OK, long story, compressed:

I am trying to run a few Windows games under Wine 20030813. The games are Deus Ex and Icewind Dale (II, but only because I haven't tried IWD yet, so call it both 1 and 2).

I have them installed under Win98 on a FAT32 partition, but I reinstalled DeusEx over itself under Wine.

I run 4 distros, have tried this under 3-- Mandrake 9.1, College Linux 2.3 (Slackware 8.1) and Morphix 0.4 (Debian Sid). All have the same release of Wine installed. Debian runs the "best" so let's consider the Debian my main install for this discussion. The .wine/config file is set to use the wineoss.drv (I get no sound at all using winealsa.drv).

My video card is a Matrox G400, desktop is set at 16bpp. My sound card is the onboard VIA 8233 chip, using (under Debian) the OSS driver with the AC97 codec, and (under MDK and Slackware), the ALSA drivers.

IWD2 and Deus Ex both start up without problems, look very nice and have sound. Shortly after I reach the main menu of either game (after all the various splashes for the game co's and intro films or whatever), the sound begins to loop. This is not recoverable, although DeusEx can still be played if I take my headphones off, and can be closed via the regular in-game menu. IWD2 has to be Xkilled (which I can do because I run it unmanaged in a window specifically so I can Xkill it).

But OK, the problem is definitely sound, as evidenced by the terminal output (sorry, it's going to be long):

IWD2:
Invoking /usr/bin/wine.bin IWD2.exe ...

BEGIN LOGGING SESSION
fixme:ddraw:Main_DirectDraw_SetCooperativeLevel (0x403729d8)->(00000000,00000008)
fixme:ddraw:Main_DirectDrawClipper_Initialize (0x403a98f0)->(0x403729e4,0x00000000),stub!
fixme:dsound:IDirectSoundImpl_SetCooperativeLevel level=DSSCL_EXCLUSIVE not fully supported
fixme:dsound:IKsPropertySetImpl_QuerySupport unsupported property: {62a69bae-df9d-11d1-99a6-00c04fc99d46}
fixme:dsound:IKsPropertySetImpl_QuerySupport unsupported property: {4a4e6fc1-c341-11d1-b73a-444553540000}
fixme:dsound:IKsPropertySetImpl_QuerySupport unsupported property: {4a4e6fc0-c341-11d1-b73a-444553540000}
fixme: dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=24296 < primary_done=26528)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=24260 < primary_done=26496)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=19236 < primary_done=21472)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=19236 < primary_done=21472)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=16996 < primary_done=19232)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=16964 < primary_done=19200)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=7400 < primary_done=9632)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=7368 < primary_done=9600)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=7368 < primary_done=9600)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=5764 < primary_done=8000)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=5764 < primary_done=8000)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=3300 < primary_done=5536)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:dplay:DirectPlay3AImpl_EnumConnections : no service providers?
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=8332 < primary_done=27936)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=8332 < primary_done=27936)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=16980 < primary_done=26848)
fixme:dsound:DSOUND_MixOne problem with underrun detection (mixlen=14708 < primary_done=24576)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
wine.bin: mixer.c:885: DSOUND_PerformMix: Assertion `dsound->playpos < dsound->buflen' failed.
wine: Unhandled exception (thread 000c), starting debugger...
err:seh:start_debugger Couldn't start debugger ("debugger/winedbg 8 248") (2)
Read the Wine Developers Guide on how to set up winedbg or another debugger
err:ntdll:RtlpWaitForCriticalSection section 0x4069e278 "?" wait timed out in thread 0011, blocked by 0012, retrying (60 sec)

DeusEx:
Invoking /usr/bin/wine.bin DeusEx.exe ...
fixme:console:SetConsoleCtrlHandler (0x10102513,1) - no error checking or testing yet
fixme:process:GetProcessWorkingSetSize (0xffffffff,0x406a2384,0x406a237c): stub
fixme:ole:CoCreateInstance no classfactory created for CLSID {92fa2c24-253c-11d2-90fb-006008a1f441}, hres is 0x80040154
fixme:ole:CoCreateInstance no classfactory created for CLSID {d8f1eee0-f634-11cf-8700-00a0245d918b}, hres is 0x80040154
fixme:dsound:IDirectSoundImpl_SetCooperativeLevel level=DSSCL_PRIORITY not fully supported
fixme:dsound:IKsPropertySetImpl_QuerySupport unsupported property: {4a4e6fc1-c341-11d1-b73a-444553540000}
fixme:dsound:IDirectSoundImpl_QueryInterface Unknown IID {d8f1eee1-f634-11cf-8700-00a0245d918b}
err:dsound:DirectSoundCreate8 dsound already opened
fixme:dsound:IDirectSoundImpl_SetCooperativeLevel level=DSSCL_PRIORITY not fully supported
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
err:wave:IDsDriverBufferImpl_Stop ioctl(/dev/dsp, SNDCTL_DSP_SETTRIGGER) failed (Invalid argument)
wine.bin: mixer.c:885: DSOUND_PerformMix: Assertion `dsound->playpos < dsound->buflen' failed.
wine: Unhandled exception (thread 000a), starting debugger...
err:seh:start_debugger Couldn't start debugger ("debugger/winedbg 8 308") (2)
Read the Wine Developers Guide on how to set up winedbg or another debugger
fixme:ddraw:Main_DirectDraw_SetCooperativeLevel (0x403c93f8)->(00000000,00000008)

I can't seem to download WineX via CVS (hangs when I hit Enter to login, and I can't subscribe right now (no credit card and no money)).

Does anyone know how to get DirectSound working reliably with this sound card under regular Wine?

Does the dsound test program run?
In dlls/dsound/tests run:
wine dsound.dll.so dsound
and see if you get any errors. Also try it with hardware acceleration
off. In .wine/config set "HardwareAcceleration" = "Emulation"
As a last resort you can run a trace on your programs and send the
results to me. Run the programs like this:
wine --debugmsg +wave,+dsound,+dsound3d program.exe >& trace
where program.exe is your program.

Thank you for your response, I'll try that asap (probably over the weekend). Just wanted to let you know that I had seen your advice.

I just downloaded the Deus Ex demo and it works fine. Intro sound and training mode sounds work fine. This is with latest winehq cvs and one patch which I haven't released yet. The patch shouldn't affect your problem. It looks like your sound card is giving you problems. The ioctl for SETTRIGGER is failing. This is probably a driver issue.

Well, your response brings up a separate but related issue-- compiling WineX CVS.

Because WineX has better DX support, I thought that maybe these games would work under it when they don't under Wine (though DeusEx at least should work under Wine, afaik).

But I can't compile it, and since I am not a programmer, I do not understand the errors.

Originally I had a huge number of errors during make (no errors in the early stages of either self-compiling or tools/wineinstall), but the advice in the Winex compile problem with ppl.l thread got rid of most of them.

Unfortunately I'm still left with one error (which I have detailed in that thread), so basically I can't compile WineX, and Wine doesn't work for the main programs I want to run, though it does work for a nice little Solitaire game called Double Deck Solitaire, which runs with no errors whatsoever.

ATM, I'm installing Gentoo, both because I've been meaning to, and because I'm wondering if a Portage ebuild will compile "around" whatever freaky thing is going on with my system. As soon as it's finished compiling GNOME, I'll hop back into Debian and see if there's anything I can do about DSound (turning off HW Acceleration sounds promising).

I guess there's a question in here, but I have so many questions now, I can't even define them clearly anymore.

Thanks for your help so far, and any further ideas you may come up with .