"The SB Live / 686b Problem" - What's the final word?

[dietrologia]

I thought everything had installed fine on my new system: Duron 750/Abit Kt7a/SB Live value, but I started getting corrupted Windows 98se icons and bizarre lockups and improper downloads -- all signs of the problem with SoundBlaster audio cards and the 686b bridge on the VIA chipsets.

Okay, well I'm going to try and fix it and I've read all I can, but I'm not sure what the final fix is for this.

Beyond installing BIOS revision ZT for my abit and the latest VIA 4-in-1 drivers, has there been any other definitive patch that addresses the problem? I see nothing on www.sblive.com that even suggests there's a problem. Abit's site that has the ZT Bios just says that the version "addresses" the problem. VIA's drivers claim to have a "fix", but I still here of tons of problems even after these two updates.

Any cure-all patch I don't know about?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Shudder]

The only patch I did was I patched the PCI hole in my MB with a TB SC that was left after I ripped the SBLive out of it.

Works perfectly. After reinstalling the OS, I have not had ONE SINGLE CRACKLE EVER with the SC. I almost forgot about the crackling till I read a post on the SBLive the other day.. so it's never happened. And now that I've moved from an A to B southbridge card, I'm VERY glad I got rid of the live earlier.

Oh, and you get the added benefit of better sound and EAX/3d sound that actually works in Windows 2000.

 

[dietrologia]

I will go with the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz if I'm unable to get the system running to my satisfaction with updates. I'm assuming Newegg will take SB Live card on return for this issue. God I hope so, I don't want to have to shell out $70+ for another card when this one should be running.

 

[yakko]

I was lucky and was able to return my Sound Crapper Live card without paying arestocking fee. Now I just have to reinstall Win98 to cure the rest of the problem.