Or, even direction as to where I can find an answer...
Thankee...
C
You’re not logged in. Oh, wait, no sound...
YOU’RE NOT LOGGED IN!!
You’ve tried re-seating your sound card, ay.
Maybe go back to vanilla XP [pro]? I really have a hard time crashing XP Pro, I can do it if I open about 40 IE windows and have different graphics standards running in several of them, but other than that...pretty robust.
Apart from that, select the best gun you’ve been reco’ed from all those FReeper posts and do the “Terminator” on your Dell? “Dude, you’re getting a hollowpoint!”
I am far from a Linux geek but I keep a copy of Knoppix handy and boot from CD on a machine I suspect of having dodgy hardware. If my audio/video are OK in the Knoppix environment (it has a startup sound enabled) then I can point the finger back at Windows.
And..if Windows is the culprit then the old uninstall/remove routine is required along with a possible scan of the registry for references to the SigmaTel.
When in Device Manager make sure to view hidden devices and/or uninstall them. You may have multiple instances of a device and/or driver installed.
Assuming you did, and you've installed the chipset drivers, did you install service pack 1 & 2 for Windows XP?
Try this, to make sure your audio isn’t turned off:
START Button >> Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Volume Control
Make sure that Mute is NOT checked for Volume Control and Wave.
If either/both were checked, uncheck and play a test file.
are your speakers pluged in....
I can't really help you other than to suggest you check to see if your speakers are plugged in.
If they are then lets go get another drink...........
Install this:
http://www.codesector.com/audiosliders.php
have it replace Windows Volume Control.
caveat: I've never used this software for a Media center edition of WinXP, I'm not sure what affects on Media Center specific software it will have.
If you tell me the exact make and model number of your laptop, and the make and model number of your sound card (if you have a separate sound card, I can point you toward a 2nd option that is a proper solution that I found when I had this problem.
The first thing I always do is go to Start>Run, and type in... eventvwr.msc ... and hit enter. This will bring up your event logs. Browse through these, paying particular attention to “Applications” and “System”.
Post back if you find something that is reported as a “Warning” or as an “Error”.
It’s most likely an on-board sound device. Installing the driver should fix the problem IF you are installing the right driver. If it doesn’t work, you may have a motherboard problem. The good news is that sound cards are dirt cheap. Less that $20.
Wait!
Slow down!
: )
Your responses are overwhelming! I'm going to take each response and work through them, one by one...
You guys are absolutely terrific!
Keep 'em coming!
Chasaway
And, yes...I AM logged in!
I’ve made posts here in the past where I may not have been, but this time I made damn well sure I was.
Chasaway
You say you recently re-installed Windows Media Center.
Make sure you go to the Microsoft site and get ALL updates for that OS.
The same thing used to happen to me when I’d put off installing Microsoft’s updates/patches. I swear MS would purposely “break” my machine until I installed the updates!
Then it would be OK again until the next batch of updates.