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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?
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Did you reload the drivers for the card?? You probably lost them reloading everything.
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Murf
Visit-Murf's Windows Garage
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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When you do the 'add new hardware' don't allow windows to search.....find the soundblaster yourself manually, then point it to your drivers.
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"These Mexican minutes get longer and longer as the days go by..."
Excuse my ignorance AcaCandy, but how do I do this?
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The sound card drivers are not installed, in DEVICE MANAGER under Sound Video etc, you should have several entries example:
Soundblaster
Microsoft MPU Audio Driver
Gameport
Wave Device fo Modem
Not exactly as above but several entries for the card.
Depending on which Soundblaster you have, here is the sight for the drivers:
http://www.creative.com/support/files/download.asp
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.
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Murf
Visit-Murf's Windows Garage
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
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?
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OK,
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.
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Murf
Visit-Murf's Windows Garage
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
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?
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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?
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Right Click on "My Computer" then go to Properties, then click on DEVICE MANAGER.
Now highlight at the top Computer, now hit the Properties Button.
this will bring up all of your IRQ's and what devices are using them.
Post what you have for IRQ 5,10 and if Soundblaster is listed there.
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Murf
Visit-Murf's Windows Garage
But if it ain't broke - "Break It" - So we can help fix it!
5 is listed as MPU-401 Compatible and 10 is listed as Sound III Audio Device w/SWT.
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Just for the sake of closure...I reformatted and reloaded all my softward and my soundblaster magically reappeared. Thanks of all your suggestions.
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