Sound on a Dell computer

[SuperDave]

I'm working on a Dell AMD Sempron computer for a friend and I can't get Windows Media Player to work. It tells me that there is something wrong with the sound device. I checked in Device Manager and it tells me the High Definition Audio Device is working properly. I even tried updating the driver from the Dell site with no luck. I also updated my Windows Media Player. Still nothing.  Is there anything else I can check/do?

[Broni]

Does the sound work everywhere else?
What Windows version?

[SuperDave]

Vista home basic. There is no sound anywhere. Even the volume control has an X on it saying that there is no audio output device installed. The sound card is built into the mobo. I checked the BIOS and the Intergrated audio is on(enabled). I can't think of anything else I can check.

[xcharge50]

Im not sure but before installing the real driver, did you install the 1 coming with windows?

[lambo]

you may have tried this allready but i had that problem with an acer aspire, I removed the audio device from device manager and retarted windows the driver loaded on restart and away it went

[SuperDave]

I tried that. On re-start, I received a message that the new audio device was installed and right next to it the volume control was saying that there's no audio device. Device manager tells me that the audio device is working properly but we know it isn't working at all. How hard is it to buy a new sound card and install it in a Dell computer?

[patio]

Replacing a PCI Sound Card

Basically it's not too difficult at all as long as you take your time and pay attention to all the connections inside the machine.
Expect to pay anywhere from 15 to 60 bucks.
They are universal so don't let Dell tell you that you have to buy it from them.
Most come with a manual...all ship with the appropiate drivers.

Best of Luck.

[SuperDave]

Could this be a problem with the audio or motherboard drivers? This is a small dell computer which will need a special sound card or I could always go with a USB sound card, I guess.

[xcharge50]

1. Maybe you din't connect the hd audio on the motherboard or add the jumper or...
2. You need to force windows to take the driver you give (or windows is gona install the generic one an not the good)

here the step, unzip you driver into a folder (if is a installer .exe just unpack it into a folder) on you desktop

in device manager right click hd audio (or whatever name), right click an click update driver software

select browse my computer for the driver

click let me pick from a list

click have disk

browse into you folder containing the driver

install the good one

done an restart

Hope it help

[SuperDave]

Just an update on my on-going problems with this Dell computer. I dl'd the new drivers for the Audio and the BIOS from the Dell site and installed them but no change. I then dl'd an ISO Diagnostic program from the Dell site and ran it and it repaired the audio problem. Thanks to all who offered to help.

[Broni]

Nice