[Fixed] I cant get any sound? - PC Help Forum - Free Computer Help, Windows, Hardware, Software and more!

Edwardo_dicaprio · #1 3 Weeks Ago

hi,
I bought my computer from ebay last christmas, it is a dell gx270 (the smallest one)
i just recently re-installed windows xp pro on it and then realised to my horror that i wiped all of the hardware drivers away, i managed to find drivers for my graphics and network and a chipset driver, whatever that is?, but i cant find anything to get audio to work, in control panel/ sounds and audio/audio all the drop down menus are greyed out and unuseable, i have tried to use realtek ac'97 but it just restarts my pc and seems to have done nothing, i have also tried something i got off the dell website which didnt work either, thanks very much.

edd

cyberdyne · #2 3 Weeks Ago

Your system specs state that your onboard audio is indeed AC97

I'd be tempted to try older version of the AC97 drivers before anything else - assuming of course, you've tried the latest release - A4.04 ?
(eg: Older Version 3.80 )

Also, have you been to this page?

Edwardo_dicaprio · #3 3 Weeks Ago

yeh the one i tried was A4.04, do you know where i can get old ones from.
i dont know if this will help but before i re-installed windows, im sure it said something like, soundMAX digital audio in the audio playback menu in audio and sound devices in control panel, thanks again.

cyberdyne · #4 3 Weeks Ago

Hi,
Old version 3.80 posted above for you.

Also, did you try the downloads available from Dell Support at that link I posted?

Note:
(Don't try this just yet.)
I also found a registry file which will reset all of your onboard audio to their default settings.

The File can be downloaded from here.
Make sure you set a system restore point prior to applying the .reg file or, if you know how, manually backup the registry.

Edwardo_dicaprio · #5 3 Weeks Ago

im downloading 3.8 now and yeh i have tried the dell driver page, it just gives me hundreds of links to devices which take less than 5 seconds to download and appear to do nothing also.

i finished this download, installed it, it just asked me a few times if i was sure i wanted to overwrite the newer version, i said yes then it restarted my system came back on and nothing was changed again. hmmmm

i have also used belarc advisor to find out what my system is, for multimedia it just says "Multimedia Audio Controller" and for my main circuit board it says
"Board: Dell Computer Corp. 0GD301 A00
Serial Number: ..CN1374036T001A.
Bus Clock: 533 megahertz"
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A06 09/29/2004

i dont know how to make a system restore point, well i kind of do but i dont know how to get back to it if everything goes wrong. i am trying all of the other downloads now.

cyberdyne · #6 3 Weeks Ago

This 'sounds' like a ridiculous thing to ask, but you have checked all of your volume controls haven't you? ie: taskbar - also, right click it and enter advanced properties - check for any 'mute' settings.

Also,

Originally Posted by Edwardo_dicaprio

i have also used belarc advisor to find out what my system is, for multimedia it just says "Multimedia Audio Controller" and for my main circuit board it says
"Board: Dell Computer Corp. 0GD301 A00
Serial Number: ..CN1374036T001A.
Bus Clock: 533 megahertz"
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A06 09/29/2004

There is a BIOS update available for you system from Dell: A07

It might be worth a try.

Originally Posted by Edwardo_dicaprio

i dont know how to make a system restore point, well i kind of do but i dont know how to get back to it if everything goes wrong. i am trying all of the other downloads now.

System restore is very simple to use:

Using Microsoft System Restore - Setting Restore Points and Restoring System to an earlier time.

Edwardo_dicaprio · #7 3 Weeks Ago

no i havent checked all of them, they are just all greyed out because there is no sound device there are no sound options available, i tried the bios update it said, 'pressing accpet will close all windows flash the bios then restart' so i pressed accept however it did nothing.

the soundblaster drivers didnt work because i dont have sound blaster sound card, and the other one installed and said i need to restart which i will do now, i will reply again when i am back, thanks again.

ok now this is weird, even pressing restart or turn off in the start menu do nothing...

Edwardo_dicaprio · #8 3 Weeks Ago

yay it works, thanks very much cyberdyne you are a lifesaver. thanks...........

go highway blues sample music!!

cyberdyne · #9 3 Weeks Ago

Originally Posted by Edwardo_dicaprio

ok now this is weird, even pressing restart or turn off in the start menu do nothing...

It can sometimes take a short while, depending on what's going on in the background an what programs have to be closed by the system first.

Have a look at the System Restore page I posted for you.

It is quite important that a) System Restore is turned on and b) that you create a Restore Point prior to trying multiple installations of drivers, etc., in case something goes wrong and you need to revert your system to its' state prior to the installations.

EDIT:

Originally Posted by Edwardo_dicaprio

yay it works, thanks very much cyberdyne you are a lifesaver. thanks...........

go highway blues sample music!!

Excellent.

Glad to have been able to help.

Read above and set a System Restore Point NOW. That way, if it should stop working again, you have this point to restore to.

Jelly Bean · #10 3 Weeks Ago

Will mark as fixed.