
  > > SB Audigy DE (using original driver from cd, and latest downloaded ones,
  > > the same problem exists)
  > > Geforce 3 TI200
  > > Highpoint 372 onboard raid controller (v2.32 bios and 2.34 driver)
  > >
  > > Now, the problem is that the sound on my audigy card crackles and pops a
  > > lot, especially when there is IDE activity. It's awful! It first
  > > started when I started using my HighPoint 372 raid array to mirror two
  > > of my drives (which are identical). It seems that the audigy doesn't
  > > like it when the highpoint raid controller is on.
  > >
  > > I initially thought it was the card itself, so I purchased a Vibra 128
  > > card on the cheap to get me by, but it was actually worse!!! So I
  > > booted up linux, and hey presto, the sound is perfect. So it's not
  > > necessarily the card.
  > >
  > > A search on the internet shows up that a lot of people have had this
  > > problem, especially with the SoundBlaster Live cards. But I haven't
  > > found anyone who has a solution to the problem. They kept saying it was
  > > a problem with the cards from Creative. They also said that it was
  > > prevalent with via chipsets.
  > >
  > > So:
  > > 1. I started using raid, and my sound went to crap
  > > 2. My sound works fine under linux, as far as I could tell
  > > 3. many people suggest that this problem is to do with creative and via
  > > problems
  > > 4. someone even said it was to do with a limitation of the via chipset
  > > where it doesn't implement a feature of the PCI standard.
  > > 5. others have said it's to do with ACPI
  > > 6. nearly all have said either get rid of raid, or use a different sound
  > > card
  > >
  > > So basically........HELP!!! Help me out please. How can I get my sound
  > > card to work properly, and not fork out money on a new mobo or raid
  > > controller or sound card?
  > >
  > > Does anyone have any suggestions?
  > >
  > > I appreciate your help in advance. Thanks.
  > >
  > > - Andrew Gray
  > >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 22:44:37 +1000, "A.Gray" <A.Gray.DeleteThis@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

 >Hi folks,
 >
 >I am having trouble with my SoundBlaster Audigy card and am wondering if
 >anyone could help me out.

These drivers have been known to solve similar issues for other
people.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1" target="_blank">http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1</a><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Are you running winxp?

Most drivers are fully tested with the most current operating systems.
If your running an older os, like win98, finding a "golden" driver
version may be required.

Forrest

Motherboard Help By HAL web site:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://home.comcast.net/~hal-9000/" target="_blank">http://home.comcast.net/~hal-9000/</a>


On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 22:44:37 +1000, "A.Gray" <A.Gray.RemoveThis@bigfoot.com>
wrote:

 >Hi folks,
 >
 >I am having trouble with my SoundBlaster Audigy card and am wondering if
 >anyone could help me out. First, the specs on my computer:
 >
 >ABitKR7A-Raid Mobo with via chipset. (via driver 4in1 4.51 [most recent
 >I could find], System bios version 6.00PG [CX release which is the most
 >recent I could find],
 >Athlon XP 1600+,
 >SB Audigy DE (using original driver from cd, and latest downloaded ones,
 >the same problem exists)
 >Geforce 3 TI200
 >Highpoint 372 onboard raid controller (v2.32 bios and 2.34 driver)
 >
 >Now, the problem is that the sound on my audigy card crackles and pops a
 >lot, especially when there is IDE activity. It's awful! It first
 >started when I started using my HighPoint 372 raid array to mirror two
 >of my drives (which are identical). It seems that the audigy doesn't
 >like it when the highpoint raid controller is on.
 >
 >I initially thought it was the card itself, so I purchased a Vibra 128
 >card on the cheap to get me by, but it was actually worse!!! So I
 >booted up linux, and hey presto, the sound is perfect. So it's not
 >necessarily the card.
 >
 >A search on the internet shows up that a lot of people have had this
 >problem, especially with the SoundBlaster Live cards. But I haven't
 >found anyone who has a solution to the problem. They kept saying it was
 >a problem with the cards from Creative. They also said that it was
 >prevalent with via chipsets.
 >
 >So:
 >1. I started using raid, and my sound went to crap
 >2. My sound works fine under linux, as far as I could tell
 >3. many people suggest that this problem is to do with creative and via
 >problems
 >4. someone even said it was to do with a limitation of the via chipset
 >where it doesn't implement a feature of the PCI standard.
 >5. others have said it's to do with ACPI
 >6. nearly all have said either get rid of raid, or use a different sound
 >card
 >
 >So basically........HELP!!! Help me out please. How can I get my sound
 >card to work properly, and not fork out money on a new mobo or raid
 >controller or sound card?
 >
 >Does anyone have any suggestions?
 >
 >I appreciate your help in advance. Thanks.
 >
 >- Andrew Gray<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Hi Tom, I have seen some of your posts previously when I searched
Google. Now, I did try to upgrade the bios of the bighpoint controller,
but when I did, the flash program complained saying it couldnt find a
bios or something like that. I shall try it again, and see if there is
anything on your server. Thanks

By the way, have you heard of dyndns.org for your server? install it,
then you can have a static domain address, which always points to your
dynamic IP address. eg, tomsdrivers.dyndns.org points to 68.98.180.8 or
whatever IP address you have at the time. it's great! and free!

I'll write back with my results. Thanks!

- Andy Gray


TomG wrote:
 > have you tried matching the Highpoint bios and driver versions? that is
 > usually a good idea, to have them matched. I carry mobo bios sets on my
 > server at the address below and the custom bios sets, in the event Abit did
 > not release a version with 2.34 Highpoint bios insert already in it, are
 > located under the /beta section.
 >
 > sometimes, in the past, folks got some relief from this problem by playing
 > with the PCI Latency timer if matching the Highpoint bios and driver
 > versions don't provide relief.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

"Andrew Gray" <No RemoveThis @way.com> wrote in message
news:c04hbl$28of$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
 > Hi Tom, I have seen some of your posts previously when I searched
 > Google. Now, I did try to upgrade the bios of the bighpoint controller,
 > but when I did, the flash program complained saying it couldnt find a
 > bios or something like that. I shall try it again, and see if there is
 > anything on your server. Thanks
 >

you cannot flash the Highpoint bios directly. you have to flash the
Highpoint bios by virtue of flashing the mainboard bios with a version that
contains the desired Highpoint insert. so what you need to do is go in
search of a mainboard bios version that has 2.34 Highpoint bios in it.

 > By the way, have you heard of dyndns.org for your server? install it,
 > then you can have a static domain address, which always points to your
 > dynamic IP address. eg, tomsdrivers.dyndns.org points to 68.98.180.8 or
 > whatever IP address you have at the time. it's great! and free!
 >

I use DNS2GO from Deerfield.com. It used to be free but they recently
started charging a nominal fee. still, I do have a static address as a
result.
 > I'll write back with my results. Thanks!
 >
 > - Andy Gray
 >

good luck...


--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 120,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Hi Again, Tom,

Okay, I have matched the highpoint driver and bios to 2.32. Since it's
an onboard highpoint chip, the bios is stored in the system bios, and so
is dependant on abit...the most recent bios they released for the
highpoint is 2.32. So that's what I using, both driver and bios.

I also tried Jeff Masons kx drivers. They work fairly well considering.
However, the problem still persists, even with these completely
different drivers. So alas, I am still not going right. Although, I
must say that the kx drivers did seem to be popping and crackling less
than the creative drivers. But still, they did crackle and pop none the
less.

Any other ideas, anyone?? Ta.

- Andrew Gray

(now, I have highpoint 2.32 driver and bios installed,
kx driver for the audigy card, but can go back to creative drivers,
latest abit bios for the kr7a-raid mobo. Windows XP pro.)



TomG wrote:
 > have you tried matching the Highpoint bios and driver versions? that is
 > usually a good idea, to have them matched. I carry mobo bios sets on my
 > server at the address below and the custom bios sets, in the event Abit did
 > not release a version with 2.34 Highpoint bios insert already in it, are
 > located under the /beta section.
 >
 > sometimes, in the past, folks got some relief from this problem by playing
 > with the PCI Latency timer if matching the Highpoint bios and driver
 > versions don't provide relief.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

"Andrew Gray" <No DeleteThis @way.com> wrote in message
news:c04uet$2st9$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
 > Hi Again, Tom,
 >
 > Okay, I have matched the highpoint driver and bios to 2.32. Since it's
 > an onboard highpoint chip, the bios is stored in the system bios, and so
 > is dependant on abit...the most recent bios they released for the
 > highpoint is 2.32. So that's what I using, both driver and bios.
 >

at least the two versions are matched... however, you are not limited to
Abit for bios choices. they are the source for the mainboard bios, for
sure. but we can and do add in our own Highpoint inserts... that is why my
very first post to you directed you to look on my server.

 > I also tried Jeff Masons kx drivers. They work fairly well considering.
 > However, the problem still persists, even with these completely
 > different drivers. So alas, I am still not going right. Although, I
 > must say that the kx drivers did seem to be popping and crackling less
 > than the creative drivers. But still, they did crackle and pop none the
 > less.
 >

does your board bios have a PCI Latency Timer setting under the PCI/PNP
section of the bios setup?


--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://geerynet.d2g.com" target="_blank">ftp://geerynet.d2g.com</a>
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="ftp://68.98.180.8" target="_blank">ftp://68.98.180.8</a> Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 120,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Hi,

I have tried the kx drivers, and they work okay, but there is still
plenty of popping and crackling going on (although there is perhaps
slightly less than the creative drivers).

Any other ideas? Ta

- Andrew Gray
(now, I have highpoint 2.32 driver and bios installed,
kx driver for the audigy card, but can go back to creative drivers,
latest abit bios for the kr7a-raid mobo. Windows XP pro.)


Jeff Mason wrote:

 > On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 22:44:37 +1000, "A.Gray" <A.Gray DeleteThis @bigfoot.com>
 > wrote:
 >
 >
  >>Hi folks,
  >>
  >>I am having trouble with my SoundBlaster Audigy card and am wondering if
  >>anyone could help me out.
 >
 >
 > These drivers have been known to solve similar issues for other
 > people.
 >
<font color=purple> > <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1</font" target="_blank">http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1</font</a>><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Hi,

I have just tried it in a variety of different slots, however, there is
no change. The sound is still crackly and pops a lot.

Any other ideas?

Thank you.

- Andrew Gray



 >
 > You probably have interrupt contention between the HPT372 and
 > the Audigy. The HPT372 shares interrupts with one or more
 > MB slots. Have you tried moving the Audigy card to another slot ?
 >
 > Via boards are notorious for having problems with the 4-in-1
 > drivers and video cards/driver-versions. However, I am not sure
 > of conflicts with Sound cards.
 >
 > John Lewis
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Tom, interesting you should say that!

Unfortunately, my pc has not coped too well with all the changes I've
made, and eventually, windows stopped booting properly. I got it going
again, but there were just tons of little things that were not working
just right. So I decided to re-install. However, one thing that did
start working right was that the sound stopped crackling. Now there
were two things that happened just prior to the sound working again.
These were: I installed some drivers from George Breese, and 2, I
enabled the PCI Delay Transaction in the bios (it was disabled
previously). After the reboot (silly me, I did both these things at the
same time, instead of one after the other), windows found it needed to
do a chkdsk...strange...but then ta-da, the music was flawless! I was
interested to see what made the change, so I shutdown the pc, disabled
the PCI Delay Transaction, rebooted it...and then horror of all horrors,
my my HDD's were missing half the folders on the disk! ie, Program
Files, Windows, and Documents and Settings (were missing). Others were
there however...very strange. Also, windows wouldn't boot, and the
windows XP recovery disk didn't recognise an installation. Anyway,
after much work, I did get windows going again, but it was not working
right at all (to get it going again, I had to split the mirror and move
one disk onto the primary ide). Tried to get it all going again, in the
end decided to re-install my PC. I have the drives on the Highpoint
chain, but they are not in a raid configuration. I am installing on one
disk, and copying data off the other. When I am done, I will re-make
the raid 1 array and see how the sound goes then. I am also leaving the
PCI Delay Transaction enabled for the time being. so far so good, sound
is fine.

So that's the latest.

I'll update you with the results when I mirror the drives. I'm feeling
very cautions at the moment, after nearly losing my data but got
it all back in the end , but had to spend a day re-installing windows
and apps

Cheers

- Andrew Gray


TomG wrote:
 > "Andrew Gray" <No.DeleteThis@way.com> wrote in message
 > news:c04uet$2st9$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
 >
  >>Hi Again, Tom,
  >>
  >>Okay, I have matched the highpoint driver and bios to 2.32. Since it's
  >>an onboard highpoint chip, the bios is stored in the system bios, and so
  >>is dependant on abit...the most recent bios they released for the
  >>highpoint is 2.32. So that's what I using, both driver and bios.
  >>
 >
 >
 > at least the two versions are matched... however, you are not limited to
 > Abit for bios choices. they are the source for the mainboard bios, for
 > sure. but we can and do add in our own Highpoint inserts... that is why my
 > very first post to you directed you to look on my server.
 >
 >
  >>I also tried Jeff Masons kx drivers. They work fairly well considering.
  >> However, the problem still persists, even with these completely
  >>different drivers. So alas, I am still not going right. Although, I
  >>must say that the kx drivers did seem to be popping and crackling less
  >>than the creative drivers. But still, they did crackle and pop none the
  >>less.
  >>
 >
 >
 > does your board bios have a PCI Latency Timer setting under the PCI/PNP
 > section of the bios setup?
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

From Paul's Unofficial ABIT KR7A-RAID FAQ:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.sudhian.com/showfaqs.cfm?fid=7" target="_blank">http://www.sudhian.com/showfaqs.cfm?fid=7</a>

Try setting the BIOS Setting "PCI Master Bus Timeout" to 001. I had
similar problems with my Audigy 2 ZS until I changed that setting.

Good luck,

Steve


Andrew Gray <A.Gray.TakeThisOut@bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:<c07u2g$tl8$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au>...
 > Tom, interesting you should say that!
 >
 > Unfortunately, my pc has not coped too well with all the changes I've
 > made, and eventually, windows stopped booting properly. I got it going
 > again, but there were just tons of little things that were not working
 > just right. So I decided to re-install. However, one thing that did
 > start working right was that the sound stopped crackling. Now there
 > were two things that happened just prior to the sound working again.
 > These were: I installed some drivers from George Breese, and 2, I
 > enabled the PCI Delay Transaction in the bios (it was disabled
 > previously). After the reboot (silly me, I did both these things at the
 > same time, instead of one after the other), windows found it needed to
 > do a chkdsk...strange...but then ta-da, the music was flawless! I was
 > interested to see what made the change, so I shutdown the pc, disabled
 > the PCI Delay Transaction, rebooted it...and then horror of all horrors,
 > my my HDD's were missing half the folders on the disk! ie, Program
 > Files, Windows, and Documents and Settings (were missing). Others were
 > there however...very strange. Also, windows wouldn't boot, and the
 > windows XP recovery disk didn't recognise an installation. Anyway,
 > after much work, I did get windows going again, but it was not working
 > right at all (to get it going again, I had to split the mirror and move
 > one disk onto the primary ide). Tried to get it all going again, in the
 > end decided to re-install my PC. I have the drives on the Highpoint
 > chain, but they are not in a raid configuration. I am installing on one
 > disk, and copying data off the other. When I am done, I will re-make
 > the raid 1 array and see how the sound goes then. I am also leaving the
 > PCI Delay Transaction enabled for the time being. so far so good, sound
 > is fine.
 >
 > So that's the latest.
 >
 > I'll update you with the results when I mirror the drives. I'm feeling
 > very cautions at the moment, after nearly losing my data but got
 > it all back in the end , but had to spend a day re-installing windows
 > and apps
 >
 > Cheers
 >
 > - Andrew Gray
 >
 >
 > TomG wrote:
  > > "Andrew Gray" <No.TakeThisOut@way.com> wrote in message
  > > news:c04uet$2st9$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
  > >
   > >>Hi Again, Tom,
   > >>
   > >>Okay, I have matched the highpoint driver and bios to 2.32. Since it's
   > >>an onboard highpoint chip, the bios is stored in the system bios, and so
   > >>is dependant on abit...the most recent bios they released for the
   > >>highpoint is 2.32. So that's what I using, both driver and bios.
   > >>
  > >
  > >
  > > at least the two versions are matched... however, you are not limited to
  > > Abit for bios choices. they are the source for the mainboard bios, for
  > > sure. but we can and do add in our own Highpoint inserts... that is why my
  > > very first post to you directed you to look on my server.
  > >
  > >
   > >>I also tried Jeff Masons kx drivers. They work fairly well considering.
   > >> However, the problem still persists, even with these completely
   > >>different drivers. So alas, I am still not going right. Although, I
   > >>must say that the kx drivers did seem to be popping and crackling less
   > >>than the creative drivers. But still, they did crackle and pop none the
   > >>less.
   > >>
  > >
  > >
  > > does your board bios have a PCI Latency Timer setting under the PCI/PNP
  > > section of the bios setup?
  > >
  > ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops 

Andrew Gray wrote:
 > Tom, interesting you should say that!
 >
 > Unfortunately, my pc has not coped too well with all the changes I've
 > made, and eventually, windows stopped booting properly. I got it going
 > again, but there were just tons of little things that were not working
 > just right. So I decided to re-install. However, one thing that did
 > start working right was that the sound stopped crackling. Now there
 > were two things that happened just prior to the sound working again.
 > These were: I installed some drivers from George Breese, and 2, I
 > enabled the PCI Delay Transaction in the bios (it was disabled
 > previously). After the reboot (silly me, I did both these things at the
 > same time, instead of one after the other), windows found it needed to
 > do a chkdsk...strange...but then ta-da, the music was flawless! I was
 > interested to see what made the change, so I shutdown the pc, disabled
 > the PCI Delay Transaction, rebooted it...and then horror of all horrors,
 > my my HDD's were missing half the folders on the disk! ie, Program
 > Files, Windows, and Documents and Settings (were missing). Others were
 > there however...very strange. Also, windows wouldn't boot, and the
 > windows XP recovery disk didn't recognise an installation. Anyway,
 > after much work, I did get windows going again, but it was not working
 > right at all (to get it going again, I had to split the mirror and move
 > one disk onto the primary ide). Tried to get it all going again, in the
 > end decided to re-install my PC. I have the drives on the Highpoint
 > chain, but they are not in a raid configuration. I am installing on one
 > disk, and copying data off the other. When I am done, I will re-make
 > the raid 1 array and see how the sound goes then. I am also leaving the
 > PCI Delay Transaction enabled for the time being. so far so good, sound
 > is fine.
 >
 > So that's the latest.
 >
 > I'll update you with the results when I mirror the drives. I'm feeling
 > very cautions at the moment, after nearly losing my data but got
 > it all back in the end , but had to spend a day re-installing windows
 > and apps
 >
 > Cheers
 >
 > - Andrew Gray
 >
 >
 > TomG wrote:
 >
  >> "Andrew Gray" <No.DeleteThis@way.com> wrote in message
  >> news:c04uet$2st9$1@arachne.labyrinth.net.au...
  >>
   >>> Hi Again, Tom,
   >>>
   >>> Okay, I have matched the highpoint driver and bios to 2.32. Since it's
   >>> an onboard highpoint chip, the bios is stored in the system bios, and so
   >>> is dependant on abit...the most recent bios they released for the
   >>> highpoint is 2.32. So that's what I using, both driver and bios.
   >>>
  >>
  >>
  >> at least the two versions are matched... however, you are not limited to
  >> Abit for bios choices. they are the source for the mainboard bios, for
  >> sure. but we can and do add in our own Highpoint inserts... that is
  >> why my
  >> very first post to you directed you to look on my server.
  >>
  >>
   >>> I also tried Jeff Masons kx drivers. They work fairly well considering.
   >>> However, the problem still persists, even with these completely
   >>> different drivers. So alas, I am still not going right. Although, I
   >>> must say that the kx drivers did seem to be popping and crackling less
   >>> than the creative drivers. But still, they did crackle and pop none the
   >>> less.
   >>>
  >>
  >>
  >> does your board bios have a PCI Latency Timer setting under the PCI/PNP
  >> section of the bios setup?
  >>
  >>
You can also try a different pci slot, one that isnt sharing interrupts
with the ide. I had a similar problem with my TH7-II Raid and an Audigy.

Abit eventually released an updated bios (the current one) that fixed
the problem and allowed me to put the card in any pci slot again.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: problem with audigy card - crackle and pops