[Dallas59]

Dang Computers....

[valkyry1]

I am now to the point of just saving important files and reinstalling XP

Sometimes that is the easier route when you are all done with it. 

[stylin19a]

try here for starters:

http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/744055.htm

[library user]

Did you try Last Known Good Configuration?

[gjones77]

Make sure you’re reinstalling the correct drivers, there are actually various AC97 is just a standard, make sure you’re installing the proper drivers.

Are you using onboard sound or are you using a separate sound card, and who makes the motherboard/card?

Also, this may sound odd, but make sure that if it is onboard sound that’s it’s enabled in the BIOS.

[AmericaUnited]

Sounds like your sound card/hardware driver got zapped. Reinstall it, not just the codecs.

[library user]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935448/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833846/en-us

[mmichaels1970]

As others have said, you need to reinstall the sound card driver. If the sound card in integrated with (built directly into) your motherboard, you should have a motherboard CD that has all of these drivers on it. If you don't have the CD, get the model number of the motherboard from your device manager and download the drivers online.

If you have a non-integrated sound card, open the computer up and get the sound card model number. Download and reinstall the drivers online.

Out of curiosity, do you know how you got the virus? I just cleaned somebody's computer who got one from opening an email attachment claiming to be from UPS. Turns out, his sound card drivers are gone and I have to go visit him to reinstall.

[relictele]

Whenever I’m fighting hardware issues I often boot from a Knoppix CD (http://www.knoppix.net/get.php).

I’m not a Linux zealot but a self-contained OS on CD/DVD obviously bypasses the entire Windows setup and will allow you to determine if there is any hardware failure - Knoppix has drivers for almost every flavor of hardware including sound cards and if it boots with sound operable then at least you can eliminate hardware failure as a possibility.

Assuming hardware is intact then reloading drivers is simple but often effective.

[GregB]

If I have to reinstall my XP I have to go download 97. Sure has got me baffled!!

[TomGuy]

If the Windows Audio Service got turned off:

http://www.pchell.com/support/no_active_mixer_devices_available.shtml

[TomGuy]

I have preached this for a couple of years now:

Find a program, such as clonegenius which does partition/drive imaging. It could save you a multitude of headaches and time.

http://www.boot-up-cd-fix-computer.com-http.com/spotmau-disk-clone-backup.html

I have my OS (WinXP) and my programs on a 28Gb partition (drive C). I put my saved files on a separate partition (drive D).

I make a clone of the OS partition whenver I get it to the basic level (upgrades, etc.,) that I want. Then, if disaster happens, I simply restore the OS partition, in its entirety.

Clonegenius takes about 40 minutes for the initial clone (non-compressed) and about 40 minutes to restore. That is better than spending a day reinstalling XP from scratch and another week reinstalling the various programs.

Since my data files are on Drive D, they are usually unaffected by anything that happens on Drive C.

Clonegenius is $25. It has saved my bacon many times in the last 2 years. There are similar programs. Find one and use it.

[UB355]

I had a similar problem. I put a shortcut to the sound control panel on my desktop to solve the problem.

[Fawn]

Silence is Golden.

[maggief]

I had that problem. Damn near drove me nuts looking for a solution. FINALLY stumbled upon this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US/

(I keep it bookmarked.)