Dead Sound Card?

[The_Maker]

I do not know why but for some odd reason earlier today my sound stopped working. This usually happens when I leave my machine on for too long, so I restarted it, nothing happend, tried un-installing the device via Properties-My Computer-Hardware-Device Manager. I think this is where I went wrong
For the first time, it showed a deviced called Kernel 32 Sound Driver. I had never seen it appear there before and I thought it might be wearing out due to how long my machine had been on. So, me being the curious type, UN-INSTALLED it and then tried re-installing it. When it finished re-installing it gave me this weird bubble at the bottom leftcorner of my screen saying something like "Device Re-install Error, A error occured while re-installing some of your machine's devices, This may cause problems. Well, it did... I still cannot hear anything after 5 restarts, 2 full shut downs then reboots, un-installing then re-installing my sound card countless times. What I cannot understand is why my device manager says my sound card is working properly but when I go to sound properties under my control panel it says I don't even have a sound card installed! I do not know what to do, and I am starting to run out of ideas. My next option would be to take it to a computer repair store in town but I don't think i have the mulah for that. If anyone could help me out that would be awesome.

Computer Related Info:
Sound Card: Realtek AC97 Audio for VIA (R) Audio Controller
Computer Manufacturer: Compaq
Current Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2.

[ZeroDarkStar]

Almost the exact same thing happened to my DVD-RW drives. Something was corrupted in the drivers, so I searched on the internet for new ones - no luck. Luckily, DVD-RW drives use the same drivers as CD-RW drives, so I merely took the same drivers off of a different computer in my house and replaced them on the corrupted system. Bam, it works.

So, in short, try searching the internet for new drivers or take them off of a different computer.

[The_Maker]

Well, I downloaded the latest drivers (version 3.72) for the AC97 Audio Card and it still doesn't work. The Multi Channel Sound Manager that came with the patch says the it doesn't even have anything plugged into the computer! That is leading me to believe that it is actually a physical problem more than a digital problem. Guess I have to open up the computer again and see whats gone wrong... *sigh*

[WeekendLazyness]

Try putting the card in a different PCI slot.

[The_Maker]

Well, thats physically impossible because the sound card is built into my mother board. I just cannot understand what the ($*& is wrong with my machine! I have scanned it, sweeped it, restarted it, un-installed and re-installed the cards countless times, I have updated and downdated the driver twice, I have had it searched for viruses, I have deleted all of my excess and older files which I no longer use. What the fricka-licak-ding-dong is left for me to do to this thing other than completely rebuild it?

I hate Microshi... I mean Microsoft

[Toucan]

Find the cd that came with your motherboard (who ever sold it to you MUST give you that disk), they dont have to give you the windows disk though, most annoying.
anyways, put the mother board disk in the cd-rom and when it autostarts (if you dont have autostart enabled, goto my computer then select the cdrom drive) re-install your sound drivers.

[WeekendLazyness]

Well, thats physically impossible because the sound card is built into my mother board. I just cannot understand what the ($*& is wrong with my machine! I have scanned it, sweeped it, restarted it, un-installed and re-installed the cards countless times, I have updated and downdated the driver twice, I have had it searched for viruses, I have deleted all of my excess and older files which I no longer use. What the fricka-licak-ding-dong is left for me to do to this thing other than completely rebuild it?

I hate Microshi... I mean Microsoft
You had mentioned that you had uninstalled and reinstalled your soundcard, I had assumed you meant physically. Also, a lot of the problems people have with computers are caused by the users, not the people who make the software. And if you hate Microsoft so much, why don't you swtich to Linux?

But to keep this post on topic, have you changed anything recently (e.g. installed/changed/removed software or hardware)? Also, you may want to check the volume control settings. You may have missed something.

[Neo]

Considering that Microsoft isn't the problem here what the hell are yall so worked up over? And if hes having hardware trouble now, how is switching to linux going to make that easier?

Have you done anything BEFORE now that may have caused problems?

When you uninstall the soundcard/controller does it auto-detect it later when you start up? IE: Are you forcing a driver install, or getting a default "Windows has found new hardware..." window?

Have you looked on compaws site/support area to see if there maybe an answer to this and your particular Operation System (which you've neglected to mention) or with your specific model of compaq (Something else that would be really useful).

If the controller has died, you should just go out and find the cheapest sound card you can (they are like $30 or less nowadays) and slap it in there. Besides the fact that any kind of sound card is going to perform better then onboard anyways.... :P

Is your computer still under warranty/ie is there any change you can call compaq for support? (not that I suggest it, just wondering).

-Neo

[XTERMIN8OR1]

your particular Operation System (which you've neglected to mention)

Current Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2.

... ^^

[Neo]

Bah I could've sworn that wasn't there last night!

Thats what you get for posting tired >_> But seriously, if your not going to post anything relevant to a thread -- don't post. Its called spamming. Not cool at all.

I also just realized that thread title makes it sound like a real sound card instead of onboard sound xP

Really at a loss though, sound shouldn't just stop working all of a sudden :/

-Neo

[Toucan]

If you have a dead onboard soundcard and its not a software issue then the board will most likely start doing funny things from here on in, first thing first, did u keep the receipt? how old is it?
Always keep the receipt with pc components. (1 in 10 items get returned, faulty)

[Neo]

He already mentioned its a compaq, and that hes had sound problems in the past, so I think he just ended up with a faulty sound controller. It would be simplest for him to pick up a real sound card, unless he wants to actually try to contact Compaq support/etc...

-Neo

[The_Maker]

Well, Compaq won't help me because I "voided the warranty" by opening up my machine to put in a wireless network card, and... erm... took all the old guts out and put them in a new chassis *yarg*. I am going to try re-installing the drivers from the mother board CD key, if that doesn't work, I guess I should save up for that sound card :P

[Neo]

Maker they are really cheap, and to be honest, any one will do ($20 one even) since sound really isnt that big a deal unless your an audiophile.

-Neo

[The_Maker]

Any suggestions before I buy one? I need something that is reliable, but not too expensive, and something that will last longer than 5-6 months un-like my current one has. :P