HELP! Lost my sound....

[CrimsonChaos]

Hello, it seems I lost all sound in my computer. I am using Windows XP Pro SP1, and have SB Audigy soundcard, with Lite-On DVD and CD-WR drives.

I was burning a CD to another CD using the Nero software program. It was about half-way done, when everything the Nero program locked up. I was able to do everything else, but I could not quit out of the Nero program. I tried to End-Task it numerous times using numerous methods, but nothing helped.

So I tried to shut the computer off -- it exited out of the Desktop, and said "Windows shutting down..." but it then locked up. I let it sit for a while, but it never unlocked, so I had to reboot it using the physical button on the machine.

Since then, I've had no sound (NONE at all, not from CD, or from normal system wave files, or anything). I tried to re-install the drivers for both my Sound-card and my DVD/CD-RW drives, but it didn't help. I checked all the controls and nothing is muted. The cables are all plugged in, and there are no errors listed under the "System -> Hardware Device" tab.

I'm out of ideas - please help!

 

[40Hands]

Do you have another sound card? on-board sound? I would try these or even try moving the card you are using now to a different PCI slot. Maybe even try the sound card in another computer? You have to narrow down the possible points of failure till you find the problem.

 

[Ike0069]

Try removing the sound card and just using on board sound. Don't forget to change the bios setting.

 

[Anubis]

reinstall SC drivers, try placeing it in a Different PCI slot

 

[jackschmittusa]

Though it sounds like a software problem, have you tried headphones to eliminate any speaker or wiring problems?

 

[Megatomic]

A similar thing happened to my wife's computer the other day. She was doing her Quickbooks and watching TV on her tuner card when the sound just stopped. Then her apps hung. A day and a half later I have her system up and running again - I had to replace her Hercules MuseXL sound card with a TB Santa Cruz and I had to remove one stick of RAM from her system. Both died at the same time. The RAM issue also caused her WinXP install to barf (3 years on one build, not bad) so I had to reinstall WinXP and all her apps.

Needless to say, she was less than pleased in the meantime and I was less than pleased to have had no time to play my new video game. 😱

Ok so I recommend you verify the sound card is dead by plugging in some headphones. If that fails, uninstall and reinstall the drivers (with the driver cleaner method). If that fails, try a different PCI slot as Anubis recommends. And if that fails, switch to onboard sound (if you have it) while you purchase a new sound card.

 

[CrimsonChaos]

Ok I'm at work now, so I'll have to try your suggestions when I get home. Thanks guys!

Does physically booting a system that is hung-up generally cause these kinds of problems?? If so, why the heck do they put the button there?

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Originally posted by: Megatomic
A similar thing happened to my wife's computer the other day. She was doing her Quickbooks and watching TV on her tuner card when the sound just stopped. Then her apps hung. A day and a half later I have her system up and running again - I had to replace her Hercules MuseXL sound card with a TB Santa Cruz and I had to remove one stick of RAM from her system. Both died at the same time. The RAM issue also caused her WinXP install to barf (3 years on one build, not bad) so I had to reinstall WinXP and all her apps.

Needless to say, she was less than pleased in the meantime and I was less than pleased to have had no time to play my new video game. 😱

Ok so I recommend you verify the sound card is dead by plugging in some headphones. If that fails, uninstall and reinstall the drivers (with the driver cleaner method). If that fails, try a different PCI slot as Anubis recommends. And if that fails, switch to onboard sound (if you have it) while you purchase a new sound card.

they both failed at same time? think it is related? maybe psu problem?

 

[CrimsonChaos]

IT'S FIXED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just giving an update - the sound issue is fixed. Apparently when the system locked up, somehow the speakers got switched. I only have 2 speakers, and the settings ended up changing to rear speakers when it should have been on front speakers.

No idea why that would happen from a system lock-up, but there ya have it!

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Megatomic]

Originally posted by: NiKeFiDO

Originally posted by: Megatomic
A similar thing happened to my wife's computer the other day. She was doing her Quickbooks and watching TV on her tuner card when the sound just stopped. Then her apps hung. A day and a half later I have her system up and running again - I had to replace her Hercules MuseXL sound card with a TB Santa Cruz and I had to remove one stick of RAM from her system. Both died at the same time. The RAM issue also caused her WinXP install to barf (3 years on one build, not bad) so I had to reinstall WinXP and all her apps.

Needless to say, she was less than pleased in the meantime and I was less than pleased to have had no time to play my new video game. 😱

Ok so I recommend you verify the sound card is dead by plugging in some headphones. If that fails, uninstall and reinstall the drivers (with the driver cleaner method). If that fails, try a different PCI slot as Anubis recommends. And if that fails, switch to onboard sound (if you have it) while you purchase a new sound card.

they both failed at same time? think it is related? maybe psu problem?

I'm sure it was power related, but how it happened is beyond me. Her PC is plugged into a fancy power strip with isolation transformers for the PC/monitor/speakers. And no other equipment in the house was affected... I guess I should just thank my lucky stars. 🙂

And CrimsonChaos, I'm glad you found the problem to be something easily remedied. I feel jipped now. 😛