Need computer help...nerds come quickly.

[DrifterXRPS13]

hey guys...i was gonna post this in the computer forum but as we all know gen chat gets the most traffic.

So i'm at work and for some reason the sound doesn't work. everytime i try to open the volume controls it says that there is no active mixer...now i've tried troubleshooting this thing for about 3 hours yesterday but no luck.

I've tried the services.msc in "run." I've also tried adding drivers via downloads and file transfers from the other computer here but no luck....i was finally able to find the driver and then add it via "add new hardware" from control panel but it comes with an "error 10 code" which means the file is either missing something or something was added to it.

So i have no idea what the hell is going on and we need the volume to work...any help would be appreciated.

[numbnuts240]

stream p0rn. you know as soon as the anal starts, the speakers will magically work at full blast.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Open your device manager (right click on My Computer, click Manage, the select Device Manager from the tree on the left). Go down to Sound, Video, and Game controllers and see if you have a primary audio device. If you do, you can right click on it and hit properties to access some diagnostic options and you may even be able to update the driver through that dialog.

[RobPaulson]

- windows xp?

- do you know what your hardware is called? (like the model number of your motherboard and/or sound card?)

- If the above question is unknown, what brand is the computer? (dell, HP, etc etc)

- has it ever worked before?

- when did it stop working?

- did you do anything to change the PC prior to this happening?

- do you have a sound device connection to the output?

(ooo look @ that, 10 moar posts to 3k)

[DrifterXRPS13]

mod, i tried that yesterday...and no i don't have anything there wasn't there before...

here is what is listed under "sound, video and game controllers"audio codeslegacy audio driverslegacy video capture devicesmedia control devicesvideo codecs

i'm missing the real tek audio driver which i've downloaded but still for some reason doesn't show up unless i go into Control panel>printers and other hardware>add hardware>yes, already have cnnected the hardware>scroll down to add new hardware device> install the hardware that i manually select from a list>sound, video and game controllers>scroll down to the manufacturers where you find "realtek"> and then you find real tek high definition audio version 5.10.0.6029

[DrifterXRPS13]

rob

windows xp

real tek

it stopped working a few months ago but we didn't need it until now.

nothing to the pc was changed

not sure what you mean, unless your talking about a jack or a speaker out put.

[scotttak]

under sound, video, and game controllers in the device manager, it should have realtek high definition audio as one of the devices. if it doesnt, then it is not installed. is your setup a sound card or onboard sound setup?

[alphapig]

here is what is listed under "sound, video and game controllers"audio codeslegacy audio driverslegacy video capture devicesmedia control devicesvideo codecs

The legacy audio means that it's a mainboard integrated sound card, I believe.

Try uninstalling every sound driver you have listed, including the codecs.

Reinstall the driver from the manufacturer website.

Go into BIOS and make sure the integrated legacy sound is enabled.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I've always disliked RealTek audio. It's very common on mainstream motherboards, so I've used a lot of computers with it. On my personal machines I usually just pick up a cheap sound blaster to replace it and never look back. Onboard audio generally sucks anyway, but you're not the first person to have device/driver/magically disappearing audio problems with RealTek.

If you can get the company to buy you a $20 soundblaster, do that.

[Jesda]

I've always disliked RealTek audio. It's very common on mainstream motherboards, so I've used a lot of computers with it. On my personal machines I usually just pick up a cheap sound blaster to replace it and never look back. Onboard audio generally sucks anyway, but you're not the first person to have device/driver/magically disappearing audio problems with RealTek.

If you can get the company to buy you a $20 soundblaster, do that.

Indeed. Weak signal, tons of hissing. Onboard audio is the devil.

The best deal out there is a Soundblaster as suggested or a Chaintech AV-710 with a Wolfson DAC. I bought mine for $7 on ebay 7 years ago, but there's one on there right now for $10. Newegg no longer carries it.

[DrifterXRPS13]

thanks for all the suggestions guy...i'm gonna try and uninstall all the sound crap and then reinstall everything from dell's website...if that doesn't work, i'll get my boss to pony up the $20 bucks or so and get a soundcard.

i'm assuming installing a soudcard is the same as installing memory.

[MinisterofDOOM]

i'm assuming installing a soudcard is the same as installing memory.

There's a little more to it on the software side, but hardware wise, yeah, just stick the card in the PCI slot. Then once you start the computer windows will find the new device and want to install drivers. You can let it try to find them itself, but there will be a disc with drivers, too. Probably step-by-step install instructions as well.

[numbnuts240]

just stick the card in the PuCI slot.

[SHIFT_Z]

stick. card. slot.

GOT IT!

[DrifterXRPS13]

boss ordered a soundblaster from amazon..should be here next week sometime..we'll see how it goes.

[drksolest]

I hope everything works out... I had troubles with my computer yesterday too. AND THE FAKKIN COPY MACHINE... it was right out of "office space"

pc load letter... wtf does that mean!!!!??????

[MinisterofDOOM]

boss ordered a soundblaster from amazon..should be here next week sometime..we'll see how it goes.

Sweet! I was expecting you to reply with "buy me a soundblaster, are you kidding?!" Should be a simple fix now.

[DrifterXRPS13]

lol...nah, boss is pretty cool...plus i've known him for almost 20 years...how do you think i still have a job. lol

[scotttak]

pc load letter... wtf does that mean!!!!??????

load letter paper? i think. i work in a copy center and usually that means you need to load letter paper (8.5x11)

[drksolest]

load letter paper? i think. i work in a copy center and usually that means you need to load letter paper (8.5x11)

thnx for the input but it was just a quote from a movie.

[scotttak]

ive never seen office space, if thats the movie you're referring to. i heard it was good, but never got around to watching it.

[DrifterXRPS13]

I finally got the creative sound blaster and installed it...i now has sound....it is amazing!....now to watch some hulu.

[PoorManQ45]

Indeed. Weak signal, tons of hissing. Onboard audio is the devil.

That's interesting.

I've never had an issue with this. I have noticed the issues that you mentioned when the ground body of the minijack isn't making good contact.

Also, a good set of computer speakers with have a bit of gain in the preamp section to make up for computer systems low voltage.

For the best cheap cards check out M-Audio