# Computer sound problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 12, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866 "2004-05-12T22:17:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/1 "2004-05-12T22:17:11Z")
i have a computer game downloaded from a cd. upon trying to run the game, i get a message saying my sound card MIDI setting is wrong or something and to check the soundcard and fix the problem. i have windows XP. how can i fix this problem? ;j ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/2 "2004-05-12T22:20:10Z")
Is the game made for Windows, or is it an old one written for DOS? ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/3 "2004-05-12T22:24:16Z")
it was written for 95, but i changed some setting on a screen to adapt it to 95 games, but it didnt fix the sound problem. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/4 "2004-05-12T22:33:25Z")
Sad to say, there’s a LOT of multimedia software (games, etc.) That can not make the leap from older Windows OS’s to XP. I lost use of a CD-ROM box set of 45 years of Mad Magazine after spending 6 weeks trying to resolve the problem. Contact the company that made the software, and seeif they have any advice. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/5 "2004-05-12T23:53:58Z")
Other than configuring the game itself, you might want to try setting a soundblaster [environment variable](http://rinkworks.com/apogee/s/6.4.2.shtml) to something approximating your sound card settings. It was a common way for DOS games to glean SB info, and can’t^M^M^M is unlikely to hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/6 "2004-05-13T00:52:18Z")
> [@MSUbulldogs101](#): > > it was written for 95, but i changed some setting on a screen to adapt it to 95 games, but it didnt fix the sound problem. Did you also try running it in Win 95 compatibility mode? Right-click the icon that starts it, choose properties, then the compatibility tab. ---
**Author:** ![feppytweed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/feppytweed/32/4280_2.png) [@feppytweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/feppytweed)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-sound-problem/244866/7 "2004-05-13T01:10:53Z")
i set it on 95 compatibility, but it still didnt work. i guess i will have to send a stern e-mail to the maker of the software