Hello!

I have a problem with the sound: when I try to start game I get the following message:
"Error while initilizing the sound system. Game runs without sound."
My computer meets the system requirements of the game.

Does anyone have a solution for this kind of problem??

My system:
Windows XP Home SP2
Mainboard: Gigabyte GA-K8NF9 Ultra
CPU: Athlon X2 Dual 3800+
RAM: 2GB
GPU: Nvidia GeForce 6600, Driver: Forceware 91.31
Sound: Onboard Realtek AC'97
DirectX: 9.0c

You are using a built-in audio card - that might be the problem. Try to refresh your drivers.

Hi!

Refreshing the audio drivers did not help (latest version from Realtek: 3.91)

Any more ideas what I could try?

1) Have you installed OpenAL, which can be found on your game disc? It is required for the game sound system to work. I don't remember the exact filename, but it should contain "OpenAL" in it.

2) Try re-installing DirectX 9.0c with the latest version also (came out this August). This will also be useful for other games.

3) If everything else fails, PM me the DxDiag. (Start -> Run -> "DxDiag" -> Save All Info -> Send it to me via PM. )

Yours truly, The LxR.

ONLY if OpenAL and DirectX 9.0c already installed try this:
1) Download "foobar2000 OpenAL output component" http://www.bockholdt.com/fb2k/foo_output_oal.zip (101 Кб)
2) Unzip it.
3) Rename file defopenal32.dll into openal32.dll
4) Just copy this openal32.dll into game's main executable folder (where "game.exe" located, check properties of the shortcut).

I just got this game today ... and received this problem

but thanks to No-Name its solved for me

I am using onboard sound as well ,

Motherboard: ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Rev2.0
Sound: Onboard Nforce2 MCP-T (Nvidia SoundStorm)

which although is AC'97 since there is an option in the BIOS to disable the onboard sound, i dont think using the newest realtek drivers would work?

Since i have to use Nvidia drivers and im already the latest ( not been updated for a while)

wow! NoName - where did you learn that trick?

On the Russian forum, I suppose... ))

Last post on this theme in Russia section was mine. I just translate it into English.
---------------
In fact "OpenAL" is a Creative's API now. Because of it compatibility with other audio hardware was broken. So downloading most recent versions lead to this problem. "Foobar2000 OpenAL output component" contains very old (0.9...) version of openal32.dll (you can try any other OLD .dll but I found this component on my system and choose it for small size). As I think this version doesn't have vendor-specific optimisations at all.

PS Sorry for my English.