Running vsbhda on my Acer Aspire a0751h mutes my PC speaker

[hjnijlunsing]

Steps to reproduce:

• Boot without any config.sys / autoexec.bat
• echo ^G --> procedures beep
• Boot with VSBHA according to documentation
• echo ^G --> silent

I am guessing the volume mixer plays a key here; also tried this program to resolve it: https://github.com/Kaproncai/Unmute However this hangs my Acer

Also tried using REMUS (Rdos Emulation Sound System) to enable pc-speaker over sound blaster; but won't run as it complains the CPU is already in Virtual-86 mode.

Also tried the SBPRO Mixer (https://www.bttr-software.de/products/sbmix/); setting all the settings to maximum volume. Unfortunately also this did not resolve the issue.

[Baron-von-Riedesel]

Does it beep if just JemmEx is loaded ( no VSBHDA )?

[hjnijlunsing]

Yes, it still beeps after running Jemmex, jload qpiemu.dll and hdpmi32i -x2

[Baron-von-Riedesel]

Yes, it still beeps after running Jemmex, jload qpiemu.dll and hdpmi32i -x2

So it's definitely VSBHDA. And I guess you're using the /O1 cmdline switch. Depending on how it's implemented, the Ctrl-G Beep might work again if VSBHDA runs without /O1 ( using the default "lineout" device then ). If that doesn't help, the only "fix" would be to implement a PC speaker emulation - a lot of work for almost nothing.

[hjnijlunsing]

I was indeed using the /O1 switch. Also without the switch no beep. PC Speaker emulation would indeed be an overkill; I hoped it was as easy as unmuting the PC Speaker on the Intel HDA as this program does (https://github.com/Kaproncai/Unmute)

But the use cases are indeed limited; it only applies to games like Ultima 6, which uses Adlib for music and PC Speaker for effects. I'll try if dosbox-x in dos works with vsbhda with reasonable performance in gettting this to work,

[hjnijlunsing]

Update: I cannot get dosbox-x to work with VSBHDA, there are some sounds but garbled. In the garbled video output on the bottom of the screen I see some mention about possible audio driver issues and it tries to reset (but barely readable). I am using this version: https://github.com/joncampbell123/dosbox-x/releases/tag/dosbox-x-v0.83.25

[Baron-von-Riedesel]

Update: I cannot get dosbox-x to work with VSBHDA, there are some sounds but garbled.

That's actually better than my experience - in my last tries, DosBox-X just crashed if launching it with VSBHDA loaded ( unlike DosBox, which worked ). Will try it again.

[hjnijlunsing]

I was not aware that normal Dosbox worked under Dos; I though this was a feature of specific Dosbox-X. I'll give it a try! Thanks! Edit: Which version are you using? Normal dosbox returns "This program cannot be run in DOS mode."

[Baron-von-Riedesel]

Edit: Which version are you using?

It's 074-3. I can't remember from where I downloaded the binary, but dosbox.exe's date is 22.10.2019.

Normal dosbox returns "This program cannot be run in DOS mode."

I usually load HX's hxldr32 tool in config.sys.

IIRC, dosbox.exe also needs opengl32.dll and glu32.dll ( taken from Win98SE ).

[hjnijlunsing]

Thanks, with the tips provided I was able to get it to work!

It turned out I needed to add some additional DLL files as well (looking at the STDOUT.txt and STDERR.txt); getting all the required DLL files from both the windows\system folder as well as the DOSBOX-X I managed to get it working! (Also needed to change the SDL Output to "overlay")

Do you also have Scummvm working with the HXLDR as well? (Mine crashes as it is unable to find WinSparkle.dll; however it is in the same folder. Might be to do with LFN?)

(Just found out that Scummvm also supports the Ultima 6 full speech with FM-TOWNS and has better Sound effects also from FM-Towns, thus eliminating the need for PC Speaker)

[hjnijlunsing]

I can confirm PC Speaker is now working with VSBHDA v1.4. (Ultima 6; Adlib music + Speaker FX)