No Sound.Dev options (Cannot change sound card)

[Kogha]

Win 10 host and WinXP32 SP3 guest: Workstation Pro 16.0.3.  Install is fine and I have Creative PSI or something like that and want to change it to SB16. 

The few posts that mention having no SB16 MIDI piping out which is what my issue is say to change something in the config files called Sound.Dev but I don't have that. Never had.  Mine are these: 

sound.autoDetect = "TRUE"
sound.fileName = "-1"
sound.present = "TRUE"

Is this right or is something screwy here? I'm tempted to change it to false and add the SB16 OPL3 line and make a Sound.Dev but don't know if that will screw it up worse.  Is this the correct log to post?

[wila]

Hi,

I think you mean "sound.virtualDev" and not "sound.dev".

If the device is not specified then VMware will use the default.

More info:
http://sanbarrow.com/vmx/vmx-sound.html

and also - from the guy at vmware that brought you the device - this article:

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Pro-Documents/Sound-Blaster-16-on-VMware-Workst...

--
Wil

[Kogha]

I don't have any choices but the host audio card on VMWORKSTATION. I tried to edit the VMX file to add this

sound.fileName = "Crystal WDM Audio"

but all it did was corrupt my virtual machine.  

Luckily I was able to save the unedited VMX file and restore my virtual machine.   But still no SB16 support on XP but I'll just have to do without and stick to PCEM it seems.  Wish VM Workstation would make SB16 compatible happen but they only care about server stuff sadly. 

[wila]

Hi,

You're editing the wrong part..

Follow the steps in the 2nd link and it should work.

Oh and edit with a plain text editor such as notepad and shut down VMware Workstation before editing.

--
Wil

[Kogha]

I use notepad ++ and did shut my machine down all the way to exit Works Station.

I never had the ability in my entire life except once several years ago before some Windows update to change sound cards so I hoped somebody would complain in all these years so I decided to rock the boat though I hope I don't throw everyone into the water doing so.

I just get 'Host Sound Card' as my only choice on my VM Workstation settings page where I add a sound card or modify it.  Mine is C-Media for Creative Media and shows as Creative PCI with no number or anything. I think it's piggybacking off my host card.

[wila]

Notepad++ is fine.

It's a virtual sound card. The brand of the soundcard in your host is irrelevant.
The soundblaster virtual sound card has no user interface integration that I am aware of and I do not expect it to be visible in the settings of your VM.

--
Wil

[Kogha]

 Here's my log file of the 98 one.edited. Did I add Sound.Dev in the right spot? If so what's the next step to add the OPL3 in?  I made a backup just in case. So far it didn't crash the 98. 

[wila]

Your log does not have a sound.virtualDev line.

According to the document by Darius, you should add the following two lines to your .vmx

sound.opl3.enabled = "TRUE"
sound.virtualDev = "sb16"

and if you want midi output then also add:

sound.mpu401.host = "TRUE"

The last one is experimental, so might be unstable.

--
Wil

[Kogha]

So I added those lines and it made Windows 98 go into safe mode. The only MIDI choices I have under Multimedia are Microsoft GS  Wavetable Synth: SB PCI External Midi and SB PCI Synthesizer which sounds more realistic then SB16.    Running The Treehouse doesn't produce any SB16 sound nor any MIDI sound at all.  It requires SoundBlaster or compatible card which is why I wrote this thread to begin with.  I have already played it on PCEM or Dosbox Daum if I have to but I'd really love to see VMWorkstation do it with proper music!  

I'll repost the log again with the changes. 

[Kogha]

I just noticed I can give Kudos.  My eyes have been crapped out since the heat/smoke and dry weather here in Oregon so I'm slow to notice stuff plus I have high function form of Autism. 

[wila]

That's OK, no worries.
I don't really care about the kudos button in the forum. It's not "internet points" why try to help.

Sorry I do not have more time to dive any deeper as it would involve me setting up a similar VM and trying out the various possibilities. I'm already short on time as it is.
Perhaps someone else can help you on this.

FWIW, the log file is weird.. it shows a non booting vm because the virtual disk is in use... and it has no indication about the changes made to the vmx. So I'm a bit puzzled.

--
Wil

[RDPetruska]

Unclear what the issue is here - or exactly what the setup is.  In your original post you state you are running a guest with WinXP32 SP3.  But then later you talk about Win98.

In My WinXP32 SP3 VMs, the sound card is detected (properly) as a Creative Labs Sound Blaster PCI.  If you have a Win98 guest, is it original Win98 or Win98 SE?