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-- Ben Armstrong, Virtualization Program Manager

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How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

Windows Server 2003 does not include drivers for the Sound Blaster 16 emulated by Virtual PC (nor is this card officially supported in Windows Server 2003).  It is - however - possible to get sound working by loading the Windows XP drivers under Windows Server 2003.  To do this you will need to:

  • Copy the files wdma_ctl.inf and ctlsb16.sys from a Windows XP product CD to a folder.
  • In the Windows Server 2003 virtual machine, go to Device Manager --> Other Devices --> Sound Blaster 16 --> Update Driver:
    • Install from a list --> Don't search --> Sound, video and game controllers
    • Have Disk --> Browse --> Select folder with the two XP files

Other requested files can be selected from the Windows Server 2003 product CD.

Cheers,
Ben

Published Wednesday, January 05, 2005 6:23 PM by Virtual PC Guy

Comments

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

I have also found that you can get it working by using Windows Update.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005 11:44 PM by somestuff

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

I haven't tried it out yet, but I wonder if this is the same for Virtual Server 2005.
Thursday, January 06, 2005 4:01 AM by David Smith

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

Hi David,

No - this will not work under Virtual Server - as Virtual Server does not emulate a sound card at all.

Cheers,
Ben
Thursday, January 06, 2005 3:43 PM by Virtual PC Guy

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

Oh. Thanks. =)
Friday, January 07, 2005 6:46 PM by David Smith

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

Hi Ben,

I looked at my WinXP SP2 CD and couldn't find the ctlsb16.sys.
I have EXPANDed the wdma_ctl.inf though.
Can I know where can I find the ctlsb16.sys file? Is it in WinXP CD but not in the WinXP SP2 CD ?
Thanks.
Wednesday, January 26, 2005 1:11 AM by Hendrik

# re: How to get sound working under Windows Server 2003 in Virtual PC

The inf files can be found in driver.cab:
*:\windows\system32\driver cache\Driver.cab
Friday, February 04, 2005 1:31 PM by Yoichi
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