Insp. by Dan..Sound card problems

[KimRaye]

Can a 'puter savvy person help me out, please? Something seems to have happened with my sound card. I'm not getting any sounds, obviously. This started some time ago but, I was frustratingly reminded of it today when, I spent a 1/2 hr trying to get DD's PC games to play and, I was getting sound card warnings and, they wouldn't play. Then of course, Dan's thread warned of sound and again, nothing.

I have Gateway GoBack so, I guess, if all else fails I can try that but, I'm not sure how long ago it started.

Thanks.

 

[Dan Murphy]

How about an inexpensive card replacement??

 

[helenabear]

Kim, if the Go Back doesn't work and your sound card is dead, I would do what Dan suggested. Just buy a new one. You can either replace what you have or if it is built into the motherboard you can just add a new one in and that should "override" what you currently have. Good luck and if you have questions, let me know... Luis is big into sound cards (gamer) so he knows tons about what is good and not

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks you two! I can just buy a new one somewhere, like Best Buy or something? I wasn't aware it was something that could just "die". I'm sooo NOT savvy about this stuff.

Thanks again!

 

[Alex]

Before I spent the money on a new sound card I would do a few things. You can take out the card and reseat it, sometimes they work loose.
You can download a new driver. When you have the card out to reseat it not the make and model number, go to the manufacturers web site and download the latest driver for the card and try installing that.
If you let me know what operating system you are running there are a few other things you could try.

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks Alex! I've got Windows 98 and, just tonight I tried adding 7.1 I think, media player (???) and, it says I need a sound card or, my sound card isn't working properly. I'm soo confused So, this sound card might have to be physically removed and, another put in? Yikes. So, I have to open the puter? I've only done that maybe twice before.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/sound-card.htm

 

[Alex]

Well they are suggesting replacing the sound card which would mean taking out the old one and putting in a new one. What I am suggesting is before doing that turn the computer off, take out the old one and put it back in making sure it is firmly seated.
Windows media player is a program that makes things play but it's not going to help your bad sound card.
Each piece of hardware has a piece of software called a "driver" that makes it work. Reinstalling or upgrading the driver frequently can help the problem you are having. If you note the make and model number when you take the card out to reseat it I can steer you to the right driver.

 

[KimRaye]

Thanks again! Manual in hand but, no info on sound card (location). There is info on card reseating but it's referring to an expansion card. Maybe it's part of the motherboard, like Elaine mentioned?? I also found instructions on reinstalling Windows 98 device drivers. Is this what you mean, Alex?

 

[Alex]

It could be built in to the motherboard, that will make replacing it with a new one a bit trickier!
Yes... one of the device drivers is what runs the sound card..

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by Alex
Yes... one of the device drivers is what runs the sound card..

I'll try this now then. Wish me luck!

 

[off2disney]

Dan, is a video card the same as a graphics card? I looked up the link for the sound card, then searched for a video card but it showed a graphics card. Gateway has advised that I probably need a video card (we ran a test on my monitor, and it seemed to be okay . Before I purchase a video card, though, I'm going to bring an extra monitor from work and make sure it's not the monitor.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Well, off2disney, not being a tech/pc guy, I would only be able to guess at your question, but my guess is that they are the same. My thought is the term video card is a newer, more comprehensive term than a graphics card. If wrong, I know I will be corrected and you will have correct info. Here are a couple sites with some info on the topics. Hope you get your problem resolved. I had the same problem on a PC some years back and did need a new card.

And Kim, do hope you were able to solve your question last night and either the reseating and drivers, as Alex mentioned, took care of it, or you reolved that maybe a new card will do the trick.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/video/

http://www.pctechguide.com/05graphics.htm

 

[Alex]

Dan is right... a video and a graphics card are different terms for the same thing.
It sounds like Kim's audio is built into the motherboard, not a seperate card. She could add a new one but would have to turn off the existing one in the bios. I'm just hoping something else didn't blow up reinstalling that driver since we haven't seen her on!

 

[circus slim]

I've found that deleting the device from the configuration, restarting windows and then reinstalling it works.

Doesn't Windows 98 autosense new devices? If so, it should prompt that it found the sound card when you restart.

I might also reseat the card when you down the machine, as Alex suggested.

Good luck, Kim!

 

[Big V]

I hope we didn't lose Kim!

 

[KimRaye]

Originally posted by Alex
I'm just hoping something else didn't blow up reinstalling that driver since we haven't seen her on!

I'm at work now. I tried reinstalling last night and, it was taking FORever so, I went to bed. This morning, it was still installing. My screen saver kicked in and, must have paused the process. I'll have to re-try everything when I get home tonight.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Big V]

YEA Kim's here! Don't forget to shut off your screensaver!

 

[tkyes]

I hate to jump on Kim's thread, but I don't want to start a new thread for a similar (somewhat similar) issue.

I can only hear certain things on my computer. CD player works just fine, but that is it.

No sound when opening a thread with sound, no sounds on startup, critical stops, etc.

Everything seems to look ok on my control panel. Volume is up, the correct things are clicked, I just can't figure out why it's not working.

so, hopefully without derailing this thread for Kim, does anyone have any ideas on what my sound issue is?


Tamie