Reference Guide

1243
Audio Hardware (Sound Cards) and Drivers
Beginner’s Guide to Cakewalk Software
can be a real problem. IRQ conflicts can cause your system to freeze or fail to boot up properly, or
the system may fail to recognize your sound card. Sometimes the problem only reveals itself when
you attempt to use the device that is sharing an IRQ.
Checking IRQ Settings in Windows 98 and Windows Me
If your computer is running Windows 98 or Windows Me, use this procedure:
1. Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties from the menu that
appears.
The System Properties dialog appears.
2. Click the Device Manager tab.
3. In the Device Manager section, click on the Computer entry at the very top and click the
Properties button.
The Computer Properties dialog appears.
4. If necessary, click the Interrupt request (IRQ) radio button.
The IRQ settings appear.
Look for your sound card in the Hardware Using the Setting column. Check all other devices to
determine if other devices are sharing an IRQ with your sound card (Note: IRQ Holder for PCI
Steering is not a device, and does not cause a conflict). If your sound card shares an IRQ with
another device, and you are experiencing problems with your sound card, see IRQ Conflicts.
Checking IRQ Settings in Windows 2000 and Windows XP
If your computer is running Windows 2000, use this procedure:
1. Right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and select Properties from the menu that
appears.
The System Properties dialog appears.
2. Click the Hardware tab.
3. In the Hardware section, click the Device Manager button.
The Device Manager dialog appears.
4. In the Device Manager dialog, click the View button and select View Resource by Type.
5. Expand the Interrupt request (IRQ) entry to expand it.
The IRQ settings appear.
Look for your sound card in the Hardware Using the Setting column. Check all other devices to
determine if other devices are sharing an IRQ with your sound card (Note: IRQ Holder for PCI
Steering is not a device, and does not cause a conflict). If your sound card shares an IRQ with
another device, and you are experiencing problems with your sound card, see IRQ Conflicts.
IRQ Conflicts
Newer motherboards often use something called ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface) which controls IRQ settings, in effect overriding the motherboard IRQ settings. ACPI, just
like Plug and Play, can sometimes lead to shared IRQs and problems with your sound card.