I have no idea what happened

**jonrud00** · August 6th, 2004, 03:30 PM

I don't know whats wrong with my sound. The speakers power supply is on because the light is on. I tried the sound recorder but I can't tell if the microphone is really working because whenever I hit the microphone it doesn't make a distinguishable mark on the sound wave.But I can tell there is some activity in the sound recorder. I really think it might be the speakers because before when the volume is up loud enough I could tap the speakers and I could hear static but now nothing. Can anyone help?

I dont think it is the sound card because I installed new drivers. By the way I use ESS.

**NooNoo** · August 7th, 2004, 04:49 AM

Welcome to Windrivers jonrud00

Am I right in thinking that apart from the microphone problem you sound works fine?

If so you need to select the microphone as the source device. To do this double click the volume control to get the full set of sliders.... these are the playback controls, is the mic slider shown? Is it muted?

Next click on the options menu at the top - here you can check the boxes for which sliders are shown, if the mic isn't shown check the box and ok it.... now look at the playback control for mic.

Record control is also reached from the options - click the record radio button and ok, the mic slider must have a tick to make it the source device.

Beware of having the mic too close to the speakers when you have the playback for the mic enabled - you will get howlround if too close.

**jonrud00** · August 7th, 2004, 08:25 AM

No, there is no sound at all. The reason I think it's the speakers is because when I open winamp, you see the timer running but there is no sound. I dont get an error message or anything.

**NooNoo** · August 7th, 2004, 09:25 AM

ok a couple of things to try

Remove the speakers from the green or speaker jack, plug in a pair of headphones.... get anything?

In control panel, multimedia what is shown as the default playback and record device? Are they "greyed out"?

What windows btw?

**jonrud00** · August 7th, 2004, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

ok a couple of things to try

Remove the speakers from the green or speaker jack, plug in a pair of headphones.... get anything?

In control panel, multimedia what is shown as the default playback and record device? Are they "greyed out"?

What windows btw?

it is windows 98. they aren't greyed out

**NooNoo** · August 7th, 2004, 01:29 PM

did you try the headphones?

**jonrud00** · August 7th, 2004, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

did you try the headphones?

I haven't tried headphones yet but if headphones don't work does that single out anything?

**NooNoo** · August 7th, 2004, 03:50 PM

yes, it proves the speakers are not to blame.

**jonrud00** · August 7th, 2004, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by NooNoo

yes, it proves the speakers are not to blame.

I don't believe its the speakers because when I go to add new hardware it says my audio driver is installed but it has problems. When I try to fix the problems I can't. I do what they tell me but everytime I go back its the same thing. I went to the ESS website to download a new driver but it still won't work. Also whenever I go to the sound page in control panel the different soundshave speaker icons by them. Thats normal but the categories like Windows,Sound recorder, Media player all have that missing program icon by it.(the little white box with the blue top) I think this has a lot to do with my problem but I don't know how to fix it.

**jonrud00** · August 8th, 2004, 12:20 AM

I don't know if this has anything to do with it I recently hooked my computer back up after about two years and I didn't notice my sound wasn't playing. When my sound was working I could hear the mouse click.

**NooNoo** · August 8th, 2004, 11:47 AM

Have you checked the full volume controls? Wav needs to be unmuted to hear the mouse click.

If you don't try the headphones, you cannot rule out a speaker problem.

**jonrud00** · August 8th, 2004, 05:38 PM

I'm going to get some headphones tomorrow I don't know where I put my old ones but in the meantime my multimedia options are grayed out. I didnt think they were before.

**jonrud00** · August 8th, 2004, 09:09 PM

I have been having sound problems. Actually I have no sounds but anyway I was messing around and I think accidentally deleted my sound recorder because I can't find it. I think I deleted my ESS audio driver but I thought I installed it again. I guess I got the wrong one. I know I said in an earlier thread I haven't tried headphones but I think headphones won't help this. I think my soundcard ESS Allegro pretty sure it is. Is there anyway I can get my sound back?

**eboyjones** · August 8th, 2004, 10:35 PM

If you think you have already deleted the sound card double check anyway.Go into device manager and see if your sound card if it is still there. Make sure it's not listed in other devices and if it is uninstall it.

If it is still listed under sound note down the model number. Since it is not working it's probably best to start from scratch. Delete it under sound devices.

If the card is not listed in device manager then reboot windows and windows will find new harware and tell you what card you have, that is if it is plug and play. If you have Winxp chances are Xp already has the drives so no problem. If not then note down what windows tells you your card is and go onto the internet and download latest drives from ESS for your version of windows.

Scroll down about 2/3 of the page and you will see Allegro. ( I have the Allegro 1930 on a machine I am typing this from and it works great.)

http://www.esstech.com/techsupp/drivers.shtm#pci

Then make sure you have the latest unzipped Ess driver on a floppy or in a file on your pc.

Go back to Device manager and run the Add new hardware wizard and point windows to the place you have your drivers stored.

Sounds complicated but it's not.