just installed windows xp, i have no sound....

[rolledthatho]

i just today installed windows xp and got my wireless card working to get on the internet. immediately i checked my sound using youtube. and nothing, then i check aim to here if i could hear an IM sound anytime i send a aim message some internal buzz/beep (almost sounds like an error beep) 9+thing in my PC beeps but no sound, so i go to my accessories and try to click on volume properties... "there are no active mixer devices available to install mixer devices go to control panel > click printers and other hardware > then add hardware. this program will now close."

so i did that but i saw nothing about speakers or sound. just mouse, keyboard, phone and modem, game controllers etc...

how can i have sound back! ps im not very pc literate so feel free to break it down for me, i wont be offended

 

[PC eye]

The first thing to find if you are unsure is the make of the prebuilt system or simply the make and model board in a custom case. You first have to find out if you are using the onboard sound or have a sound card installed.

Sometimes a quick look in the device manager will show if an expansion card is installed. But you can also download a free tool for details on both hardwares and softwares too installed on the system there. That one is the System Info for Windows tool found at http://www.gtopala.com/

There's no installer with this. Once saved to a folder you can however create a desktop shortcut and simply double click on that to see the main window appear. From there you usually go right to the support site for the board or even brand of sound card installed in order to download the latest updates.

 

[rolledthatho]

The first thing to find if you are unsure is the make of the prebuilt system or simply the make and model board in a custom case. You first have to find out if you are using the onboard sound or have a sound card installed.

Sometimes a quick look in the device manager will show if an expansion card is installed. But you can also download a free tool for details on both hardwares and softwares too installed on the system there. That one is the System Info for Windows tool found at http://www.gtopala.com/

There's no installer with this. Once saved to a folder you can however create a desktop shortcut and simply double click on that to see the main window appear. From there you usually go right to the support site for the board or even brand of sound card installed in order to download the latest updates.

when i go to devices > sound > it opens up a ton of stuff i have options such as... audio codecs, legacy audio drivers, media control drivers, microsoft kernel, midi, standard game port, etc....

which do i go to or analyze?

 

[PC eye]

You have to go down and click on the plus sign seen on the left of some of the items to see another dropdown list of items. First make sure you are looking under the hardware title since this one covers a good deal of programs too.

A quick look in the device manager by simply right clcking on the MyComputer desktop icon and clicking on properties then the hardware tab will see the button for the device manager there. You look in the "sound, video, and game controllers" list to see if anything there shows a marked item like Realtek, AC for onboard audio or Creative, Sound Blaster, X-Fi for a separate card installed.

Yes that's a familiar tool for many I guess since that was first seen recommended in an online pc magazine page.

 

[rolledthatho]

You have to go down and click on the plus sign seen on the left of some of the items to see another dropdown list of items. First make sure you are looking under the hardware title since this one covers a good deal of programs too.

A quick look in the device manager by simply right clcking on the MyComputer desktop icon and clicking on properties then the hardware tab will see the button for the device manager there. You look in the "sound, video, and game controllers" list to see if anything there shows a marked item like Realtek, AC for onboard audio or Creative, Sound Blaster, X-Fi for a separate card installed.

Yes that's a familiar tool for many I guess since that was first seen recommended in an online pc magazine page.

this is what i see....