Sound?

[McGregor]

I recently got my computer sorted by a mate. He took it away, cleaned it up, done what was needed, reinstalled Windows XP and put an anti-virus on it.

Problem is now I have got it back the sound ain't working. The speakers are internal but nothing is coming out and when I go to the sound via control panel it states that there are no audio device and the speaker option cannot be changed.

Any ideas on how I rectify this problem?

[Tallulah Belle]

Sounds like either.....

a) Your speakers inside your computer are broken. This can be checked by plugging headfones in to the headfone socket and see if sound comes out or

b) if the mini test above doesnt work, your sound card could be broken.

[Miggy]

You probably need to download the drivers for the sound card.

[Lorenzinho]

Do you have speakers or is it monitor speakers you use?

If it is monitor speakers then this might sound silly but try it. The amount of times I've been in the same position as you and have actually turned the volume down on my monitor. Check that if it's the monitor speakers you use.

If not, no idea.

[Sweey]

Not sure if this ever got fixed.

The fact that the computer says you have no audio device means that the problem does not lie with any speakers whatsoever. The computer itself is unable to identify a means for audio output so follow what Miggy suggested.

[nath_scfc]

Not the most technical of responses, but on my old PC there was no sound coming out when I started it up sometimes.

What rectified it for me was simply opening the volume control by the clock and ticking mute all, then unticking the mute all button.

[McGregor]

Not sure if this ever got fixed.

The fact that the computer says you have no audio device means that the problem does not lie with any speakers whatsoever. The computer itself is unable to identify a means for audio output so follow what Miggy suggested.

Say I am unable to find the original discs which came with the PC as that looks more than likely, is there any other solution to how I can reinstall the drivers?

[Sweey]

Say I am unable to find the original discs which came with the PC as that looks more than likely, is there any other solution to how I can reinstall the drivers?

If you know the make and model of the motheboard which you can ascertain from downloading and running CPU-Z (http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz_144.zip), you should be able to find drivers on the internet or search for people having a similar problem to you using the same hardware.

[McGregor]

This is me just getting around to trying to fix this issue.

If anyone can assist it would be hugely appreciated.

I have a HP E.System Intel Pentium 4 Inside, Windows XP the Model is: Ei 302

[Nifty1Pound50]

Do you know the model of the soundcard?

If you can find the model/range of that, go onto the manufacturer's website - they'll provide the latest drivers for download.

[McGregor]

Thats me finally getting around to fixing this as I am sick fed up of my laptop.

Looking for an audio drive for Intel Pentium 4 516

Is that all the info I need or do I have to be more specific?

Cheers lads in advance. I ain't that good regarding the technical problems that exist among computers.

[K.1.N.G.]

Same thing happened me with my old pc. Gadge wiped it clean n anyone time I used to go back to the ghost I had to reinstall the drivers for the audio.

Simple solution, but at the time it caused me no end of grief cos I didnt know what was going on.

[Kevthedrummer]

You probably need to download the drivers for the sound card.

that.

[Singey]

On a related note my computer constantly makes a strange noise in the background - only heard through my speakers. Tried using headphones, same result, tried using amp, same result. Obviously its something wrong with the computer.

Problems with the sound card? Because I know for a fact that my computer is shit in almost every department. Actually its quite decent (for an old computer) but is full of viruses.

[Nifty1Pound50]

Any sort of feedback noise which is constant will be to do with the soundcard being shit.

Does the sound disappear if you mute all volume on your machine? If so, then it's the soundcard.

In fact, as you're hearing it through all of your audio outputs it's damn certain it is the soundcard.

Have you bought decent (or better) audio outputs (headphones/speakers) that you connect to your machine without upgrading the soundcard? These superior bits of equipment pick up a lot more noise from a shit soundcard because they are able to translate a wider range of sounds more clearly.

[Singey]

Sorry I didnt get back to this, I forgot.

Yes, just as I suspected its the sound card. Im not going to bother replacing it, sound still sounds, soundy, its just theres a slight noise accompanying whatever it being played, although you notice it less.

I havn't got any upgraded audio outputs, everything seems to pick up on it, old amp and headphones, the reason I use them is because I dont have any speakers. Sound is connected via a standard TRS connector.

I just wanted to be sure on what was the root of the problem.