Sound Device Failure

[S.N.CA]

I am extremely frustrated.

For some reason the sound stopped working on my Dell (XP
Professional). Speakers and headsets are OK. I have
downloaded all available Microsoft driver & media updates.

Device Manager shows no problems with either the sound
card or the drivers.

I got a message saying there was a problem with my sound
card so I bought and installed a soundblaster card. Now
both cards show up in Device Manager with drivers and
without problem, but I still have no sound.

Researching further, under Sounds and Audio Device
Properties in the Control Panel it shows No Playback
Devices, No Recording Devices, and no MIDI Devices.

If the hardware all shows up with no conflicts and good
drivers, how can I not have a playback device???

 

[davetest]

I am extremely frustrated.

For some reason the sound stopped working on my Dell (XP
Professional). Speakers and headsets are OK. I have
downloaded all available Microsoft driver & media updates.

Device Manager shows no problems with either the sound
card or the drivers.

I got a message saying there was a problem with my sound
card so I bought and installed a soundblaster card. Now
both cards show up in Device Manager with drivers and
without problem, but I still have no sound.

Researching further, under Sounds and Audio Device
Properties in the Control Panel it shows No Playback
Devices, No Recording Devices, and no MIDI Devices.

If the hardware all shows up with no conflicts and good
drivers, how can I not have a playback device???

IS the windows audio service functioning properly.
Open Services (services.msc from the RUN box),
scroll down to windows audio and make sure it's
Started/Automatic. If it's not,
make it so.
Also, view the event log (evenvwr.msc from the RUN box)
and check on for any incriminating message - applcation,
security or system.
Dave

 

[S.N.CA]

Thanks for the suggestion, but everything looks good
there too. I couldn't view the event log using the
command you reccommended. No such file, but I do believe
I've seen it somewhere in all the searching I've been
doing. I can't figure out what's wrong. There must be a
file or driver that is supposed to be loaded upon boot-
up, but I can't find the information anywhere.

 

[davetest]

Thanks for the suggestion, but everything looks good
there too. I couldn't view the event log using the
command you reccommended. No such file, but I do believe
I've seen it somewhere in all the searching I've been
doing. I can't figure out what's wrong. There must be a
file or driver that is supposed to be loaded upon boot-
up, but I can't find the information anywhere.

the event viewer is eventvwr.msc, I made a typo.
Check it out. Also run MSINFO32, and look at the
various sections, for example hardware.
Dave