You're welcome, John, good luck.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
Thanks again, Michael -
I'm going to see my friend Monday, and will bring the print out of our
messages with me.
Appreciate all you've done,
John
<<>>
You're welcome.
You friend's approach is a bit drastic considering the problem and he
really
has nothing to lose by first checking for the latest XP compatible
drivers
from the manufacturer's website.
Here are some things he can do or try before going that far. He may
already
have made up his mind but I post them for his benefit and the benefit of
others as formatting doesn't need to be anything but a last resort since
XP
offers a number of other options as follows:
In addition to checking for the latest XP compatible drivers from the
manufacturer's website which should be among the first thing a user
tries:
First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run
a
virus scan.
Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com
If this is a relatively recent issue, you might try using System Restore
to
take you back to a time when this worked properly. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't
resolve
it, try the information below.
The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a
restore CD
or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.
Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note,
there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your
XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this
is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun.
Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.
If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:
Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you
are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your
data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have
your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality
occur.
Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the
XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually
has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key,
when
you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot
sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot
sequence.
Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will
reboot.
Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD,
it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up,
if
you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.
Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a
reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.
Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a
screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows
Installation
using the Recovery console.
The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires
you
to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement.
Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation
or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
Thanks again, Michael -
My friend is really frustrated because his sound used to work and
now
it
doesn't, with seemingly no changes to cause the problem. What he
has
decided
to do is a complete format/reinstall, so for now I'm going to let
him
proceed on his own.
Appreciate your help,
John
<<>>
You're welcome.
The installation of an alternative card which had the same issue MIGHT
point
to something other than the drivers. However, since the driver
were
installed from the CD with which the soundcard shipped, it might well
be
the
same issue. Drivers become dated quickly which is why we suggest
checking
manufacturer's websites for the latest drivers for a device when
an
issue
such as this comes up. If the latest drivers don't resolve the issue,
we
can partially rule out drivers as the cause. In both cases, you were
using
the drivers with which the device shipped as opposed to the latest
drivers,
hence, both might have the same issue in that regard.
I say partially because the next possibility is that some other device
on
the system is conflicting. You would have to resolve that by process
of
elimination, disconnecting and otherwise disabling or uninstalling
other
devices one by one until you found the culprit.
One of the things you need to check is whether or not the
integrated
soundcard was disabled when you added the other card. If it was not,
that
could have caused the other card to have the same issue as well.
Something else to consider, if your soundcard and this would apply to
both,
had special features or if the computer has features that tie
sound in
with
the phone for example, you might need to install the latest
drivers
for
the
modem in order to get full function out of the soundcard. I had just
such
an issue on one of my systems wherein, the modem software need to
be
installed as well. If it wasn't installed, the soundcard would
not be
fully
implemented and get banged out (appear as disabled) in Device
Manger
(under
System, the Hardware tab, in Control Panel).
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
Hello again, Michael -
Thanks for your continuing support -- one thing that may point away
from
this being a driver issue is that when we installed a separate,
additional
sound card (the default is integrated on the motherboard) it did
install
just fine, including the driver from it's CD, but the situation
remained
the
same: greyed out Sounds and Audio Devices Properties stating "No
Audio
Device". Wouldn't this indicate that it is something other than
a
driver
?
Your help is definitely appreciated,
John
<<>>
You're welcome.
You might try the Intel site for updated drivers and/or the system
manufacturer's website as well.
If the system has been updated at all, Windows Updates, other
updates,
etc.,
it changes the operating environment. Eventually, many devices
that
have
worked just fine right along end up pushed over the line and
require
their
drivers to be updated. Assuming the card is properly seated in its
slot,
everything you've mentioned points to a driver issue.
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
Thanks, Michael -- this is an Intel motherboard (D850GB) with
integrated
sound, and we have uninstalled then reinstalled the device
and
driver;
this
process goes exactly (and smoothly) as it should, but in the end
there
is
still no sound. Also, this system (always Win XP Pro, not an
upgrade
from
an
earlier version) worked perfectly for months prior to the
sound
going
out,
so we're still trying to figure out what happened.
During my searches to find something on this problem I've
seen
literally
dozens of posts to various tech support groups for this same
problem,
so
perhaps someone will come across the answer and let the rest
of
us
know.
Thank you for your help and your time,
John
<<>>
Have you checked the soundcard manufacturer's website for
the
latest
XP
compatible drivers?
--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org:
http://www.dts-l.org/
Hello to All -
Trying to help a friend with his Windows XP Pro SP2
computer
that
was
working just fine, but now there is no sound:
**
Sounds and Audio Devices Properties is completely greyed
out
and
instead
of
the audio device it shows "No Audio Device"
Everything in Device Manager is ok, no errors, warnings,
no
problems
of
any
kind, include the integrated sound chipset.
We have removed, uninstalled and reinstalled devices, drivers,
etc.,
but
no
change.
We have installed a separate sound card, which does
install,
but
the
greyed
out "No Audio Device" is still there, no sound!
We have verified Windows Audio Service is started (automatic)
and
the
Plug
&
Play Software Enumerator files are in tact.
This machine does not produce sound from any source -- system,
CD
audio,
web-based music -- except the PC speaker.
**
The only thing that may have changed would be something
from
WindowsUpdate
(automatic updates are turned on) but we cannot be sure about
this.
Any help appreciated,
John Murray
<<>>
