Sound card not working!

Can't get the sound (speakers or headphones) to work. Tried to reinstall drivers, my sound card is enabled and everything is unmuted, the device is turned on in BIOS, and tried everything else I can think of but there is just no sound at all, ever. I even tried taking the sound card out and putting it back into the motherboard.

A few weeks ago the capacitors on my motherboard blew and I brought it to a shop. They soddered on new capacitors (and also repaired my RAID system, and cleaned up my registry, in case its useful - they didn't touch my BIOS or reinstall my Operating System, which is XP) and the computer boots up just fine and everything looks normal - i can access all my files and everything - but no sound at all.

Under Audio Device Options I used to have several options to choose from, but now I only have one: "SoundMAX Digital Audio" (which it says is working properly even though it is not, and that the drivers are installed/updated.) The name of the audio device under Hardware is "SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio" by Analog Devices.

The weird thing is that before this problem, I used to have 3-4 audio devices to pick from, and if i recall correctly I think one of them was a Creative Sound Blaster. But now that doesnt appear at all, just the SoundMAX option. Also, when I go to Start>All Programs>Creative>Creative Audio Console it just gives me the following error:

"Unable to find Audio device. Please make sure that your audio device is enabled and installed with it's driver. This specification will be closed"

So I think my computer is not recognizing my sound card at all.

Some other potentially useful info:

M1SB0353457004579B
Creative Labs Model Number: SB0350
ML-DP-1554 47130 47011EA

The version of the installed drivers is 5.12.1.5246
The card is in PCI bus 0, device 30, function 2


Do I need to install a new sound card? Is there any place I can pick up a used one for pretty cheap?

Can anyone help? Thank you!

 

Did the audio ever work when you got it back from the shop?

Double check all the connections - make sure the plugs are attached to the card, and not the on-board sound ports.

Go to "Run" then type in services.msc and press Return. Make sure a service named "Windows Audio" is present, set to automatic, and is showing "started." If it isn't there, that is probably the issue - but it's easily fixed.

If it is there - go into your BIOS and check out any settings for audio. Try, for example, disabling the on-board sound if it is enabled.

The SB0350 is a nice sound card. Since you only have the SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio showing up (which is the on-board sound) it seems like the drivers for the sound card are not installed or not installed correctly.

First, find the driver for your card - I suggest getting it off the manufacturers site - and save it to your computer. Then go into Add/Remove programs and remove any drivers listed for you card, if any. Install the driver and reboot.

That's all I have for now. Let us know how it's going or what ends up fixing the problem.

 

I only had my computer for a day after I got it back from the shop, and it wasnt until the second day that i realized that the sound didn't work.

So if the drivers aren't installed, will my computer at least recognize that I have the Creative sound card installed? Right now my computer is not recognizing the hardware at all. I'm having a little trouble finding drivers, but I found a few that might (emphasis on might) be the correct drivers but when I go to install them it says that no compatible hardware was found.

Should I atleast be able to "see" that I have a creative sound card installed?

 

and oh ya, in the services.msc thing, the Windows Audio was there (and started) so that shouldnt be the problem.

The fact that the hardware isnt recognized at all makes me thing that the sound card itself is defective.

Another question: If the motherboard is supposedly ok, but my current sound card is bad, why cant I get sound out of the SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio (assuming that is the default, integrated sound card on the motherboard)? That card isn't producing any sound either.

 

Your computer might not "see" you have the card installed, if the drivers are not installed or installed correctly. The drivers for your card should be here:

http://support.creative.com/Products/product_list.aspx?catID=1&CatName=Sound+Blaster

I suggest you physically inspect the card (while doing what I typed below) for any model numbers or other ID info, and search the manufacturer's support section to make sure you get the exact driver you need.

Before following the instructions below, if you choose too, make sure your computer is shut down, and unplugged from the house power supply. Once inside the computer, take care to "ground" yourself from time-to-time against the computer's metal frame to avoid static discharges that can damage electronic components.

I suggest you physically un-install the card from the PCI slot it is in, and install it in another slot (if not availiable, re-seat the card in its original slot).
Reboot, and see if the OS "finds" the new hardware. If not, try a manual install of the card. Then install the driver.

If that fails to work, then inspect your motherboard for a model name or number . . . Google it and find the manufacturers info for the board, and verify what on-board sound you have. Then download the driver listed on the manufacturer's site . . . I've found these have the best chances of working with an iffy board.

If that fails to work, then I am out of suggestions. Have you spoken to the tech that did the repairs? Any input from him/them? If your sound was working before the "repair" then it should be now.

It just occured to me that in your original post you mentioned having "3 or 4" audio devices to choose from . . . can you elaborate on that? I passed it off as being an aberration of a sick OS and/or motherboard . . . but now that I have time to ponder it (off today) I am intrigued.

Sorry I've not been able to assist with your issue.

 

What i meant by 3 or 4 devices is this....

If you go to Start>Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices
Then click on the Audio tab, under the "Default Device" drop down box I had several different devices/sound cards/whatever to pick from (before the motherboard problem.)

Now, I only have one option, and that's the SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio, which was not what I was using before for my sound.

And I called the people at the repair shop, they basically dont know anything.

I'm trying to find and install the correct drivers for my Creative SoundBlaster card