Creative SoundBlaster Live!- Technical support issue

I've installed the software, but when I run it, nothing happens. No data light, no movement. The video plays, but that's all. I have a Sound Blaster Live! Card.

We have uncovered a resource conflict with the Sound Blaster Live! series of sound cards. We have discussed this with Creative (The card manufacturer) and agreed to pass on the details of the fix. It's likely you will have problems with other Parallel port items such as Zip drives, and certain printers. Let's make this clear. The problem is that your SOUND CARD, not the VSM is causing the problem here. Your soundcard is the one not adhering to the standards set up by Microsoft and the International Standards Association. So, if you want to get mad, get mad at them, not us.

First, let us explain the problem here. The standard address for your standard LPT (printer Port) is 0378. It has been this way since the early days of the IBM PC......way back in '81, when the internet was for keeping the missiles pointed at the U.S.S.R.

Now, with the advent of advanced Windows like NT, XP, 2000, etc, we get a crowd of devices looking to use the limited resources available in your computer. You can see quickly what will happen here. You run out of places to plug things in. What happened in this case, was, Creative Sound Labs wanted to build what's called "Legacy support" for their old sound card called the "Sound Blaster 16." This is juts in case anyone buying the Live! card is still playing Doom 1 or something needing that emulation. Now, unless you have your resources specifically earmarked for the Printer Port as a standard or SPP (Standard Printer Port,) he card will map some of its use right through there. As you guessed it, this causes a problem with any device expecting you to have a Standard Windows Setup. Including our product the VSM.

Now, our product was designed to put as little load on your computer as possible, and to use as few resources as possible. This way, we get better performance on the video playing, better performance on the time synchronization, and generally happier customers because we have fewer tech support problems. When we designed the little black box you purchased, we built it to be very powerful. Almost all the processing required to run our machine is done inside the interface. instead of building it on the cheap, we built the power into your interface. there's just one small item. In order to update the processes more than 4,000 times per second, we have to ask the computer to update us through the parallel port.

By locking up the resources for no good reason, the Live! card effectively blocks access to the port. In order to free it up, Creative has provided us with the steps to allow access to the port from their sound card.

Depending on your hardware, you may have to take successive steps. We will start with the easiest, procedure 1. this is the least invasive technique. If that doesn't solve the problem, you may have to move down the list.

Procedure 1- 

1. This will require some alteration to your device manager settings. To access the device settings in 95, 98, ME, and XP, you simply right mouse click on the "My computer" icon, and choose "properties" from the list.
   Next, Choose the "Device Manager" tab.
2. Double click on the heading "Video/Game Controllers," and then Double click "Sound Blaster Live" from the list.
3. Next select the "resources" Tab
4. You will see a check box called "Allow for LPT Sharing." Make sure there is a check mark in this box.
5. Click OK, all the way  back out. Restart your computer. try running the VSM.
6. If it works, good, enjoy yourself!
7. If not, move on to "Procedure 2" below

Procedure 2-

1. Follow steps 1-4 above .
2. Next, under the "Creative Miscellaneous" tab, disable "SB16 emulation."
3. Check the box for "Disable in this hardware profile."
4. UNCHECK the box that says "exists in all hardware profiles."
5. Follow steps 5&6 above.

Procedure 3-

1. This 3rd procedure should not be attempted without consultation of a Technical support person from Virtual Reality Innovations, or under the direction of Creative Labs. To reach us, email tech support. To reach creative, first go to there website at www.soundblaster.com to find the proper contact point for you.