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No sound--did I fry my sound card?
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Posted by: Ethan
I no longer get any sound from my computer (an Emachines, Windows XP, bought new in March 2004), neither thru the speakers nor the headphone jack. The problem started after I was attempting to plug something into the Line In and Headphones jacks to record to the hard drive with WaveRepair software. I got a loud buzzing sound thru the speakers at the time, which seems to suggest that there was way too much power going thru the jack. (I won't go into the details, but I had some cords screwed up, and I probably plugged something in that I shouldn't have.)
I've checked the "volume" settings, I've made sure everything is un-muted, I've reinstalled sound-related drivers, and nothing works.
Do you think my sound card is fried? By the way, I suspect my computer doesn't have a true sound card, but that it is integrated with the motherboard. If something on the motherboard is fried, would installing a separate sound card bypass the problem, or am I screwed and need to replace the whole motherboard? Thanks.
Posted by: goranpaa
Hi!
I'm sorry to say, that I think I have to agree with you.
You probably made a "Big Mac" of the integrated card.
Have you also checked out the Windows Device manager for your Audio card?
You will find the Device manager under Control panel + System + Hardware.
Creative, have some nice Sound Blaster cards that is cheap.
The best way to ensure yourself that the old card wont interfer. Is to press "Delete" at start up and go into BIOS and then, "Integrated peripherials", and simply disable the old sound card.
If everything else works as it should, there should'nt be any problems with your mobo.
Then, you where lucky there!
Posted by: oderus1671
yes, installing a new card will bypass the problem with your onboard sound, but like stated above, you must disable it before installing a new card. when you add a sound card, all your speakers and connections will plug into it, not your motherboard. you can get a decent soundblaster at newegg or even walmart for cheap.
Posted by: Ethan
Thanks for the advice, but I need a bit more.
I obtained a used sound card and installed it. I went into BIOS and disabled what I think was the old integrated sound. (The choices were ENABLE/DISABLE/AUTO.) Still, no sound. So I went back into BIOS and selected AUTO (the orig. selection) and then I got sound.
However, the sound is temperamental. It will work for several minutes (as when I play a CD or WAV file on my hard drive, then the sound will go out completely. The music appears to still be playing (based on the LED-style counters on the music-playing programs) but there is no sound. (No Windows chimes, beeps, etc, either.) If I restart the computer, sound will return, but only to disappear again after a few minutes of playing. What should I do?
Posted by: oderus1671
sounds lilke a bad connection or bad drivers. is this a pci card or USB? are you installing it with the original cd drivers? when you say you think you disabled the onboard sound, what exactly did you disable? also, double check all connections, be sure the card is fully seated, not loose, try various headphones/speakers... other than that i would say the mobo chipset is lightly toasted.
Posted by: goranpaa
Do you got access to another PC, where you can test your soundcard?
If it works o.k. there, I would place a bet on what Oderus said, about that you probably nicked your mobo too.
Posted by: Ethan
It is a PCI card. I'm using the drivers from the CD that came with it. I made sure the card was fully seated. Unfortunately, I don't have a second computer I can test it on. The thing I disabled in BIOS was "Onboard Audio," but I found I had to switch it back to "AUTO" to get sound, but even then the sound just lasts for a few minutes, then disappears. BIOS doesn't have any audio-related selections other than the "Onboard Audio." it seems.
By the way, I tried the card in a different PCI slot, and got no sound at all, not even temporarily.
Should there be a cable or two connecting the sound card to the motherboard, or should the only connection be the PCI pins? I've noticed that the card has a 4-pin connection and a 3-pin connection; the motherboard, in a nearby location, has two 4-pin connections and one 3 pin connection. The card didn't come with any cables, but I did get it used from a stranger on the local Freecycle group--so I don't know about its origin or whether it came with everything it should have.
I really appreciate the help. Feel free to dumb down your responses, as I'm learning that I know less about computers than I thought.
Posted by: goranpaa
Update your driver first.
The drivers included could be very old.
Those other connections is for digital sound using a setting called "SPDIF" (Sony / Philips digital interface) etc. And normally, you dont need those connections.
And getting a used card, allways have it's risks, as you dont know what the former owner have done to the card.
A new Creative soundcard costs about 26 USD at Newegg. Maybe you can get a Sound Blaster card at Wal Mart, even cheaper.
It's really strange. that you can't use it in ANY other PCI slot, than just THAT PCI Slot.
Posted by: goranpaa
Would like to add, that if a driver update, does'nt do the trick, I begin to be pretty sure, that there is something's wrong with your motherboard too.
But as your audio cards condition is a "mystery" I'm not 100% sure.
Posted by: Ethan
Some observations: The headphone jack sends no sounds to the headphones, even when the sound is working (through the speakers). Also, the sound has a tendency to go out when I'm messing around with different windows, opening up programs, etc.
I did download an updated driver for my model card, an Aureal AU8830. I couldn't seem to get them installed, though, as I got the message, "You are already using the best driver."
Maybe I will get a new sound card at Walmart. I saw one when I was in there the other day for $30. That should at least tell me whether the problem is this used card I obtained.
Posted by: goranpaa
That's a good idea. But make sure you got one from a "big" manufacturer, like Creative, or Turtle Beach.
And not some obscure, unheard of small manufacturer.
This for easy accsess to driver updates and support.
Posted by: Troubled
Dont know if this will help or not..... www.pcbugdoctor.com
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