Please Assist- I can't seem to find a sound driver for my computer

Hi I have recently aquired a computer from a relative, but they reinstalled windows xp deleting all the files (including the sound driver apparently) for security purposes on their behalf. The computer itself is a Dell Dimension 2350.
I have made numerous attempts at finding the correct driver for the sound card, from what I am reading in other sites it is an integrated sound card, but I have had no such luck.

I read the everest report and I've read other posts on here in which some occasions it has been suggested that Everest reports are sometimes misleading. Please assist me in finding the correct link to the driver- Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

First try installing your chipset drivers, then the audio.
Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility


This is the audio driver Dell shows for your PC:
Analog Devices ADI 198x Integrated Audio

 

I followed your directions but still nothing. I have a question- In the Sounds and Audio Devices box it says No audio device detected. I assume any speaker would work for this computer, am I right? Or does it have to be a more sophisticated speaker set. I don't think so as this makes no sense to me, but I could be wrong.

 

Most speakers should work OK, and that wouldn't cause the "No Audio Device" message.
Check that Windows Audio Service is started.
Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
Scroll down the list of services until you find the Windows Audio service.
Right click on it and choose Properties.
Make sure it is set to Automatic and Start is checked.

Check: BIOS to insure on-board sound is enabled.
As the PC starts, press one of these keys,
Dells are usually F2 or Del.
Or the right key will be posted on the very first screen.
Tap it until you enter set-up, then look for your audio (it should be in Advanced or in Integrated Peripherals)
Make sure sound is set correctly, when finished. For Onboard Sound (Enabled)

 

I followed your steps and everything was already set to the preferred settings that you gave me. So there was no change. Do you have any more ideas? Any are gladly appreciated on this end.

 

First, have you shut down your PC, after the driver installs and then rebooted?
Sometimes, that is necessary.

If that doesn't work, give this a try:

Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator
Scenario One
You DO have "Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator" listed under System Devices (in Device Manager)

Carry out the following steps;
* Copy C:\WINDOWS\inf\machine.inf to a temporary location
* Edit your copy of machine.inf in Notepad
* Remove line 20 (ExcludeFromSelect=*)
* Right-click “Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator” and click “Update Driver”
* Choose “Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)” and click Next
* Choose “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install” and click Next
* Click “Have Disk”
* Browse to the location of your copy of machine.inf and click OK
* Select “Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator” and click Next
* Wait for the software to install then click Finish

Scenario Two
You DON’T have "Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator" listed under System Devices (in Device Manager)


Carry out the following steps;
* Copy C:\WINDOWS\inf\machine.inf to a temporary location
* Edit your copy of machine.inf in Notepad
* Remove line 20 (ExcludeFromSelect=*)
* Go to the Control Panel and run “Add Hardware”
* When the Add Hardware Wizard appears, click Next
* Wait for it to search for new hardware
* Choose Yes, I have already connected the hardware and click Next
* Scroll all the way down and select “Add a new hardware device”, click Next
* Choose “Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced)”, click Next
* Select “Show All Devices” and click Next
* Click “Have Disk”
* Browse to the location of your copy of machine.inf and click OK
* Under Model, select “Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator”, click Next
* To start installing the drivers, click Next
* Wait for the software to install then click Finish

Now see if you can install your driver.

 

I appreciate the help but again I've had no such luck-sorry.

 

Woah thank you very much for all the help - It works now I reinstalled the driver a 3rd time and it worked- thank you very much. I now have sound!:-D

 

I am seeing absolutely nothing in Everest , that might be causing a conflict.

I'm going to suggest trying a Repair Install of XP.

If you have your Windows CD (Dell Recovery disc), you can do a Repair Install. It can be done without destroying your personal files or applications, but it is safer to back up any personal stuff to CD.

Make sure you have your valid Windows XP key. (Won't need it, if you have the Dell Recovery CD)
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer.
You may have to change your Boot Options in BIOS to get your PC to load from the disk. (Set first boot from CD/DVD device.)

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD. (Dell Recovery disc)
2. Press a key when you see the Boot from CD window.
You will see a new screen that says, “Setup is inspecting your computer’s…………….”
After a minute or two, you'll see the "Windows Setup/Setup is starting Windows" screen.
Finally, you will see the "Welcome to Setup" screen.
3. To get to the Repair option you want, you must choose, "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER."
DO NOT choose the "To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console..." Option.
Don’t worry nothing has been changed yet.
4. The next screen is the Licensing screen, choose F8 to accept.
5. The next screen searches for "a previous version of Microsoft Windows."
Again, don’t worry, nothing has changed yet.
6. Finally, you will come to a screen that shows your XP installation. If you have more than one, you will need to highlight the one you want to repair.
7. You will also see, “To Repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R”
This is the real Repair option. Press R

The Repair process then selectively deletes system files in the Windows folder and subfolders and copies undamaged replacement files from the setup CD to their proper locations. Then it works on the current setup's Registry, leaving much of it intact and rebuilding the rest. Then the repair process needs to reboot and will do so automatically. If your setup CD is still in the drive, remove it so that the system won't try to boot from it.
It will take a bit longer to reboot this time. Then Setup will start again.
Don’t worry, if you have followed these steps it is doing a repair only, not a re-install. You will see the same screens as a regular install.
First you will get the Regional and Language screen, then the screen asking for your Product Key.
Next it will do the actual Repair. When done (20-30 minutes) there will be another reboot bringing you to a “Welcome to Windows” screen.
You'll be asked if you want to register and you may or may not be asked to reactivate the copy of Windows.
Next, the setup completes the final networking details and then you will see a "Thank You" screen.
There should be one more reboot (a normal one) and if you did everything correctly, all your User Accounts, Passwords, Personal Data, and software will be intact.

 

It's ok it works now-

 

Mr.Crash:
He was typing that up while you were posting Congrats on having the sound back.