Need computer help

[GSXRBOBBY]

Is there anybody on here really good with computers and even better at teaching. I have a few problems going on and I'm not sure whats going on, looking for help, need someone to walk me through a few thinks.

Also would like to ask some advise on a few other issues when they have time.

P.S. I know a few things so your not really having to start from scratch, Thanks!

[c-l]

Can you be just a little more "vague" about it
Sorry, this is my fovorite saying when giving support ot one of our technicians

Please be a little more specific as to what kind of computer you are talking about. PC or Mac, what O/S, describe the problems you are having, are there error codes. Is it a problem with the computer itself, one of your peripheral or an application?

[GSXRBOBBY]

I have no sound besides when playing something on IMESH, no little tone when I log on, or no tone when I play video from peoples treads on here or anywhere else?

[c-l]

GSXRBOBBY,

Sound problems is often caused by a bad device driver or device conflicts.

1 - Ok this first step is quite basic but I have to include it, right click the volume control in the taskbar, select Open Volume Control.... this will open up the master volume window (looks just like a audio mixer). Make sure ALL volume bars are at their maximum and the the MUTE buttons DON`T have a check mark. If this doesn't work, go to the next step.

2 - Go in device manager and make sure that YOUR sound card is configured properly (Make sure there is no yellow exclamation mark preceding your sound card name. If there is an exclamation mark, go in the properties and select to view the resources, this is where you will see the offending device. Make sure to change the conflicting devices resources to different parameters). If this doesn't work, go to the next step.

3 - If there are no devices conflict, identify your audio card make and model and go download the latest drivers from the manufacturer`s web site... install the new driver and monitor the installation to write down any error messages that occur during the installation.

[GSXRBOBBY]

Sounds and audio devises under the control panel are on low and i can not click on it to change it, there is no speaker type icon in the bottom right corner if thats what you were talking about?

[c-l]

Sounds and audio devises under the control panel are on low and i can not click on it to change it, there is no speaker type icon in the bottom right corner if thats what you were talking about?

Yes that is exactly what I meant in the first step. Now from what you describe (grayed out and can't move it up), your audio driver is not working.

From what you are describing, you are using windows XP.

Was Step 2 of my previous message verified ? ? ? ? ? ?
There IS NO yellow exclamation mark !!!!!
(That is accessible from the control pannel, System Properties, Hardware tab, click on Device manager button and check the "Sound, video and game controllers" section)
You need to do this BEFORE doing anything else. If that step was OK, here are a few things you can look at:

1 - From the "sound and audio device property" window, in the Volume tab, in the Device volume section, click on "Place volume icon in the taskbar", you will now have a "speaker" icon in your taskbar tray (lower right section of your screen).

2 - In the same window, Just above the "device volume section" there is an icon of a speaker and text on it's right, that text is the type of audio card that you have installed in your PC (ex. VIA Audio,Sound blaster....).
****   are you SURE this is the the type of audio card installed in your PC     ****
****************    P.S. Did I mention MAKE SURE....      *******************
Again in the same window, click on the "Audio" tab. In the "Sound playback" section, the "Default device" scrool menu, ensure that your sound card is selected (same sound card device name as above).


Let me know how you are making out, if this doesn't workout, you will have to remove the driver and force a re-installation. I can walk you through this if you are not comfortable doing it on your own.

[GSXRBOBBY]

System Properties, do you mean sound, speech, and audio tab?

[c-l]

System Properties, do you mean sound, speech, and audio tab?

click the "Start" button (lower left of your screen), select "settings", then select "control panel", then double click the "system" icon, then select the "hardware" tab, click on the "device manager" button (in the device manager section of that window). This will bring you to the device manager screen (window). Inside that window, your sound card should appear in the "sound, video and game controller" section.

[GSXRBOBBY]

This is under the older XP right, I have the newer one, should I switch to the old way or set up?

[c-l]

There is no new or old XP, what you are probably refering to is "Clasic Start menu" and "clasic view" configuration which I was describing. Since you are obviously not using that "view", here is how to get to the device manager listing:

Click the "Start" button (lower left of your screen), then select "control panel" (make sure that you are in clasic view, if not , toggle the clasic view from the control panel pane in the top left of this window), then double click the "system" icon, then select the "hardware" tab, click on the "device manager" button (in the device manager section of that window). This will bring you to the device manager screen (window). Inside that window, your sound card should appear in the "sound, video and game controller" section. 
 
 If you are having trouble with the above procedure, do this instead:
From your dektop, right-click the "My computer" icon, then select "Properties" - this will open up the "system properties" window, then select the "hardware" tab, click on the "device manager" button (in the device manager section of that window). This will bring you to the device manager screen (window). Inside that window, your sound card should appear in the "sound, video and game controller" section.
 

[GSXRBOBBY]

I got there:
Under Sound, video, and game controllers it lists
1. Audio codecs
2. Legacy Audio drivers
3. Legacy video capure devices
4. Media control devices
5. Standard game port
6. Unimodem half-duplex audio devices
7. Via AC'97 audio controller (WDM)
8. video codecs

Any ideas, should I get rid of some of these?

[c-l]

Do not delete anything yet.

OK - item 7 (Via AC'97 audio controller (WDM)) is your sound card.

Since you did not mention anything, I take it that there is no yellow
icon with an exclamation mark to the left of the this item (or any
other items anywhere in device manager list).

I suspect that what you have in this system is an on-board audio card.
Go to the website of your MAINBOARD manufacturer (ex. Asus...) and
download the latest driver(s) for the Via AC97 audio controller.
Decompress the file if required.

Go in the add/remove program and check if there is an entry for your audio driver.
If there is one, remove it.
Next go back to device manager and delete (remove) the "Via AC'97 audio controller (WDM)"
and reboot your system.


When your PC reboots, it will find the "new hardware". Install the new driver.

[GSXRBOBBY]

Time is limited tonight I will try this tomorrow or this wekend, and again thanks alot I really mean that!!!!!!

[GSXRBOBBY]

no yellow icon was next to it, not really sure of the mainboard maker, I just had the computer built and asked them to make it fast. Is there a way I can look it up?

[c-l]

All mainboards are "stamped" with the manufacturer and model munber.

Open up your case and look for (usually large white lettering) "silk screen" type marking.

The other solution is to ask whoever custom built the system for you

You can also look at the CDs that where shipped with your system, with motherboards that are built with the VIA chipset (which is what you have) there is often a CD containning what is called "4-in-1 drivers". This is the complete "drivers" set for yoour motherboard, including sound card drivers.

Just a thought, did the sound ever work properly on this system? Whoever built this system must offer warranty...