distorted sound

[Neal]

Recently my sound what to hell. It is distorted and
scratchy. There is even a loud crack noise when I first start
Windows or when at the shutdown screen. Nothing I do seems to fix it.
My WinXP Home Edition SP2 system has a Realtek AC97 integrated
soundcard. Please note, my system sounds fine in Linux, so I know that
is not the problem. I have shutdown the integrated soundcard then
uninstalled the Realtek AC97 software and drivers. When done I restarted
the soundcard in the BIOS and reinstalled the drivers. No change. Even
changing to a Soundblaster LiveLS did not change anything.
I can't see formatting since that is a last resort and a pain in the
butt. I could use a suggestion or two. I am guessing there is a corrupt
file or driver somewhere but have not idea what to look for.


Neal

Sin without deceivers
A God with no believers
I could sail by
on the Winds of Silence
and maybe they won't notice

-- Dream Theater, "The Silent Man"

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the sound device, Action
menu, "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
automatically.

 

[Neal]

I have tried that. After reinstalling the drivers and rebooting I find
it made no change. The sounds are still distorted.

Neal

Go to Start/Run, and type DEVMGMT.MSC , highlight the sound device, Action
menu, "Uninstall", then restart Windows, to find the device drivers again
automatically.

"Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an
individual than the use of the drug itself."
-- President Jimmy Carter, Message to Congress, August 2, 1977