Lost all sound on Emachine running XP Media Center

[Greg]

I'm hoping someone out there can help me. I have lost all audio/sound output
on my computer. I'm getting no sound through the speakers or headphones and
the basic sound recorder (that comes on all computers) does not function
(blown sound card??). I tried a different set of speakers and they did not
work either. I called Emachines tech support twice and without even
suggesting other ideas except re-installing the audio driver (which did not
fix the problem) they said I have file corruption and must re-install the
operating system. I have Windows XP Media Center Edition. I was shocked
that this was practically a FIRST response given when I've always understood
that fully restoring the operating system is a LAST resort and should not be
done unless it's absolutely necessary. My Uncle agreed with me and said it
may be the sound card and suggested I communicate on some of the online tech
forums for help in identifying the problem. So here I am. Just thought I
should mention that I did use the system restore feature in XP to go back to
a previous time when everything was working properly and that did not fix the
problem. In the device manager on my computer I checked under sound, video
and game controllers and everything under there says that they are enabled
and/or working properly. Under the "Sound, Video and Game Controllers" in
device manager there is the following pertaining to sound: Audio Codecs,
Legacy Audio Drivers, Media Control Devices, and RealTek High Definition
Audio. The RealTek audio is my audio driver. Not sure what the other audio
stuff in the device manager are actually there for. I'm at a loss with this
issue and would greatly appreciate any help someone can provide me with. I
really need to get the sound back on. Thank you!

 

[Saytor]

ok greg try this: first find out if you are not muted with your speakers.
click your speaker icon on your tray. open volume control and examine your
settings. next see if it works. if not go to the next step. use the windows
system information. go-start-all programs-accessories-system tools-system
information.click components-a.c. to see if it says ok. click v.c. and check.
go to sound device and check. any problems you can fix. did it work?

 

[Greg]

Hi Saytor-
Thanks for responding. I looked at everything you told me and everything
checked out OK, but still no sound. Nothing is muted and all the components
had an OK status. Do you know what I should try next? Thanks again for your
reply. I do appreciate it.

 

[Saytor]

hi Greg: i will get back to you on my day off. new years day.

 

[Greg]

Thanks, I appreciate it

 

[Saytor]

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

 

[Greg]

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

 

[Saytor]

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

 

[Greg]

Hi Saytor-
Still no sound. I don't have a cat. Nothing wrong with speaker wires and
speakers are powered through the computer and they're powered up. I tried a
different set of speakers, but no luck. Checked everything you suggested
under device manager and everything says that they are enabled and working
properly. I tried to update everything I could and all came back that I have
the most current. I made sure that "use audio features on this device" is
selected on all the ones that applied and still not getting anything. Lastly,
I'm not sure about whether the sound card is an integrated one or on the pci
slot. I assume it must be integrated. To have one on the pci slot means
that I would have installed that, correct or no? This is a 2007 Emachine
computer and I've never opened the case and installed any additional
hardware. It's as is from the time I got it. Forgot to mention when this
audio failure started which might be helpful in identifying the problem.
Sort of embarassing because I was fiddling around. This all started after I
was playing around with the headphone and microphone jacks on the computer by
plugging a headphone type connector running from a stereo into and out of
those jacks on the computer. Ever since then, the sound has been gone and
the basic sound recorder does not function. It will open, but doesn't go
into record mode.
Plugging that connector into and out of the headphone and microphone jacks
continuously caused a malfunction somewhere. Could it be the Windows XP
operating system...a software problem that I caused? Is it possible that I
might have to restore the operating system?
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me know what I should try next. I really
appreciate your help.

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

 

[Saytor]

Greg: I will get to you this monday.

Hi Saytor-
Still no sound. I don't have a cat. Nothing wrong with speaker wires and
speakers are powered through the computer and they're powered up. I tried a
different set of speakers, but no luck. Checked everything you suggested
under device manager and everything says that they are enabled and working
properly. I tried to update everything I could and all came back that I have
the most current. I made sure that "use audio features on this device" is
selected on all the ones that applied and still not getting anything. Lastly,
I'm not sure about whether the sound card is an integrated one or on the pci
slot. I assume it must be integrated. To have one on the pci slot means
that I would have installed that, correct or no? This is a 2007 Emachine
computer and I've never opened the case and installed any additional
hardware. It's as is from the time I got it. Forgot to mention when this
audio failure started which might be helpful in identifying the problem.
Sort of embarassing because I was fiddling around. This all started after I
was playing around with the headphone and microphone jacks on the computer by
plugging a headphone type connector running from a stereo into and out of
those jacks on the computer. Ever since then, the sound has been gone and
the basic sound recorder does not function. It will open, but doesn't go
into record mode.
Plugging that connector into and out of the headphone and microphone jacks
continuously caused a malfunction somewhere. Could it be the Windows XP
operating system...a software problem that I caused? Is it possible that I
might have to restore the operating system?
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me know what I should try next. I really
appreciate your help.

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

:

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

:

Thanks, I appreciate it

:

hi Greg: i will get back to you on my day off. new years day.

 

[Greg]

Thanks Saytor

Greg: I will get to you this monday.

Hi Saytor-
Still no sound. I don't have a cat. Nothing wrong with speaker wires and
speakers are powered through the computer and they're powered up. I tried a
different set of speakers, but no luck. Checked everything you suggested
under device manager and everything says that they are enabled and working
properly. I tried to update everything I could and all came back that I have
the most current. I made sure that "use audio features on this device" is
selected on all the ones that applied and still not getting anything. Lastly,
I'm not sure about whether the sound card is an integrated one or on the pci
slot. I assume it must be integrated. To have one on the pci slot means
that I would have installed that, correct or no? This is a 2007 Emachine
computer and I've never opened the case and installed any additional
hardware. It's as is from the time I got it. Forgot to mention when this
audio failure started which might be helpful in identifying the problem.
Sort of embarassing because I was fiddling around. This all started after I
was playing around with the headphone and microphone jacks on the computer by
plugging a headphone type connector running from a stereo into and out of
those jacks on the computer. Ever since then, the sound has been gone and
the basic sound recorder does not function. It will open, but doesn't go
into record mode.
Plugging that connector into and out of the headphone and microphone jacks
continuously caused a malfunction somewhere. Could it be the Windows XP
operating system...a software problem that I caused? Is it possible that I
might have to restore the operating system?
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me know what I should try next. I really
appreciate your help.

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

:

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

:

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

:

Thanks, I appreciate it

:

hi Greg: i will get back to you on my day off. new years day.

 

[Saytor]

ok Greg, lets do it again. get to your control panel. click sound and audio
or multimedia. click voice and make sure the device boxes playback and
recording are selected, [media wave device]. next test hardware with your
microphone. you will see 'test hardware' at the bottom right. do the same
with audio. click hardware. click your sound card. click properties. click
use this device. next, go to device manager and click your sound and video
controllers. click your media sound card. click resources. see if any
conflicts. if you find conflicts, let me know. by for now.

Thanks Saytor

Greg: I will get to you this monday.

Hi Saytor-
Still no sound. I don't have a cat. Nothing wrong with speaker wires and
speakers are powered through the computer and they're powered up. I tried a
different set of speakers, but no luck. Checked everything you suggested
under device manager and everything says that they are enabled and working
properly. I tried to update everything I could and all came back that I have
the most current. I made sure that "use audio features on this device" is
selected on all the ones that applied and still not getting anything. Lastly,
I'm not sure about whether the sound card is an integrated one or on the pci
slot. I assume it must be integrated. To have one on the pci slot means
that I would have installed that, correct or no? This is a 2007 Emachine
computer and I've never opened the case and installed any additional
hardware. It's as is from the time I got it. Forgot to mention when this
audio failure started which might be helpful in identifying the problem.
Sort of embarassing because I was fiddling around. This all started after I
was playing around with the headphone and microphone jacks on the computer by
plugging a headphone type connector running from a stereo into and out of
those jacks on the computer. Ever since then, the sound has been gone and
the basic sound recorder does not function. It will open, but doesn't go
into record mode.
Plugging that connector into and out of the headphone and microphone jacks
continuously caused a malfunction somewhere. Could it be the Windows XP
operating system...a software problem that I caused? Is it possible that I
might have to restore the operating system?
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me know what I should try next. I really
appreciate your help.

:

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

:

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

:

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

:

Thanks, I appreciate it

:

hi Greg: i will get back to you on my day off. new years day.

 

[Greg]

Hi Saytor-

Under the Voice tab in "Sounds and Audio Devices Properties" in Control
Panel: The playback and recording boxes are set to the correct Realtek
output and input.
Tested hardware on the recording, but got nothing...no waves. There is no
'test hardware' button under the Audio tab, but the status checks out that
everything is enabled and working properly. Use this device is selected.
All diagnostics say that hardware is working, but I just don't get anything.
System is not registering any conflicts.
The standard sound recorder opens, but does not function and that seems to
be a program or software problem.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks
Greg

ok Greg, lets do it again. get to your control panel. click sound and audio
or multimedia. click voice and make sure the device boxes playback and
recording are selected, [media wave device]. next test hardware with your
microphone. you will see 'test hardware' at the bottom right. do the same
with audio. click hardware. click your sound card. click properties. click
use this device. next, go to device manager and click your sound and video
controllers. click your media sound card. click resources. see if any
conflicts. if you find conflicts, let me know. by for now.

Thanks Saytor

Greg: I will get to you this monday.

:

Hi Saytor-
Still no sound. I don't have a cat. Nothing wrong with speaker wires and
speakers are powered through the computer and they're powered up. I tried a
different set of speakers, but no luck. Checked everything you suggested
under device manager and everything says that they are enabled and working
properly. I tried to update everything I could and all came back that I have
the most current. I made sure that "use audio features on this device" is
selected on all the ones that applied and still not getting anything. Lastly,
I'm not sure about whether the sound card is an integrated one or on the pci
slot. I assume it must be integrated. To have one on the pci slot means
that I would have installed that, correct or no? This is a 2007 Emachine
computer and I've never opened the case and installed any additional
hardware. It's as is from the time I got it. Forgot to mention when this
audio failure started which might be helpful in identifying the problem.
Sort of embarassing because I was fiddling around. This all started after I
was playing around with the headphone and microphone jacks on the computer by
plugging a headphone type connector running from a stereo into and out of
those jacks on the computer. Ever since then, the sound has been gone and
the basic sound recorder does not function. It will open, but doesn't go
into record mode.
Plugging that connector into and out of the headphone and microphone jacks
continuously caused a malfunction somewhere. Could it be the Windows XP
operating system...a software problem that I caused? Is it possible that I
might have to restore the operating system?
Thanks for the suggestions. Let me know what I should try next. I really
appreciate your help.

:

hi: lets get started. first i need to know if you have a intergrated sound
card. or a sound card on your pci slot. now, do you have a cat? if so . check
your speaker wiring. the cat could of chew the wiring. check for any cuts on
the wiring. next, if your speakers have any batteries. check them also. next,
see if your sound card is enable. go to device manager. click video and game
controllers. then click your sound card. update and enable. do these steps
one at a time to see if your sound comes back. next, click media and audio
device. click properties-click audio devices-click audio device. choose [ use
audio feathers on this device]. do the same with the others. let me know what
happens. there are other ways to fix the problem. to fix sound, you must
really search where the problem is. get back to me.

:

Thank You Saytor, I look forward

:

Hi Greg: I send you a message, but I see you didn't get it. I will send it
again tonight.

:

Thanks, I appreciate it

:

hi Greg: i will get back to you on my day off. new years day.

 

[Saytor]

hi Greg: did you get your sound back? if not, do this. since your card is not
working. it's ok to uninstall your sound card. when you do that, and
reinstall your card. windows will find the hardware and reinstall your sound
card. see if this works for you.

 

[Greg]

Hi Saytor-

Thanks for your response. Do you mean physically remove the sound card from
the motherboard inside the computer and plug it back in? I'm still not
positive what my soundcard is called. All signs point to the Realtek audio.
However, the audio driver is Realtek. Are they one in the same, the sound
card and the audio driver? If not, how do I find out exactly what my sound
card is? All I see in system information and elsewhere is Realtek, but
nothing that specifically says that this is the "sound card". I've
previously un-installed and re-installed the Realtek audio driver
application/software a few times and that didn't work.
Here's something interesting: I can still burn audio cds no problem, but
can't here the audio on the computer. Put the disc in a stereo and they're
all there perfect. If my sound card was faulty would I even be able to burn
these cds? Because doesn't the cd burner rely on the soundcard?
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks for your continued help and advice,

Greg