Howdy,Just this last weekend purchased a new Compaq Presario 4040AN (P4 2.66 GHz, 512Mb PC2700 DDR (333Mhz) RAM, and 64 Mb (intergrated) video card ... yeah, I know :( ) running XP Home in preperation for 2K4.Loaded up 2K2 and took it for a test flight ... and horror! menu, ATC, Lago's FSSS and environmental sound appears as if it's issuing from inside a giant tin can ... in order words, there's a hideous echo.Rig came loaded with Realtek AC97 soundcard. Downloaded and installed the latest drivers, still echoes; rolled back the drivers, and still it echoes. Checked to see if the Microsoft IMA ADPCM and ADPCM Codes as well as the PCM Converter are installed and functioning, and yep, they are. Interestingly enough, all other sound (CD, DVD) on the rig is fine; this issue is only affecting 2K2. Have even been in contact with Compaq, and they're stumped.Anyone experencing a similar problem; and is there a workaround? (aside from the obvious suggestion of purchasing another soundcard, and this is just not an immediate solution, considering how much I just paid out) :(

Are you able to run DXDiag and see how Direct X is performing? My first intuition is to re-install DirectX, however you would need to determine what version you have (I'm not sure how).I regard installing DirectX as not for the inexperienced, and as I don't know you, I would caution doing this unless everything I've written here makes sense.I have an AC-97 imbedded sound chip in this machine that I built from scratch, and have never had an issue. So, it's got to be driver or DX related, somewhere.Sorry I can't be more helpful. I've seen posts like your's before, and can't recall the solutions that have been found, so hopefully someone will post that has had the issue and knows the solution.Bruce.

Howdy,Yep, have the Dx applet (or can simply type DxDiag in Run) and have been lookin' there since I discovered the problem. Unfortunately, the rig came pre-loaded with DX9 and I have susequently upgraded to v9(a). Had been running this version on my previous rig with no problems. According to all the sound and music tests, the card works fine. As I posted, this problem is confined to 2K2. Am beginning to suspect (from what you write and others I have spoken to) that it just might be a driver issue. So, what driver are you running? The one I have installed is: 5.10.0000.5180 (English).Thanks for the prompt reply and your assistance.

My driver is 5.10.0.4010, so I'm behind you :).One more thing- since it's FS only, try renaming the file fs2002.cfg (in ...FS2002), then restart. FS will rebuild the file, although you'll have to set all your menu preferences up again. Or, if no change, then you can always go back to the re-named file.I know I've seen this before here, but years ago since I recall seeing it last. Let's hope that someone who recalls the actual fix reads this soon!Good luck,Bruce.

Howdy Bruce,Yep; tried renaming FS.cfg ... no go, unfortunately :-( Even suspected my edition of 2K2 Pro might have become corrupted, so uninstalled, and reinstalled my original 2K2 standard edition (never even been loaded ... got it as a Xmas present from someone who did not know I already had the Pro edition and have been just too darned lazy to resell it :-) ), but, no show there, either :-(I am beginning to suspect, having installed several different Realtek driver Codecs this afternoon, that your original contention of DirectX 9 being the problem might be valid. Sure don't bode well for other users of AC97 cards, as 2K4 will be shipping with Directx 9 (a)?I've vistited the Realtek homepage, but have not seen anything mentioned there. I do, however, understand a beta driver pack is/has been developed and maybe it will address this problem (if it is widespread). Have the email address of the AC97 Head Office support staff, and will fire off an enquiry to see if there have been any other folks having a similar problem.Will keep you posted (if you like). Also hoping that someone else recalls a fix (if there is one), too; it ain't all that much fun flying in a "tin can" :-lol

Hi Cpt. Havoc,what mainboard chipset does your Dell have? I had a nagging problem with a Gigabyte GA-8PE667, Intel 845PE based w/ Realtek AC97 audio codec as well, for the recent months - some kind of "rice crispies" popping and crackling all the way in FS2K2 and also in some other games.Nothing has helped - driver, system or FS reinstalls, whatsorever. GBT and MS support were stunned like my PC retailer and a friend, who's a computer system integrator. Nobody could fix the problem.Now I bought a rather cheap ASUS 845PE board - the basic P4PE but w/ Analog Devices Soundmax audio- and things are absoletely fine. These problems seem to be some kind of unanticipated problem brought up by using demanding applications - i.e. games - that weren't originally coded for WinXP under that OS.CU Thomas:-waveBTW: Should have bought that new mobo earlier instead of shelling out too much money for soundcards that couldn't fix the problem either.

Yes, I'd like to know what the issue actually was when you get it solved.As you know, I have an on-board AC97, and I have DX9a installed too. However, it may be your system interacting with DX9a, rather than a general issue.Once again, good luck- and if I come across anything I'll be sure to post here. I know I've seen this here before, so someone has to read your thread sometime soon that has the "magic bullet" for this issue.Bruce.

Howdy,Well, the issue has been solved (more by chance than design). Got so aggrieved (read: f*@%*'d off) at what was going on, I performed a limited System Recovery. I suspect that one of the MS audio drivers had become corrupted (how is anyone's guess, I've only had the rig since Saturday) and FS seems to be responding as it should.The moral of the tale? If you have sound problems (and are running XP), it most likely will be resolved if you do a factory restore.I really do appreciate all your suggestions, folks (I've learnt a lot). And now ... it's time to reload that 2Gb of add-ons, and hit the wild blue yonder. Yay!

Great news!!Bruce.