Sound card kaput?

[johnniebaby]

I have had no sound on my computer for a couple of weeks now, it just suddenly packed up for no apparent reason. I know that it is fitted with a'Soundblaster' card, fitted by Dell from new, but when I go into control panel it says no audio device is fitted. I have had a gander inside the CPU, and there doesn't appear to be a seperate soundcard, does this mean it is part of the motherboard? Any suggestions as to what I can do to rectify the problem,can I fit a new seperate soundcard? I really miss my internet radio. Thanks.

ps. I have no idea what I am doing, computers are a mystery to me, so words of one sylable please

[Mark LJ]

Do you have a choice in the drop down tab for the default audio device as per screensnap?



Does it say owt in device manager to the effect that the audio device isn't working.

Creative sometimes do onboard sound chips - Dell usually put in a separate card - where does the green lead plug into for the speakers?

[johnniebaby]

Hi Mark

[johnniebaby]

Hi Matt

[johnniebaby]

Hi Matt, and thanks for your help, sorry I am not very good at computers.
REgards, JB.

[Mark LJ]

when you click the little down arrow to the side of the default audio device (when your on the audio tab) does it showe you a choice other than modem#1? Hopefully it'll show you the SB device and you can then select it. You've got onboard sound so hopefully its not knacked.

[johnniebaby]

Hi Mark, no choice modem 1 playback only.

[Mark LJ]

Go to start=>control panel=>system=>hardware=>device manager=>sound, video and game controllers

Is the Soundblaster device listed?

[smegger68]

Johnnie,

You dont have a soundblaster. The picture of the back of your pc shows the audio outputs as part of the ATX shield, which means your soundscard is integrated onto the motherboard. Creative dont make chipsets available to motherboard manufacturers for integration so you cant have one in your pc.

What you probably have is something that is described as 'Soundblaster Compatible'. This compatibility used to be a big deal back in the days of DOS an Windows 95 but is almost totally unimportant now. Manufacturers still quote it though as a way to get the Soundblaster name into the specs.

You'll need to go into the Control Panel as Mark LJ describes above. Probably your soundcard will have developed a driver fault or become disabled (a red x), or Windows will have unloaded the drivers (a yellow triangle). If you see nothing listed for sound devices, you may need to do a redetect which is done by right clicking on the icon at the top of the tree and choosing scan for hardware.

If you are really stuck, PM me and i'll be happy to sort it out via remote assistance for you.

[johnniebaby]

Hi Smegger 68, have tried the scan for hardware but nothing new has appeared on the list.

[smegger68]

yup, windows has dumped the sound drivers. They are probably on the hard drive somewhere, if not do you have the driver disc for your pc?

[Mark LJ]

Creative do make onboard chips for motherboards - good ones at that.

It appears as though the drivers are not installed - as you've got a dell it shouldn't be a hassle to sort it.

Go here and put in your service tag number - 7 digit alpha numeric number stuck to the case. It'll give you a list of drivers for the machine and just browse to the sound ones. That is if you don't have them on a disk somewhere.

[johnniebaby]

Mark LJ and Smegger 68, thankyou very much for your advice and assistance, I have just successfully downloaded and installed the Soundmax drivers, and now once again have full stereophonic sound. Where would I be without the Wigwam? Thanks again. JB.

[Defiant]

Very odd, looks like someone has done a fresh none OEM install of your OS from that screen shot....

Glad it's sorted anyway, hopefully you can download the Ethernet and USB drivers from the same page, then you'll have a fully functional system