That is probably due to the chipset of my A7N8X motherboard? I'm not sure, it's an NFORCE2 chip.
Or I strongly suspect it's an issue with EMM386.
I used to use an SB128D PCI before. This is a 5.1 DIGITAL one, that is, a CT5880 chip. It has its own DOS driver. After installing the 98 driver, it will automatically install the SB16 EMU. But DOS software can't make sound. It's the same in Windows and DOS, can't make sound. Later, I changed to an AUDIGY2, and it's the same, can't make sound. The driver is correct, no problems at all. The environment is also set up automatically, no problems found. It prompts that the sound card driver is successfully loaded, and you can start MIXERSET to set the volume. But when using the DIAGNOSE detection program, it prompts that the sound card is not found. Of course, DOS software games can't detect the sound card either. The reason is unknown. I suspect it's the chipset because my motherboard can't install EMM386, it prompts that the address can't be paged, the installation fails, there are only dozens of KB of UMB, can't create EMS. And the DOS driver of Creative's PCI sound card must require you to have EMM386 to install, not necessarily need EMS. As long as you add the NOEMS parameter after EMM386.EXE, the startup no longer prompts the address paging error. Without EMS memory, the sound card driver can also be installed, as long as EMM386 is loaded. I strongly suspect the problem is here. Can't test anymore. And on my other motherboards that have ISA slots, the on-board PCI sound card can make sound.