Reinstalled Windows on Self built PC - No Sound?

musicformedia

Hi guys,

ReInstalled Windows Xp Sp3 on my PC again, and now everytime I try use the sound, it uses the inbuilt windows beep sound on the motherboard.

Installed my latest sound driver from scratch and all installed perfectly - no errors or anything. Go into the sound settings and my sound card is default - SB X-Fi Audio [EC00]

The sound card is Creative XFI Extreme Gamer soundcard and the mother board is ASUS P5Q SE2 iP45 Socket 775. Device manager shows all ok - nothing with a ? or exclamation mark on it apart from "other devices" PCI Device - not sure if this is my soundcard or not though

Any help appreciated

musicformedia

Solitaire wrote: »

Right-click the speaker icon in the Taskbar tray next to the clock, choose Audio Properties, go to the Audio tab, and in the first section (Sound Playback) go to the Default Device box and choose your sound card from the drop-down menu

Thanks for the reply - its already set to that unfortunately

VenomIreland

Speakers turned up?

musicformedia

Yup - the mother board built in beep sound is coming up rather than the actual normal windows sound so it appears that it is set to default or does not recognise the sound card

DECEiFER

What about when you try to play music or a video in your preferred media player or play a game?

It really is strange that the driver is all set in Device Manager and you're still getting beeps. Since it is showing as active, the on-board sound in the BIOS must be enabled. I used to own a P5Q SE Plus and never had a problem with the VIA controller, and I understand that the controller is VIA and not Realtek on the P5Q SE2 as well.

Forgive me for stating the obvious, as you might have tried this already, but what about uninstalling the drivers and software and re-installing them again? It may also be a good idea to check that the driver you downloaded is the exact one for your particular controller (did you download it from the ASUS site, specifically your motherboard's product page? - http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=URA00A6u0GrUqHiH&templete=2).

musicformedia

When I try and play music/video there is just no sound at all. I will try and download the drivers and uninstall and reinstall them and see how it goes later this evening thanks

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

When I try and play music/video there is just no sound at all. I will try and download the drivers and uninstall and reinstall them and see how it goes later this evening thanks

Cool, let us know how it goes either way?

musicformedia

Stupid question I know, but how can I uninstall the drivers lol?

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Stupid question I know, but how can I uninstall the drivers lol?

You need not uninstall anything.

You'll be wiping the drive like a hurricane swooping...ah that was bad taste.

Keep the questions coming. I've installed Windows about 100000000 times in the last 18 years so I should be able to answer your questions, but I don't know exactly what level you're at so I wasn't sure to post a complete step-by-step or not. I think it's better to ask me and others what you want to know.

musicformedia

DECEiFER wrote: »

You need not uninstall anything.

You'll be wiping the drive like a hurricane swooping...ah that was bad taste.

Keep the questions coming. I've installed Windows about 100000000 times in the last 18 years so I should be able to answer your questions, but I don't know exactly what level you're at so I wasn't sure to post a complete step-by-step or not. I think it's better to ask me and others what you want to know.

You mean reinstall windows again from scratch?

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

You mean reinstall windows again from scratch?

Unless you want to install Vista and upgrade from there, I'm afraid so! There might be workarounds but since I'm not a fan of 'Upgrading', preferring clean installs every time, I have not looked into it. But as standard, it is not possible to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 as it would be with Vista to 7.

musicformedia

DECEiFER wrote: »

Unless you want to install Vista and upgrade from there, I'm afraid so! There might be workarounds but since I'm not a fan of 'Upgrading', preferring clean installs every time, I have not looked into it. But as standard, it is not possible to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7 as it would be with Vista to 7.

*Sigh*...great I've reinstalled windows on my laptop and PC over the weekend 6 times so far now... Oh well, once more won't hurt so

I have only reinstalled it on my PC once and that is when this issue came up, so I'll give it a go later in the week and hope it works

Emmett

DECEiFER

Ah you'll be grand. Get it right, take care of it thereafter and you won't need to re-install for a long time to come. A few more hours of torture is worth that outcome.

Best of luck with it. Post back anytime with questions or problems, PM me if you wish also.

musicformedia

Thanks very much really appreciate your help - will probably be reinstalling tomorrow night and will let you know how it goes

Emmett

DECEiFER

Perfect. Post back even if it goes to plan, might help others in the same situation.

the untitled user

Shot in the dark here, but before you reinstall, try disable the PC beep being played from windows. I noticed recently if one of the levels is lower than it should be and the PC beep is enabled, it's possible that playback can be effectively canceled out because of feedback from the PC beep circuit.

link on how to disable it in XP

DECEiFER

the untitled user wrote: »

Shot in the dark here, but before you reinstall, try disable the PC beep being played from windows. I noticed recently if one of the levels is lower than it should be and the PC beep is enabled, it's possible that playback can be effectively canceled out because of feedback from the PC beep circuit.

link on how to disable it in XP

That's actually a brilliant idea, it reminded me of something similar from years ago. Try that first for sure!

BeciMester

Had a similar issue with a laptop with 5.1 output. That sound card was recognized by windows as 5.1 and the headphone out was configured as channels 4&5 which are quiet most of the time. If you have stereo speakers there's a setting somewhere in audio properties to disable 5.1 and turn on stereo. Could it be that...?

Hank Scorpio

Did you try to disable the onboard audio in the bios? Had a similar issue before and this fixed it, there was a conflict

musicformedia

OK reinstalled the driver on it by going into sounds and audio devices properties, then hardware, then creative SB X-Fi, then properties, driver and uninstall. This totally uninstalled the drivers for the soundcard - device manager showed that it was uninstalled as there was a question mark beside it. I right clicked on it in device manager, automatically installed the driver from letting it search online and the correct driver is installed now - shows up perfectly etc.

I disabled the beep in windows but now there is just no noise. Really would rather not go through the whole reinstall again as it doesn't seem to be a driver issue so don't know would reinstalling windows make much of a difference...

Thanks for your help so far

Emmett

Solitaire

At this point a reinstall wouldn't be to ensure gone drivers are gone, it would be to ensure you have a stable OS install. If the card is showing up and is set as default and drivers are good it could be a major issue with your OS install's audio core

Don't suppose you've tried toggling the Audio Output control in the BIOS between AC97 and Azalia and see if that makes a diiference? If that's set wrong all kinds of weird stuff happens!

musicformedia

Ok, reinstalled and the exact same issue. Had this problem with my laptop and apparently it was an issue with XP SP3 install I was using - needed an altered driver.

This is a totally different soundcard, but I'm wondering if that might be something to do with it?

I've changed the audio output in the bios on "Front Panel" to AC97 and back to "HD Audio" but no change...

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Ok, reinstalled and the exact same issue. Had this problem with my laptop and apparently it was an issue with XP SP3 install I was using - needed an altered driver.

This is a totally different soundcard, but I'm wondering if that might be something to do with it?

I've changed the audio output in the bios on "Front Panel" to AC97 and back to the original but no change...

Sorry. So your Laptop was also showing the same symptoms as the PC with your X-Fi?

If it's a case that you suspect your copy of Windows XP with SP3 integrated, I have to ask if it's an official and legitimate copy and not one acquired by another *cough* means, or Tiny XP and other such modified versions?

musicformedia

Its a modified version of XP - I have an XP license, but downloaded this copy as I had no XP CD (License came with the PC, but no installer CD) - surely its just the same install of XP?

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Its a modified version of XP - I have an XP license, but downloaded this copy as I had no XP CD (License came with the PC, but no installer CD) - surely its just the same install of XP?

I'm always skeptical of modified versions of anything, though I've used my fair share without problems in the past. The problem is that you just don't know what was done to it and what could have been broken. No Windows is perfect, we all know that, but what we do know is that in general most of the standard features that facilitate in everyday use do work for the most part with the official copy.

I can provide you with an untouched MSDN ISO of Windows XP Professional with SP3 that I am privy to via the MSDN Academic Alliance. You can probably use your own key with it, unless your key is for a different edition? If you'd like, I can put it on my web host and PM you the link a bit later when it's done.

musicformedia

Thanks - I have another version of XP here that I'll try instead and see if that makes any difference. Just to make clear - I do have a genuine key for XP - two in fact - but I was just never given an XP installation CD with either my laptop or my PC, which is a pain in the nuts. I don't know was it supposed to be included, or are we just never supposed to reinstall or what.

I'll try installing a plain version of XP that I have and see if that works - thanks for the help so far If this one doesnt work, I might take you up on the offer of the version you have

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Thanks - I have another version of XP here that I'll try instead and see if that makes any difference. Just to make clear - I do have a genuine key for XP - two in fact - but I was just never given an XP installation CD with either my laptop or my PC, which is a pain in the nuts. I don't know was it supposed to be included, or are we just never supposed to reinstall or what.

Some OEM's are skimpin' ****s. It can happen a few ways. Some will give you a recovery CD, some will give you a full installation but OEM branded CD, some will include a hidden recovery partition on the hard disk that can be accessed via hotkey during boot time. Some might even give you more than one of the above. But, the sad fact is that some OEM's will give you absolutely nothing!

musicformedia wrote: »

I'll try installing a plain version of XP that I have and see if that works - thanks for the help so far If this one doesnt work, I might take you up on the offer of the version you have

No bother, PM me if you're interested to ensure I get an email notification about it (in case I get unsubscribed from this thread automatically due to not logging in recently or some craic).

musicformedia

Right, screw it, I have a Vista Home Edition which I bought about 2 or 3 years ago now which is the proper OEM version. I'm going to install this and just use it instead.

The only reason I was going with XP 32 bit was because my keyboard (music) didn't support 64 bit drivers - lets hope it works with their latest drivers!

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Right, screw it, I have a Vista Home Edition which I bought about 2 or 3 years ago now which is the proper OEM version. I'm going to install this and just use it instead.

The only reason I was going with XP 32 bit was because my keyboard (music) didn't support 64 bit drivers - lets hope it works with their latest drivers!

If the Keyboard hasn't any later drivers then it won't make any difference. You should check the web for its latest release and see if it has a 64-bit driver. Otherwise it will not work. I have to use two versions of Windows 7. I primarily boot into the 64-bit version but if I want to use my audio monitors in my old-but-still-very-useful Yamaha DSP Factory card, I need to boot into Windows 7 32-bit. Driver development ceased in 2004 for the card so there is no 64-bit driver available for it, and can never work in a 64-bit only Operating System unless someone creates a suitable driver.

Oh, and if you do go the Vista route, be sure to get SP2 installed afterward, I believe it actually makes Vista bearable!

musicformedia

Yea thanks - its Virus Ti Keyboard - apparently it does have 64 bit support now, but searching their website is impossible when trying to find them, so just emailed them now.

Thanks for the advice on SP2 - will dl it straight away when I get online. Spent about 3 full days on this now

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Yea thanks - its Virus Ti Keyboard - apparently it does have 64 bit support now, but searching their website is impossible when trying to find them, so just emailed them now.

Thanks for the advice on SP2 - will dl it straight away when I get online. Spent about 3 full days on this now

Ah you should be grand now.

Is this what you need?

musicformedia

DECEiFER wrote: »

Ah you should be grand now.

Is this what you need?

You sir...are an absolute legend...I literally looked at that website for about an hour today and couldn't find that anywhere lol.

Right, let see how this goes with Vista so! Report back in an hr or so I suppose

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

You sir...are an absolute legend...I literally looked at that website for about an hour today and couldn't find that anywhere lol.

Right, let see how this goes with Vista so! Report back in an hr or so I suppose

No bother. Best of luck with it!

musicformedia

Vista installed perfectly. Audio drivers installed perfectly.

No sound... Selected "Creative SB X-Fi" as my default playback device (has a tick and working beside it) and when I click on the volume control and change the volume nothing happens at all - usually it would at least look like there was sound going somewhere on the PC by the volume meter going up and down. Nothing at all now

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Vista installed perfectly. Audio drivers installed perfectly.

No sound... Selected "Creative SB X-Fi" as my default playback device (has a tick and working beside it) and when I click on the volume control and change the volume nothing happens at all - usually it would at least look like there was sound going somewhere on the PC by the volume meter going up and down. Nothing at all now

Nothing at all on the meter in the Playback Properties? This might sound stupid, but did you install the latest driver from Creative's website, an older driver from Creative, or did you let Windows Update install its driver?

Solitaire

Is the onboard sound working? This is sounding more and more like the card itself is blown

DECEiFER

Solitaire wrote: »

Is the onbaord sound working? This is sounding more and more like the card itself is blown

It's strange that if the card was blown that the driver would be operational. The Creative installer does check for the presence of the card before going forward with the installation. Though it is odd, not quite in the standard array of everyday problems. I was thinking that if the meter did show sound that either the jack socket socket was blown or something else between the card and speakers line.


musicformedia, did you check this meter (or the one on the system tray)?

musicformedia

Checked both of those levels - system tray and in that one too. Both show no movement in noise levels no matter what I do

musicformedia

I installed the software by downloading directly from the creative website - definitively have the correct drivers for it. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling them a minute ago and no difference

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

I installed the software by downloading directly from the creative website - definitively have the correct drivers for it. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling them a minute ago and no difference

How about Solitaire's question about the on-board audio working?

musicformedia

Can't get around to the back of my PC to plug in my speakers into that part, but when I select the built in soundcard as the playback device, and move the sound level up and down, it moves a tiny bit on the sound level in the system tray

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

Can't get around to the back of my PC to plug in my speakers into that part, but when I select the built in soundcard as the playback device, and move the sound level up and down, it moves a tiny bit on the sound level in the system tray

That's something at least, but it could be only a small amount due to it being a humming noise or just a low volume level in Windows.

It really is starting to look like the card is at fault. Can you get into your case and switch the PCI/PCI-E slot the X-Fi's in, or perhaps lob it into another PC and test it there?

Oh, one more thing, something to try beforehand. Disable the on-board audio altogether inside the BIOS, if possible and assuming you haven't tried that already.

musicformedia

DECEiFER wrote: »

That's something at least, but it could be only a small amount due to it being a humming noise or just a low volume level in Windows.

It really is starting to look like the card is at fault. Can you get into your case and switch the PCI/PCI-E slot the X-Fi's in, or perhaps lob it into another PC and test it there?

Oh, one more thing, something to try beforehand. Disable the on-board audio altogether inside the BIOS, if possible and assuming you haven't tried that already.

To be honest, I'm just going to give my PC to a friend as I'm in the UK all of next week so won't be using it. He's uber good with PCs so I'll let him handle it - if it is a soundcard, I'll just buy a new one happily. Will let you know how I get on anyway

Emmett

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

To be honest, I'm just going to give my PC to a friend as I'm in the UK all of next week so won't be using it. He's uber good with PCs so I'll let him handle it - if it is a soundcard, I'll just buy a new one happily. Will let you know how I get on anyway

Emmett

Do, it'll be interesting to see what your buddy finds. Best of luck again.

old_aussie

musicformedia wrote: »

Can't get around to the back of my PC to plug in my speakers into that part, but when I select the built in soundcard as the playback device, and move the sound level up and down, it moves a tiny bit on the sound level in the system tray

Well where have you got your speakers plugged in?

The sound card outlets are at the back of the PC, plug the speakers in there! In the sound card outlets, Not into the MoBo outlets and Not into the front of PC

musicformedia

Yea, have plugged the speakers into the soundcard outlets on the back of the PC - the green coloured one. Have tried all of the holes and have tried a pair of headphones aswell, but no use. All used to work perfectly with this setup until before the install

Actually guys...now that I think of it. The sound completely disappeared after playing Battefield Bad Company 2 and it kept turning on and off (a known bug) and a pop and hiss here and there. Eventually there was a pop and the sound never came back on since then. I thought it was the drivers, so it actually could just be a blown sound card - will def have to try it in another PC and thought should show for sure. Will see what my friend thinks as I'd say it is looking like a blown card now

musicformedia

So friend in work looked at it, and the soundcard is fried. Thanks for all the help guys!

DECEiFER

musicformedia wrote: »

So friend in work looked at it, and the soundcard is fried. Thanks for all the help guys!

Ah well, at least you know what the problem is now. Going to stick with Vista or head on back to XP? Windows 7 is always a viable option in the future if you got yourself a cheap OEM copy.