XP Upgrade~Need help with hardware problem

[ohio_liberal]

Hey all,

I need help with my Mum's computer (Dell Dimension 4100). She did a clean install from WindowsME to XP - nope, no back up :( -and now the audio doesn't function. The device doesn't show up in the hardware list and I can't seem to install it with the add hardware wizard. As best I can tell the device is Creative Labs Sound Blaster PCI 64V (or 64V W2K). I've gone to the Dell support site and can't find anything but driver information, which I did install. I also installed the original drivers from the resource CD that came with the computer. I also went to the creative sounds site and looked around but much of the information is too technical for me and I got nowhere with it. Is this card just incompatible with XP or is there something else I should try? If it is incompatible and I need to look for a new card, which would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Berserker]

1. I also have Creative Sound Blaster

every time I reformat my drive I have to go into BIOS and make sure my onboard sound is disabled so my Creative card works. I'm thinking this is what happened to you. Then run a Diagnostics of the Sound blaster card. You will find it in start-programs-Creative-Sound Blaster Audigy-Creative Diagnostics.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. Download this freeware device identifier utility

http://www.bykeyword.com/downloads/software-16/download-16999.html

It will identify exactly what your sound card actually is, so you can search for the correct drivers.

Doing an upgrade from ME to ANYTHING is not a good idea- ME is a crap system, and that sometimes carries over to an upgraded system. Things like what's happening to you now are common.

Good luck.

[ohio_liberal]

4. Great, thanks

I'll give this a try.

[CBGLuthier]

3. Here is a trick you can try.

XP should have the drivers for that card.

Turn off comupter and remove the sound card.

Boot up.

Turn off and reinstall the sound card.

Boot up and see if it detects it.

Also, there is always a chance you have a bad PCI slot, so you may try moving the card to another slot.

Creative's web site will be of no use to you. I just went there and it looks like they pass the buck to XP for drivers for that card.

Worst case, go get the SoundBlaster Live Value. It's about 40 bucks and XP will recognize it easily.

[ohio_liberal]

5. Thanks!

I'll try the reinstall. :)

[WLKjr]

9. I was going to say the same thing

A buddy of mine has the same problem everytime he reinstalls on his dell. We figured out how to do this and to get it to work after 2 hours of goofing around with the damn thing.

[Princess Turandot]

6. This will sound silly, but it happened to me..

the Windows Audio service needs to be set at automatic, I think.
Somehow, I managed to turn it off and lost my sound. I could 'install' the sound card but as soon as I restarted, the sound card no longer appeared. You can check that at Start | Programs | Administrative Tools | Component Services.

[RoyGBiv]

7. Any luck yet?

The device you mention looks like an integrated sound chip, that is your sound device is not an independent sound card but comes as a part of the motherboard.

If so, I've seen a number of problems related to upgrades from Windows ME to XP in particular. There are ways to get the integrated audio to work some of the time, but they can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing as the solution often involves upgrading the BIOS drivers. Do that incorrectly, and your system can fry. Also, there are no guarantees. I upgraded the BIOS on a Compaq machine, and the on-board audio then worked. I did it on another machine with the very same BIOS but a slightly different sound chip, and it didn't work.

I hate to put it this way, but your easiest solution might be to disable the onboard sound entirely and install an independent sound card. Creative's current crop of low-end Soundblaster cards, which are better than the integrated audio in this system, are cheap, around $30.

[ohio_liberal]

8. I haven't tried anything yet

I'll give it a shot this weekend and see if I have any success.