recent audio problem

[kanahi]

I have an HP Media Center with XP Home.  Things were working fine until about a month or two ago.  I lost the sound card.  Or so I thought.  I did trouble shooting and reinstalling drivers.  That messed things up more.  I got the Blue Screen of Death so to say.  I had to restore with my self made recovery disks.  I reinstalled the automatic updates and SP2.  Things seem to be fine except that I am back at square 1, kinda.  Before there was no sound and now there is sound on start up and shutdown but nothing in media center or media player.  I get the following message:

"Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there is a problem with your sound device. There may not be a sound device installed on your computer, it may be in use by another program, or it may not be functioning properly."

I know that the sound card and speakers are working.  Please help me fix this!

[unlovedwarrior]

what protections do you have?

[kanahi]

I am assuming you are referring to anti-virus?  I have Computer Associates EZ-ware, Pest Patrol Spyware and their Firewall too.

[kanahi]

I was thinking about it some more.......
Things were fine until I was trying to view a Quicktime video on a website.  When I clicked on the video a pop up screen came up and said something like  in order to do this I have to switch some thing to let it happen.. do you want to do this?  I clicked yes and watched the video.  The sound card "went out" two days later.    Is this coincidence or is this what created problems for me?

[unlovedwarrior]

you might be infected... you already check your sound drivers

[kanahi]

I wonder what it could be infected with??  My antivirus didn't indicate anything.

If so then what?

I am going to run a full scan tonight again and check the drivers. 
Thanks.

[unlovedwarrior]

look at my signature get those programs run them in safe mode and get hijackthis and post the log it can take more than one post to fit it all

[patio]

If you did a re-install did you remember to re-install your MBoard drivers ? ?
If this is onboard sound your proper drivers will be on the MBoard CD.
Sounds like you have installed the wrong drivers. Remove the device in Device Manager and then re-install the MBoard and sound drivers...

If this is an add on card provide more info on the make and model.

[kanahi]

Patio,
That is one thing that I am just now learning about...Device Manager.  I will be checking out that section out in my computer this evening too.  I just used my recovery disks, I am not sure about the MBoard drivers specifically.  My sound card is the same one I always had, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2.  I did not put in a new one or add one. I have an hp with factory installed XP home media center so, no system discs for me.  I am not sure which edition (2003 or 2005). 


Unlovedwarrior,
I will check out your signature suggestions.  As I am new to all this, I have a question.  How are they different than what I already have in terms of protection?  Can I run them along with what I already have installed?

I will keep you all posted about my results.  Thank you all for the suggestions. 

[unlovedwarrior]

each one of those programs has their own stregnths in decting

spybot good for dailers and keylogers

avg anti-spyware real good for trojans

adaware se good for tracking cookies and other things

superantispyware is good for general cleaning up it has a nice database

Ccleaner is good for freeing up space on your computer by deleteing junk files and good lil register cleaner (with the issues scan, just remember to back up when it askes you to

[CBMatt]

Can I run them along with what I already have installed?

Technically, you can, but it is strongly advised against.  Doing so can hog up resources and it may make the programs "*censored* heads" which can cause problems with scanning, detecting, and cleaning.

[kanahi]

Okay here is the update.  Getting very frustrated!!  I am wondering now if I have to get a new Sound card.  I checked Device Manager.  The sound device is my default but, am not able to access the device volume on the volume tab and in the sounds tab I cannot hear any of the computer sounds.  I can put a CD in my disc drive and media player works except there is no sound.  I ran through trouble shooter and it finally said that it could not help me.

I went back to a restore point that is before I reinstalled SP2.  It seems once I install SP2 things get worse. The device manager (Audio, game controller, etc) then says that a driver is not installed.  What the heck?  Is my sound card and driver not compatable with windows XP SP2 or some other update. just all of a sudden?  Like I said before everything was fine and dandy untill a couple  months ago. 

I am now going to run an anti-virus scan with my own software first and then try unlovedwarrior's suggested scans.

HELP!

[GX1_Man]

You said the "sound card" is working. I wonder how you know that. I also wonder what sound card it is or if it is really onboard sound.

[kanahi]

I used to get sound now I don't.  I go to device manager and it say that I don't have an audio device in the "Sounds and Audio Devices Properties" window in the audio, volume, sounds and voice tabs.    When I check the hardware, the audio card is selected and "working properly" according to the properties tab, it is enabled also.  I upgraded the audio driver for the sound card through the Creative web site.  Still nothing.

Any other suggestions?  I still only have computer beeps and no system sounds or other audio.  I am at a loss of what to do.  Should I go buy a new sound card?  Will that solve my problem?

Help!

[patio]

A new sound card would certainly cure your current woes and won't set you back too badly financially.