From: benningf@aurs01.uucp (Robert F. Benningfield Jr., a.k.a. Rob)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard
Subject: Gravis UltraSound Problems
Date: 8 Jan 93 16:51:24 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: [the REAL] Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC

Greetings all!

I've just installed my first soundcard, version 2.2 of the Gravis
UltraSound.  It sounds great and emulates AdLib and SoundBlaster
excellently as well.  Installation was easy.  The manuals are good.
Their Technical Support ain't so good, however.  I've got some
problems...

Whenever I turn on my PC, the boot-up procedure freezes within my
autoexec.bat as soon as it reaches the ULTRINIT command that
initializes the Gravis.  The system then hangs for a few minutes
before returning a "Drive not ready.  Abort, Retry, Fail, etc.".
Retry re-hangs the system.  If I reboot at the point that autoexec
hangs, then my machine will come up normally and everything (including
the Gravis) works great.  In fact, any soft reboot works okay.  The
PC only hangs during a cold boot after power-down.

I've tried REMming out all statements in my autoexec.bat and
config.sys except SHELL=, PROMPT, and SET PATH statements. No dice.
I've experimented with different IRQs and DMA channels within 
ULTRINIT's configuration statement.  No dice.  I've separated all
cables and connectors attached to the Gravis.  No dice.  As
recommended in Gravis' installation procedure, the UltraSound is
located as far away as possible from my video card to minimize EMI.
Short of "REM e:\ultrasnd\ultrinit...", nothing stops this problem.
Tech Support doesn't know why my machine hangs up at power-up.  If I
had UltraSound version 2.4, they recommended removing a capacitor on
the card!?!

Next problem, I've set up the Gravis for MS-Windows.  When I play
canyon.mid, pause the song, then continue playing, the song continues
but plays at a much higher volume.  Why?

Last problem, sometimes after using the Gravis to play lots of tunes,
the soundcard will mess up trying to play MS-Window's start-up and
exit tunes.  It will sound like hell and play for ten times as long at
start-up.  When exiting windows, it sounds like hell and freezes the
PC, forcing reboot.  Again, Gravis Tech Support couldn't help.

Anyone have any helpful ideas or suggestions?  Damn, it's hard to get
through to Gravis' Technical Support.  They must put 99% of their
phones in the Sales department, sparing only a couple for tech support.

BTW, my PC is a Dell System 316 (16MHz 80386SX) with 8 Mbytes of RAM,
using MS-Windows 3.1 and MS-DOS 5.0.


Thanks for any assistance,
                          Rob


[DISCLAIMER:  In the event that I am captured or killed, Alcatel Network
 Systems will destroy my files and disavow all knowledge of my existence.]
<+*********************+)\(+********************************************+>
"Pining for the fjords?"  \ "He's no good, Mother.  Take him to the tree!"
Robert F. Benningfield Jr. \              aurgate!aurfs1!benningf@mcnc.org
Member Technical Staff      \}-=*=-{/\ or benningf%aurfs1%aurgate@mcnc.org
Alcatel Network Systems             \/\ {NCSU Alumnus: MSEE '90, BSEE '89}
R&D Core Hardware Design Engineering \/\             Phone: (919) 850-5569
2912 Wake Forest Road                 \/}-=*=-{\         or (919) 851-5562
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, USA              \      Fax: (919) 850-5131
"I've got a plan...and it's as hot as my pants!" \      "Be seeing you..."
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.soundcard