sound card problem

Hi. I'm new to this and am at my wits end! I dont know much about computers, however (somehow), I figured out that I have a Crystal Soundfusion soundcard. I am trying to find a driver for this and can not. I don't know how to tell what the model number is on the card. I received this computer for free from someone who works on them on the side. They said that they don't have any installation disks for the sound card due to the previous owner, not having them. The first week I had this computer the sound worked, now I can't get it to work. I am running windows xp. If you need anything else to help me, please let me know what it is and the steps I need to take to get the details needed. Thank you in advance!

 

We'll start with the easy stuff.
First step: Is the volume on?
Double click the audio icon in the task bar to get to the Master Volume controller and check ALL settings.
Second step: Is the Windows Audio service running?
Go to Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services
Scroll down the list of services until you find Windows Audio
Open up Windows Audio by double clicking
Make sure it is running, if not, click on Start.
If the first 2 steps didn't fix the problem.
Third step: Check to see if your Sound Device drivers are OK. Use Device Manager:
To open Device Manager: Start>Control Panel> System. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager, then click the plus sign in front of Sound, Video, Game Controllers.
In Device Manager, if there is a ? in front of your audio device, that means no audio driver is installed.
A ! means driver installation attempted but with problems.

System Information
Use Everest to get a report of your system’s hardware, OS, and drivers.
Everest: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

Upload the report as an attachment and also post what you see in your Device Manager.

 

Also, do you suspect malware on your PC... Has it slowed down or started acting different? Malwatre and the removal of it, sometimes affects drivers.

 

Ok...here's what I came up with.
1. I checked the volume, yes, everything is on, nothing muted, however, it is not on the task bar.
2. Yes, Windows Audio service is started.
3. There are no marks in Device Manager under the Sound, video, Game controllers "tree". But if I double-click on "Crystal Soundfusion(tm)", under the "General" tab, it says there are no drivers installed for this device. So I'm assuming this is my problem. However, like I said I don't have a disk with the needed driver for this, as this is a used computer. I don't have the money to go get a new sound card. I'm looking to see if there are any free drivers for this.

And for some reason, it won't let me attach my report for you.

 

Malware is always a possiblity. Can you suggest an easy to use and understand program or tool for that? And for some reason I still can not attach the report.

 

Is this how you generated the report?
Run Everest.
Click "Report" at the top, click next to get to "Report Profile", select "Hardware-related Pages", click next, select "Plain Text", click "Finish". Then when it is done processing, click "Save To File". Save it where you want to. (I would use Desktop.)
Then click the "Go Advanced" button in the Quick Reply (in your thread on MG site) scroll down to Manage Attachments, Browse to the file, and then click Upload, close the window, and Submit Post.

 

Hopefully it worked this time!

 

Spybot is a very good app and I also like Malwarebyte's Anti Malware app. And make sure you run your anti-virus scanner, too.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/SpyBot-Sea...roy_d2471.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebyt...are_d5756.html

This is the Malware removal guide here at MG. Itlooks complicated and can be a bit time consuming but worth the effort and isn't hard if you take your time and go step by step.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

Go into Device Manager to the Sound, Video, Game controllers and click on any sound device (BUT NOT Audio Codecs and Legacy Audio Driver) to highlight it and then press the delete key. Do that to all audio devices. (again except for Codecs and Legacy) Then re-start you PC and see if Windows will re-install the drivers.
If that doesn't work, this is the Windows .sys driver for your sound. Let me know if that works.
http://www.dynamiclink.nl/htmfiles/rframes/info_sys/info_c/107.htm

 

I did what you said and restarted. It showed as showing new hardware. However, that didn't work. So I tried downloading the driver, and they want a credit card, and that's my problem, I don't have one and dont have access to one. So I can not download it. Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate it.

I have also taken your advice, I have downloaded Spybot and CCleaner. I will run those after I put my daughter down for her nap. Thanks again. Jenn

 

Sorry about that. I was trying a different site and didn't know that's how they worked.
Give me a little while and I will find the driver from a reputable FREE site.

 

Thank you very much.

 

I am not having any luck finding that driver for XP. Your system is a little old and that is why I tried the .sys driver for XP.
I want you to set a restore point, then download this driver for your audio chip.
Save the download to your desktop.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...All&OSFullName=All Operating Systems&lang=eng
On your Desktop, right click on the driver icon, choose Properties, choose Compatibility.
Check the box in Compatibility Mode and choose Win 98.
Click Apply. Than OK.
Now double click on the icon and a DOS window will open and ask, "Do you want to extract these files?" choose yes and enter. I didn't go any further with the installation, so I am not sure if there will be other steps, but it should be self-explaining if there is.
We'll see if that works.

 

One more thing....make sure your Windows Updates are up to date.

 

Downloaded it...a couple of times in fact, for some reason, it freezes and will not install driver. windows is up to date! Looks like I just have to go without sound or buy a new sound card huh?

 

Actually it might be time to get a newer PC. That's a Pentium II processor you have is kind of dated. (I hope I said that in a nice way.)
You may find a steal at your local thrift shops or in a used PC shop.
I'll do some more looking around and see if I can find that driver for XP. I am trying to find chipset drivers for your motherboard, also, but can't find an XP version of them either. Check back tomorrow. Or late tonight. I should have something.

Do you by chance have a XP install disc? That .sys driver should be on the disc and we may be able to fix it if it is corrupted or missing.

PS. How did Spybot and CCleaner work for you?

 

I am not able to find your driver for Win XP. I did find out that the Win .sys file that I wanted you to download (free) also runs a newer driver. I found that newer driver being used to run your sound chip on other PC's with the same specs as yours.
I hope you have one of the recovery options I mentioned in my last post. It is possible than your driver was corrupted and we can fix it.
If not..........
Make sure you have a restore point set (yesterday's will be fine), download and install this: CS4232
This is a zip file so unzip it and double click on the set-up.exe file.

 

Opps, sorry plodr....
I missed your post. I have gotten some drivers there and been asked to pay for others. There are a couple of driver sites like that. I have even taken them out of my bookmarks because their drivers can always be found for free if you look hard enough. Usually from the manufacturers' sites.
And I don't know if it would work or not. (Not sure the one I found will)
Thanks for looking out.

 

Yes, it tis time for a newer PC....however, we just got this one (about 2 months ago) for free and my boyfriend doesnt understand that computers get outdated, and he absolutely hates spending money on them. The lady that gave this to us said it was super fast (hahaha) she bragged about how much better this one was compared to our other one and that our other one should not be able to run XP, even tho it came with XP loaded on it. (yes that one is used too with no install disk ) I will call her and see if I can get the stall disk for XP. Probably won't be able to get it at least until tomorrow.

Ccleaner cleaned up some stuff (okay a lot of stuff) but it also wants to delete some stuff that I'm not sure should be deleted. Haven't ha a chance to run Spybot yet. Kids and boyfriend were on computer until late last nite. speakng of kids, my boys each got MP# players for X-mas.... What is a good free site for them to download music from? They are using Limewire right now, but this lady swears not to use it, even tho everyone I know uses it.

I tried your other download and it went into (Not Responding mode) and I tried the one from plodr and it wont respond either. GRRRRRRR

 

Thank you for your help in this major problem I'm having. I tried it and it went into "Not Responding Mode".

 

That might help. There is a command that will put all your Windows files back to the way they are meant to be, without affecting any data or apps on your PC.

CCleaner is a very safe program, although it's always recommended to have a backup saved. (I have never had a problem with CCleaner) I would recommend letting the cleaner tool clean all that it finds. The register cleaner is pretty safe, too. (a couple people have had problems with it but they may have had problems before running it.)

Limewire can have malware coming with the tunes, especially if they were uploaded from an infected PC. This is a nice little app that finds some of the things your A-V and Spybot may not find. It asks you to buy it but just click "continue to use free version"
http://www.majorgeeks.com/RemoveIT_Pro_XT_-_SE_d5205.html

 

I called her and her husband said he would either make another copy of the install disk, or he'd come over and reinstall it for me. I don't see this happening anytime real soon.

I reran Ccleaner, and let it do its job.

I also downloaded IObit SmartDefrag from here and ran it.

lol I also downloaded the other thing you had me download and will run it in a few. Then will run Spybot! yes, my computer is getting a lil bit faster, but is still real slow, especially when connecting to the internet.

I just wanted to thank you again (and I really mean it) for all your help. I really appreciate all your hard work!

 

musksnipe....... I really want to apologize to you, after all of your hard work, I found out that my speakers were not plugged in. I am having an internet problem now, and was cleaning under my desk so the cable guy didn't see the mess, and found the plug in for the speakers. Sound works wonderful now.

 

roflmao I usually don't bother with asking that, looks like I may need to start.
People sometimes get offended when I ask them something that simple, but you just found out that sometimes it's the simplest thing that can cause a big problem.

Glad everything is working better for you.

PS I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing at me for starting off with:

and not asking if you had the speakers plugged in.

 

Second double post this week.:banghead

Maybe wife is right, I might be getting absent-minded.rolleyes