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

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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

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2005
    I have also found that you can get it working by using Windows Update.

  • Anonymous
    January 05, 2005
    I haven't tried it out yet, but I wonder if this is the same for Virtual Server 2005.

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2005
    Hi David,

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

    Cheers,
    Ben

  • Anonymous
    January 07, 2005
    Oh. Thanks. =)

  • Anonymous
    January 25, 2005
    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.

  • Anonymous
    February 04, 2005
    The inf files can be found in driver.cab:
    *:windowssystem32driver cacheDriver.cab

  • Anonymous
    March 30, 2011
    wdma_ctl.inf - from C:WindowsInf and ctlsb16.sys - from CDI386driver.cab This steps worked for me. Thank you.

  • Anonymous
    June 14, 2011
    Thanks from Russia! Your advice helped me very much.