AboutMike Dacre Expertise I am proficient with all windows platforms. Installation and maintenance
of home/business networks and small business servers.
windows Vista and XP questions please but I will answer win 2000 as well. If your system is older then that, then your problem is your operating system is just too old to be using on the internet!
Expert: Mike Dacre Date: 6/30/2008 Subject: Audio Driver Conflict
Question Lost audio three weeks ago, have examined all avenues from all directioans to no avail. Downloaded DriverDetective, it didnot see one of my audio drives, specifically 'Creative SB live value (wdm)',
Can find no coflicts, every device tested OK, soundcard firmly in place, all wiring is approbriate & plugged in, can see video but hear no sound.
If you can, please help.
Thanks
Answer Hello Jim,
Are you sure the driver is not working? First if you do not see any yellow exclamation point within the device manager properties then it is probably not the driver. Have you plugged in some headphones in to the audio out (green plug)? You say you have a sound blaster sound card and so you may have two outputs (green and black) for front and rear speakers, try both of them... I say to try headphones because your speakers may be the problem.
In any case if you have tried all of the above then I suggest removing and reinstalling the driver. Go to the device manager (right click on MY COMPUTER and select properties and then HARDWARE /DEVICE MANAGER) Click on the audio driver that you have mentioned Creative SM live value wdm) and then remove it. Remove any/all audio drivers listed and then restart your computer. Windows should now redetect the device and if the card is working, windows should reinstall the driver.
If you still have troubles, I suggest visiting my website at http://tpsconsulting.com and go to the SOFTWARE/SUPPORT page where you should install all the items from the pink section (to help with the spyware/malware issues) as well, but also for the two programs 'system jewel' and 'everest diagnostic' tool which will determine what you have installed on your system as well, will provide links to the manufacturers website, in this case Creative, if that is in fact what your card is. Finally, if all else fails at this point, it is most likely the card itself but to cofirm, I would power down and then swap out the card to a different PCI slot which is the last chance before replacing the card.. As most sound cards are now found on the motherboard themselves without the need for external sound card, these are quite cheap. That is unless you move to a more professional sound card but typically unless you are using DIGITAL output, which is also something you should be making sure, that you are NOT using DIGITAL I/O as that may also be your problem.
I guess that also brings me to the possible solution that your system BIOS settings may have been reset too... and if your motherboard does in fact have internal audio, you may have to set the settings within the system bios to allow for external audio. Typically this is set to "auto" so that the bios would recognize the fact that you have an external audio device. This will only be present within the system setup (bios settings) if your motherboard does have an internal audio device otherwise it will not show in the bios settings. To access the bios settings you do this from the moment you power on your computer, you will briefly see "press DEL (or F1 or F2) to enter setup".. Note you will not have a mouse in these settings and you must also be careful to not change other settings you are unfamiliar with as this may cause your system to not boot correctly. Be sure to save and exit if you do make changes.
