Computer issues... again... lol

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So my sound quit again. I've just been using the integrated soundcard on the mobo since it worked for what I needed it for and would do until I had money to spare to upgrade. It's given me some trouble since I got it first put together, but usually nothing that a shutdown and cold restart didn't fix. Usually when it stopped working, it would show that it recognized it was there but claim I didn't have any drivers loaded. Any attempts at loading drivers would fail.

Well, this time it dropped off everything, windows doesn't even see the integrated soundcard at all. Attempted to load the drivers anyway and it failed. Tried shutting down an leaving it cool for a couple hours and restarting, but no dice, it's g-o-n-e.

I'm at a bit of a loss as how to handle it. I asked my bro (computer science major) but he just shrugged his shoulders and told me that when he built his comp he couldn't get the integrated soundcard to work so he just threw an aftermarket soundcard in and didn't worry about it. He's not even interested in looking at my computer for a couple minutes. No wonder I don't get along with him very well. Not sure if I should bother trying to figure out what's going wrong and try to get it fixed, buy a cheap soundcard to get me by and forget about the integrated crap, or to buy a middle of the road soundcard and live with it.

I guess what really worries me is that there might be some problem that could affect other things with my comp.

At any rate, if I should just get an add-on soundcard, I was browsing newegg and found some possibles, unless someone would have a suggestion on something I didn't look at.



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829271002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829127002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829111001

Then I was thinking about picking up a card reader, mainly for SD, Mini SD and Micro SD, but the way things are anymore, one of those do-it-all ones might not be a bad idea either... I'm open for suggestions there too.

For those who don't know (or need a refresher), I'm running:
Intel Classic Series DP965LT mobo
Intel Core Duo 2.2 ghz processor
250 gig WD Caviar HD (sata)
two DVD-ROM drives (sata)
48x cd-r drive (ide)
3.5" floppy
Silencer 610 watt PSU
GeForce 8600gt vid card
Windows XP Pro SP2 (well, IIRC I installed SP3 now)

 

[Shran]

What kind of speakers do you have? If you've just got a generic 2.1 or whatever just get the cheapest card you can get. I guarantee you won't notice the difference. However if you've got a nice set then it might be nice to have a better card.

Did you try downloading the latest driver's from your computer's manufacturer?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

What kind of speakers do you have? If you've just got a generic 2.1 or whatever just get the cheapest card you can get. I guarantee you won't notice the difference. However if you've got a nice set then it might be nice to have a better card.

Did you try downloading the latest driver's from your computer's manufacturer?

I've been using a set of headphones to keep the noise down (though I want to get a pair with a mic, open for suggestions there too). I did have intentions of plugging my comp in with my TV and my stereo though. I have thought of just getting some comp speakers too, but I'm in no hurry.

IIRC, I did try that the last time, but that there either was no newer driver available or no downloadable driver. If there was an available driver, I did try downloading it and installing it to no avail.

 

[Jspafford]

Does the broken sound card show up in the Device Manager? If so does it have a yellow question mark beside it?

Have you checked the cables and motherboard for excessive dust?

That would be my first stop.

 

[Mark_88]

You might try posting a question on sites like this ....

http://www.abxzone.com/index.php

There are a few users with the same board (probably quite a few but I just searched on the board name) and it seems to be a pretty stable mobo...if your integrated sound was working but is not even showing up in your Device Mangler then it could be fried...with that you could either request an RMA on the board or bypass this and go with an aftermarket card...

The other option would be to try to flash the bios (apparently there are at least one upgrade) but I read where one user had replaced the board three times for power issues (system powers down sporadically without overheat)...

Edit: If you are using headphones make sure you have the jack in the right port...I've fried a sound card by just touching the headphone jack to the input line once...of course, the system was on when I tried this...Doh!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Does the broken sound card show up in the Device Manager? If so does it have a yellow question mark beside it?

Have you checked the cables and motherboard for excessive dust?

That would be my first stop.

The first couple times I had a problem with sound, it did show up in the Device Manager with a yellow question mark. This time, however, it doesn't show up at all.

Cables all seem fine an the case looks pretty clean inside. I did have to replace my one filter today though cuz I didn't realize just how much dust it had collected... it was dust colored with a nice thick layer.. Guess it was a good idea to put filters over all of the openings to draw air through.

 

[Shran]

Might try resetting your BIOS...as in "load setup defaults" or whatever the terminology is for your machine. I've seen devices "enabled" before but didn't work at all until the BIOS got reset. Since your sound is onboard I'm sure there's a setting to enable or disable it.

 

[smokey]

OK My guess om this is you fried the sound circuit on the MB.
The built in sound on these boards are not designed to run unamplified speakers.
Just Go with a sound card.
If you still have warranty on the MB I would get it replaced Just to be on the safe side.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You might try posting a question on sites like this ....

http://www.abxzone.com/index.php

There are a few users with the same board (probably quite a few but I just searched on the board name) and it seems to be a pretty stable mobo...if your integrated sound was working but is not even showing up in your Device Mangler then it could be fried...with that you could either request an RMA on the board or bypass this and go with an aftermarket card...

The other option would be to try to flash the bios (apparently there are at least one upgrade) but I read where one user had replaced the board three times for power issues (system powers down sporadically without overheat)...

Edit: If you are using headphones make sure you have the jack in the right port...I've fried a sound card by just touching the headphone jack to the input line once...of course, the system was on when I tried this...Doh!

I had thought about looking for a site for computers, but figured that it might be a good idea to post up on here since the two people who helped me put this thing together drop by here from time to time (or at least they did).

Being new to the build and maintain your computer thing (I was blissfully ignorant of pretty much everything inside that magical box until I started considering building my own, so I'm still on a learning curve here), I wasn't sure what I should do. I may be able to call up Intel tomorrow an see what they have to say.

I'm kinda torn on the thoughts of flashing the BIOS, I've had more than one person tell me that doing that is a last resort because you run a risk of damaging the mobo every time you flash a bios.

I picked the right port and plugged my headphones in and left them that way.

Might try resetting your BIOS...as in "load setup defaults" or whatever the terminology is for your machine. I've seen devices "enabled" before but didn't work at all until the BIOS got reset. Since your sound is onboard I'm sure there's a setting to enable or disable it.

I would have thought that something like that would only happen with a new device, not something that's been in and working for quite awhile. But what do I know about computers anyway.

 

[Mark_88]

It's always good to check with the motherboard user groups if possible...especially before you buy the product...if there are any issues with them then you know what to expect and possible fixes...

I didn't find anything on the integrated sound but I didn't spend much time on the site...might be worth a shot...there may be some people here really familiar with the board but they don't always know of common issues (or uncommon ones)...

Hope you find the answer...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

OK My guess om this is you fried the sound circuit on the MB.
The built in sound on these boards are not designed to run unamplified speakers.
Just Go with a sound card.
If you still have warranty on the MB I would get it replaced Just to be on the safe side.

Any suggestions on a sound card? I wanted to get a really good one, but I just don't have the budget right now to do that. So that sort of leaves me with a cheaper card and I'll worry about upgrading later. I don't really mind having extra parts around.

Warranty looks to be 3 years... since I've only had it about 6 months I think I'm still inside that.

 

[Jspafford]

A sound card is a sound card. Most of the sound is done in the speakers. I have an integrated sound card in all my PC's and I use amplified speakers and they sound great.

Find a $20 and throw it in. It will sound the same as a $200 dollar one unless you plan to run a recording studio and mix music off your system.

 

[smokey]

Jspafford is right about any sound card will work, Cheap ones are OK for most things
The pricey ones have extra connections for adding different things is all. For now I would go with the cheapest one I could find it will work for you for now.

 

[naford]

I can't think of the manufacturer but I use headphones that connect through USB. I originally bought them for use with ipsoftphone through the company laptop. We have found that you don't have to worry about amplification using the usb headphones as opposed to the regular headphones.

 

[Psychopete]

I believe I have a few sound cards lying around in my "inventory". PM me if you need one. I'll get you a list of what I have. The only thing I don't want to part w/ is my Sound Blaster 16 because of DOS support for Fast Tracker II.

Pete