[Lowfer] PC Gulch

[Peter Barick]

LowFERs,

Ah, traffic seems slow so here's an update on my PC endeavors for
Argo-ing.

Last week I told of my problem of setting up a faster pc for use with
Argo and starting up Argo but not seeing any indication of signals/noise
coming through the Line In port of the sound card. [Wow, long!] Well I'm
still Not off that dime. ;}  But all is not bust as I am learning a lot
about pc configuring--the hard way, one IRQ error at a time.

Seems I have IRQ-DMA conflicts related to the PCI SB16 sound card, a
condition, according to many FAQ lists, is the rule with SB apps.
However, in my case, the two PCs that I am working with, a slow P90 and
a better P166, the P90 works w/ Argo, the P166 does not. Both have the
same Win95 OS. One dif is the BIOS. On analysis both have conflicts of
IRQs and DMAs and it appears the PnP doesn't do its job well wrt sound
cards. Sure, ya say, "Remove the conflicts, make all happy." Well not so
easy as the system has ways to thwart and check many attempts that I've
tried. I'm still working on it, though I'm bringing one into work for a
tech to help with.

My thought is that until I get a clean configuration, the Argo issue
must wait. And even with the known conflicts, the PCs are able to play
music and their control panels function. &%$#@

At first I was concerned that others were not complaining about SB
problems--or were not familiar with them, so I wondered, "Why Me?"! I
think that's because most others are Not configuring/re-working a PC,
instead having an already working one and/or one w/ a built-in sound
system that's been factory configured: Install Argo, plug in the rx, off
it goes. Likely a very good choice overall. :}

I'm bound to get a clean and functioning PC for my LowFER stuff, er,
wear out the connectors trying.

Peter