Ahoy me harties!

So, long and short of it is my PC wont play any sound. I'v checked the speaker connection, and they make that funky sound when you plug them in ( you know, like scraping magnified) so they work. It was working untill this weekend when it just stopped all togethor. I have downloaded a new Sound Card, (from Creative) but when I go to install it it gives an error message.
Any hints?

Any and all help is much appreciated :)

Note: I am going to try and install that Sound Card again, but if that fails I will edit this post to include my PC Spec's etc.

Sound card can't be downloaded..rather its driver.
install everest (http://www.lavalys.com) and tell us what sound card you got. It will be under multimedia-> PCI/PnP Audio

Okay, I'm downloading Everest now.


Edit: Ran the Diag program and my Sound card is


Device Description Type
Intel 82801BA(M) ICH2X/M - AC'97 Audio Controller [C-0] PCI

If it matters, there is nothing listed under Windows Audio at all.



Side Note, how come the Self Installing EXE file is smaller (2.8 mb) than the Zip file (3.0mb). Just a trivial observation...

Go to Control Panel -> Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices -> Adjust System Volume. Make sure "Mute" isn't selected. Alternatively, if your keyboard has a "Mute" button, try hitting that. I got this once accidentally when I didn't mean to - I just unmuted my volume, so perhaps that is your problem.

Okay, I'm downloading Everest now.


Edit: Ran the Diag program and my Sound card is


Device Description Type
Intel 82801BA(M) ICH2X/M - AC'97 Audio Controller [C-0] PCI


Onboard sound. Well the reason for the error when you were trying to install the driver from creative is because you don't have a creative sound card. Some drivers won't install if you do not have the hardware.
No sound and nothing listed under windows audio means that you don't have the drivers for it. Where you'll get those is another issue altogether.
Side Note, how come the Self Installing EXE file is smaller (2.8 mb) than the Zip file (3.0mb). Just a trivial observation...

zip sucks for compression.

I just checked out the Control Panel > Audio Devices, and found that it isnt picking up the speakers apparently. I only bought them recently, and they are Packard Bell so its not a shabby make. It reports ' NO Audio Device' and I cant click any buttons where it says speakers...


Yeah, I found that when I instaled the creative driver it wanted a Sound Blaster Card, which I presume is Creative's own Card. Hmm, Anyone know where I can find an appropriate driver for that Card?

I just checked out the Control Panel > Audio Devices, and found that it isnt picking up the speakers apparently. I only bought them recently, and they are Packard Bell so its not a shabby make. It reports ' NO Audio Device' and I cant click any buttons where it says speakers...



Tell me. Did the speakers come with a CD?



Yeah, I found that when I instaled the creative driver it wanted a Sound Blaster Card, which I presume is Creative's own Card. Hmm, Anyone know where I can find an appropriate driver for that Card?


Sound card ain't the problem. You ain't got the drivers for the speakers.

Tell me. Did the speakers come with a CD?

They didnt unfortunatley, otherwhise I could try a re-install.


Sound card ain't the problem. You ain't got the drivers for the speakers.

So, how do I go about getting the right one?

drivers are problem.. i think windows update should pick up your audio driver
windowsupdate.microsoft.com

The drivers for the onboard sound should have been supplied on CD with the computer.

If not... you'll have to find out the make and model of the motherboard. This is usually displayed on the very first boot screen.

Hold down the Del key while booting - after flashing the information on the screen, the BIOS screen displays. Don't change anything, just press the reset button and try again to find out the motherboard manufacturer and model board number (by holding down the Del key) and just keep cycling until you get it.

Windows won't complain about this, because you are resetting before Windows has even loaded.


Once you've got the maker and model number (some makers - Asus, Abit, ECS, Biostar, DFI, Soltek, Shuttle, Soyo) you can google up the homepage of the maker. They usually have a download section for each and every motherboard. The only reason they don't is because some motherboards are sold to only one supplier - for instance, the Asus A7N8X-LA comes in 2 versions but you'll only find them in Compaqs and HP machines.

Have fun - of course, you could just take the side off the machine and have a look, but "reading" motherboards is tricky without a lot of practice.

Since when did speakers need drivers?

Pablicosta, have you checked which socket your speakers are plugged into? I suspect that you may have them connected to 'mic in' instead of 'line out'.

The drivers for the onboard sound should have been supplied on CD with the computer.

If not... you'll have to find out the make and model of the motherboard. This is usually displayed on the very first boot screen.

Hold down the Del key while booting - after flashing the information on the screen, the BIOS screen displays. Don't change anything, just press the reset button and try again to find out the motherboard manufacturer and model board number (by holding down the Del key) and just keep cycling until you get it.

Windows won't complain about this, because you are resetting before Windows has even loaded.


Once you've got the maker and model number (some makers - Asus, Abit, ECS, Biostar, DFI, Soltek, Shuttle, Soyo) you can google up the homepage of the maker. They usually have a download section for each and every motherboard. The only reason they don't is because some motherboards are sold to only one supplier - for instance, the Asus A7N8X-LA comes in 2 versions but you'll only find them in Compaqs and HP machines.

Have fun - of course, you could just take the side off the machine and have a look, but "reading" motherboards is tricky without a lot of practice.
Or a much quicker way would just to use Everest. ;)

Zakharov I checked that, and the speakers are plugged in correctly to the Green line out socket.

Zakharov Thanks, I'm going to run through Everest and find the Motherboard, then I can just google [motherboard name] sound driver?

Must dash anyway, English Language GCSE to be done at 9 :cry:

well according to the info you gave furter up (Intel 82801BA(M) ICH2X/M - AC'97 Audio Controller [C-0] PCI), your driver should be available here:

http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/mv2/mv2_drive.htm

just pick the audio driver for your OS....

right...checking into it now. Thanks.

What the hell! I downloaded the
Integrated Audio: ADI 5.12.01.3516b_Cadenza 18.5 MB 07 Jan 2003
from that site, for Windows XP and it said "Error, No sound Driver found". I thought that was the point of installing a new one? Ack!

Maybe try downloading the "INF: Intel 82801BA ICH2 4.04.1007 1.31 MB" one first?

Just did it and reset and I got sound back. Thank you all, unfortunatley I have a new problem now. Ha!