I don't think a BIOS flash is in order. Put that idea WAAAY down the list.
What happened before you had no sound? Surely it has not always been this way?
Sorry I should have explained
My computer was running very slow especially when on-line. I took it to the local computer "mr fixit shop" and he removed a lot of junk files that had built up and he also sugested that I change from Zone Alarm to AVG. W
hen I got my computer back it was much much better. About a week later I became infested with trogons/malware/virus (I had a list but have dispossed of it) My computer would not start - it kept resetting before it got to the "xp screen" I had to reinstall windows and rebuild my files from my back ups (back ups made BEFORE infection) everything was great just no sound.
At first Device Manager found the sound card - REALTEK AC97 - and all the checks said that it was there and the drivers where upto date, everything was ok but NO SOUND.
I had by now reinstalled Zone Alarm and all traces of any infections had gone.
I took it back to the computer shop and he installed another HDD and used ghost to copy all my files etc. He then reinstalled windows on my original HDD and was able to get sound but only by using a USB sound card.
When he ghosted my files back to my original HDD, no sound, not even with the USB card. His only suggestion was to update BIOS because it was not finding the sound card.
Control Panel - Sound & Audio Devices = No Audio Device
Sound & Audio Devices - Hardware = Realtek AC97 audio for Via(R) audio controller = PCI Bus 0 Device 17 Function 5, Device staus = This device is working properly.
I'm really struggling with this problem (probably due to my lack of knowledge and experience) and don't want to do any more damage. I am still able to use the machine in every way except for lack of sound. It is not a vital requirement for me, but I hate it when something doesn't work as it should
