I just reloaded all my software (which I do with maddening regularity) and for the first time, my PC doesn't realize I have a Soundblaster card installed. When I check the device managaer, all that is listed is the card that came with the pc. I've rebooted several times. How so I make it see the sound card short of taking it out and re-installing it?
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
Break it! So we can Fix it. Stop on in. "Murf's Garage" Microsoft MVP 2004-2010 Windows, Printing/Imaging/Hardware Please do not use "PM" for personal help, post in forum so everybody can learn
No, I didn't, Murf. But if my pc doesn't even see the Soundblaster, will it do any good to download drivers? In the past, it was always listed when I did the reformatting. Also, I seem to have lost all sound. Even my built-in sound card doesn't seem to be working. I'm pretty new at all this so you may have to be fairly explicit in order to help me. Thanks in advance.
Are both sound cards presently installed in the PC? Is one of them actually an on-the-motherboard sound device? Did you have drivers for both of them installed and working before? (That is, could you choose which one to use for various sound functions?) Do you want both to be working?
You could try running the Add New Hardware wizard, and telling it what hardware you have and pointing it to the location of your driver files. If there is a resource conflict this might not work, but it is worth a try.
Yes to all but I disabled the on the mother board device and was using the soundblaster. I tried the add new hardware wizard and it still didn't see the soundblaster. The device manager tells me that the regular sound card is there and working properly but I'm getting absolutely no sound. When the computer boots up, for what it's worth, as things go scrolling by, it still lists the Soundblaster card and it's settings.
Do you have any "? unknown devices " in device manager.Boot into "safe mode " and see if its listed in Device manager .
Just a couple of quick thoughts,
WG34
The only unknown device that's listed is my video card which is in a PCI slot. I haven't found the drivers for it yet. The Soundblaster is in an ACP slot. I guess at this point, I am concerned that I have no sound at all even though the motherboard sound card seems to be there and working. Any ideas on that? I am sort of resigned to taking the Soundblaster card out and re-installing it and hoping at that point the pc recognizes the change. Frankly, this is a rather old pc and I am hoping to replace it soon but I'll problably pass this onto my son and I would like it to work properlly. Do you think I should do another re-install of the software and hope that this time it sees everything? That has usually happened in the past. I'd rather not go through all that again if I don't have to, but I need sound.
The only unknown device that's listed is my video card which is in a PCI slot. I haven't found the drivers for it yet. The Soundblaster is in an ACP slot. I guess at this point, I am concerned that I have no sound at all even though the motherboard sound card seems to be there and working. Any ideas on that? I am sort of resigned to taking the Soundblaster card out and re-installing it and hoping at that point the pc recognizes the change. Frankly, this is a rather old pc and I am hoping to replace it soon but I'll problably pass this onto my son and I would like it to work properlly. Do you think I should do another re-install of the software and hope that this time it sees everything? That has usually happened in the past. I'd rather not go through all that again if I don't have to, but I need sound.
Download the applicable file and expand it in a directory or click on the *.exe file to load them. Usually there is a read file explaining the installation.
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
Break it! So we can Fix it. Stop on in. "Murf's Garage" Microsoft MVP 2004-2010 Windows, Printing/Imaging/Hardware Please do not use "PM" for personal help, post in forum so everybody can learn
Murf, thanks for your guidance to the proper website for the drivers. I found the correct one and downloaded and opened it. I guess at this point I am stumped as to what to do next. Perhaps I didn't explain it correctly but my soundblaster card is not just non-working, it is missing in action. There are several items listed in the device manager under sound, etc. Unfortunately my SoundBlaster card is not one of them. How do I load the driver for an item that isn't listed?
Go to the downloaded file and double click on it, if its a ZIP file, then it will ask you where to put it (extract it), if its a *.exe file then it will install into a directory.
What you need to do is open the file and extract the contents to a directory, doesn't matter where, just remember where it goes.
If the file is less than 1.44MB then put it on a floppy.
Now go START | SETTINGS | CONTRAOL PANEL | ADD NEW HARDWARE
Follow directions, but don't let windows find it, select show me all devices, select SOUND then lead it (using the BROWSE Button to the directory or floppy where the files are, it will find a *.inf file and proceed to install the drivers.
Once done, reboot and the card should be installed.
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
Break it! So we can Fix it. Stop on in. "Murf's Garage" Microsoft MVP 2004-2010 Windows, Printing/Imaging/Hardware Please do not use "PM" for personal help, post in forum so everybody can learn
Thanks, Murf. Now my PC at least "sees" the card. Unfortunately, it says it is in conflict. I wonder if it has been assigned the wrong IRQ. I think at some point I saw that it should be 5 but I think mine is set at 10. Once again, I am new at this. How do I change this (if you think it may be the problem) without screwing up something else?
Nevermind, Murf. I noticed that when I rebooted this morning, the Soundblaster is no longer listed. I assume what caused the conflict was assigning Creative drivers to non-Creative devices. Any more ideas? Could the soundblaster have thrown in the towel? Is there any way to test it?
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks