I reinstalled Windows XP and now I have no sound on my pc!

[filthiestfis]

Since reinstalling Windows on my pc I have lost all sound. The only way I can hear anything is by using a pair of headphones with a soundcard on it (I think). Do I need to install a sound driver? Is this free? Where can I get it from?

[peanut]

yes, you need to install drivers. go to the manufacturers webstite to obtian these. You will need to know the make and model of your soundcard for this.

[peanut]

Thats of course if you are sure you dont have it muted or something simple like that.

[filthiestfis]

How do I find out what the make and model of my soundcard is?

[alunrw]

look in the control panel>system>hardward profiles and check the properties on the sound card - you then have an option to update driver and select the source - if you have the original driver CD, just pop this in and select the CD drive in which the disc is , alternatively you can let it be found from the web.

[stevec46]

Sometimes Control Panel will not identify Sound Card or other components, I found a post else where on this forum that says:-

if you download & run Aida32 it will identify all your system components, so you can then go to the maker's website(s) & download the required drivers.
This can be down loaded from:-

http://downloads.theregister.co.uk/Windows/Uti lities/Benchmarks/aida32pe.html

Some where else that might help:-

http://www.driverguide.com/

http://www.driverscollection.com/

Good luck.

Steve

[filthiestfis]

Thanks for your help. I have run Aida but I am not a computer techie so I dont know what to do with it now. This is all confusing to me :( I just want my music back. What do I need to do in very simple terms, with Aida?

[stevec46]

Sorry, I tried to upload a answer yesterday, but have problems.
Need to take a step back, where are you plugging in your headphones?Some CD \ DVD drives have a Headphone socket on them.

Is it a desktop machine or laptop? Make model?

Steve

[filthiestfis]

Let me explain: I have labtec speakers and this is where I want the music to come out from. I bought headphones with a sound card on them so I CAN listen with them on, but I want sound to come out of the speakers obviously. I am not using a laptop, its an emachine 550. Thanks for your help everyone.

[stevec46]

Sorry to ask, but does you PC have a sound card in it?

I have never heard of headphones with sound cards in them.

There is a web for e machines, but I couldn't find your one:-

http://uk.emachines.com/

[filthiestfis]

Sorry, I am an igoramus. My sister bought the headphones and she tells me that the reaosn why there is sound coming through it is because it has a soundcard. I trusted her with what she said, although she is more inept than I am at this, so youre probably right.

[stevec46]

So where do you plug the headphones into on the PC?

Have you ever had the speakers working on your PC?

[filthiestfis]

Yes the speakers have always worked until I had to reinstall Windows on my computer. Since then no sound comes out of them and Ive checked everything and its in working order. Ive been told that because I reinstalled Windows, I now need to reinstall a sound driver. This is probably correct as I also cannot play dvds either, meaning that I also need to install a dvd decoder. My sis bought the headphones and sound does indeed come out of them. They are connnected to a USB port on the front.

[stevec46]

If the speakers have worked before then you should be able to get them working again, lets try the Aida route ( not used it my self, just saw it posted else where).
Launch Aida, Click the Plus (+) next to Computer,click on Summary, you will see lots there,hopefully Mutimedia \ Audio Adapter, hopefully it will have something in Value, if you hover over that with the mouse,it gives you the option to download, try that.Unfortunately the links don't always work, so make a note of what yours is, if the download doesn't tke you to somewhere that you can get it, post the information on this thread and I will see if I can fing it for you.

If it does find it, there will probably be a setup.exe, run that, re-boot PC and see what happens.

Steve

[filthiestfis]

Hi Steve

Thanks so much for your help! I did as you said and followed the link to download when I got to Audio Adaptor, but the link didnt work, as you predicted. I have an SIS 7012 so I searched for it on the website and found the driver and downloaded it to my desktop. Should it be downloaded to the hard drive? What do I do with it now that I have it. When I opened it I just saw a lot of stuff on it I dont understand.
I was listening to music from itunes from my headphones and when I disconnected the headphones, the music stopped playing on itunes. This was after I have downloaded the driver.

[filthiestfis]

Me again-when I go to sounds, speech, and audio devices and click on adjust the system volume, it says there is no audio device! Under 'Hardware' I check through all the devices which are working properly EXCEPT one:

C-Media AC97 Audio Device
Device Status: This device cannot start (code 10)

Any ideas whats going on? Thanks

[stevec46]

Hi, You should have downloaded them to your hard drive, try downloading to your hard drive, I had a look at this on a spare machine and downloded A12112d.zip, is that what you downloaded? You need to un zip the file when you have it, that is fairly stright forward and then run the Setup.exe and re-boot.
AC 97 is a common Audio Device, I think it is used by many companies.

Let me know how you get on, alternatively you chould try live chat:-

http://www.e4me.com/support/product_support.ht ml?cat=Desktops&subcat=eMonster%20Series&model =eMonster_550#

Don't know if they will charge or help..

Steve

[stevec46]

Actusally foun UK support site:-

http://uk.emachines.com/support/options.html

Monday to Friday 9 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM

[filthiestfis]

steve I cannot thank you enough :o)

I was so disgruntled with the lack of sound that I left it without doing anything for a week. Tonight, I decided to come back to this question and to get it fixed once and for all, followed your instructions (didnt need ot contact e-machines) and its worked. It was the correct sound driver and the sound is back on my pc! Thanks a lot Stevec46, you are one in a million!!!! :o) :o) :o)

[stevec46]

Excellent, so glad you got it working.

Steve

[filthiestfis]

Thank you steve!