No audio device

  • Thread starter Thread starter RipperT
  • Start date Start date
R

RipperT

I see many posts, but none that have addressed my problem.

A clients computer (HP Pavilion a320n - XP Home SP2) shows no sound device
in Sounds and Audio Devices Properties. I have:

Installed the correct drivers for the on-board sound (mobo: ASUS A7N8X-LA )
Checked that there are no conflicts in device manager
Ensured that on-board audio is enabled in the BIOS
Ensured Windows Audio Service is running
Run full anti virus scans (AVG & Norton), Spybot and Adaware

Curiously, the audio tab of Properties shows the nVidia nForce Audio Codec
Interface for the recording device but "no playback device". In safe mode,
the audio tab shows "no recording device" and "no playback device".

This is as far as I am able to go at this point. Not that these have
anything to do with the problem, but Norton live update will not connect to
it's server and errors out. Windows update will not connect to the Microsoft
site so I cannot update Windows. Otherwise, I have a good internet
connections. Safe mode with networking does not have networking for reasons
unknown at this point. I have been at this for hours. Please help and thanks
in advance.

Ripper T
 
HP like many other OEM manufacturers are proprietary systems which have modified
setups for hardware/software. The Pavilion a320n uses the Realtek AC'97 audio and
Nvidia graphics.

You can find/obtain the latest updates as well as the original hardware drivers and
software installed:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=364171&lang=en

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
This is as far as I am able to go at this point. Not that these have
anything to do with the problem, but Norton live update will not connect
to it's server and errors out. Windows update will not connect to the
Microsoft site so I cannot update Windows. Otherwise, I have a good
internet connections. Safe mode with networking does not have networking
for reasons unknown at this point. I have been at this for hours. Please
help and thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Problem #1 - You have a Symantec program installed on your PC.
Problem #2 - You actually used the Symactec program to try and fix
something.
Problem #3 - Windows Update won't work - meaning you probably have a virus,
or the Symantec software is REALLY messing up your system.
 
Thanx for the response, Brian. I had tried this earlier and it didn't work.
Trying again, I unistalled the nVidia, and upon reboot, XP found and
installed automatically the Realtec AC'97 drivers. However, Properties still
shows no audio device. It does show a recording device, but not a playback
device. I'm stumped. Anything else I should check?

Rip
 
I am in 100% agreement, however, it is not my machine. I have advised the
client. In the meantime, I need to fix the instant problem for which I was
hired, which is the audio.

Rip
 
Boot to Safe Mode and Remove Any/All Audio/Sound devices listed in Device Manager >
Sound, Video and Game Controllers.
Close out of DM.
Reboot and reinstall drivers.

If no joy see if anything here helps:
HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Resolving Sound Problems in Windows 98, ME, and XP

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...s=228&rule=4408&lang=en#bph07154_windowsaudio



or if link wraps/breaks: http://tinyurl.com/yvu2wz


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
I have tried everything applicable at the link - no joy. Any other ideas? I
appreciate your input.

Rip
 
What is present in Device Manager > Sound, Video and Game Controllers?
Are there any "Unknown" or "Other" devices present in Device Manager? If Yes, what
is the Status in the devices properties and are any conflicts reported under the
Resource tab?

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
You told me to delete them. There were no unknown or other devices. I did
not check the resource tab, but they are gone now, Realtek is the only thing
reinstalled by the wizard, so there can't be any conflicts, right? I can do
a system restore and see if I can get them back.

Rip
 
OK. Present under sound, video and game controllers are:

Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Video Codecs
Realtek AC'97 Audio

The first 5 don't have a resources tab. All report that "this device is
working properly". The Realtek has a resources tab that reports "no
conflicts" in the conflicts list. There are no "other" or "unknown" devices
anywhere else in device manager.

Is it possible that one of the millions of games this user has installed
could have messed with the audio? Also, is it possible that this is a virus?
I ask because I think it's wierd that:

1 Realtek provides a recording device but not a playback device
2 I cannot connect to Windows Update (more on that in the Windows Update
newsgroup)
3 I could not update Norton Antivirus (which I've since removed from the
machine per the client)
4 I cannot connect to Trend Micro's Housecall

Thanks for the help.

Rip
 
RipperT said:
OK. Present under sound, video and game controllers are:

Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Video Codecs
Realtek AC'97 Audio

The first 5 don't have a resources tab. All report that "this device is
working properly". The Realtek has a resources tab that reports "no
conflicts" in the conflicts list. There are no "other" or "unknown" devices
anywhere else in device manager.

Is it possible that one of the millions of games this user has installed
could have messed with the audio? Also, is it possible that this is a virus?
I ask because I think it's wierd that:

1 Realtek provides a recording device but not a playback device
2 I cannot connect to Windows Update (more on that in the Windows Update
newsgroup)
3 I could not update Norton Antivirus (which I've since removed from the
machine per the client)
4 I cannot connect to Trend Micro's Housecall

Thanks for the help.

Rip
Click to expand...

Kaspersky has a 30 day trial. That seemed to work better than the Trend
Micro thing. It took about 8 hours of fiddling with Kaspersky, until my
Trojan was completely eliminated. Part of that is due to the long time
to scan my disk, and part due to my inexperience using Kaspersky.
(Note - the Trojan I had on my machine, made a "pig noise" through my
system speakers, when Kaspersky was killing it. Maybe to make the
"pig noise", the Trojan decides to grab the audio playback
subsystem ?)

http://usa.kaspersky.com/downloads/

The Nvidia Nforce2 chipset all-in-one installer is here:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_udp_winxp_5.10.html

I haven't used that stuff in some time, but it seems to
leave an unzipped install directory on the machine. In
it, you'll find "AudioDrv" (driver level files for Nforce2
and whatever AC'97 codec is being used), as well as
"AudioUtil". The AudioUtil should have something like
NvMixer and NVMixerTray. NvMixer has some of the same
functions, as the Windows Sound control panel. Plus on
my machine, it offers an equalizer, and VU meter.

But really, when all is said and done, you can check that
all the driver files are in place, but it is up to the
driver to register with Windows, and offer playback and
record functions. If something prevents that from happening,
I don't know where you look to see the problem. So while we
can offer obvious advice like "uninstall the old driver package,
then reinstall", that would not cure any deep seated problems.

I'd try uninstalling any RealTek packages, and put the
Nvidia one back. And I wouldn't install the Nvidia IDE driver,
because generally speaking, chipset company IDE drivers
tend to have small issues that don't show up until later.
The Microsoft default IDE driver, if it will load, is
slower (doesn't do caching like some chipset IDE drivers do),
but in the long run, is more compatible with any later software
you may wish to install.

Paul
 
RipperT @nOsPaM.nEt> said:
OK. Present under sound, video and game controllers are:

Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Video Codecs
Realtek AC'97 Audio

The first 5 don't have a resources tab. All report that "this device is working
properly". The Realtek has a resources tab that reports "no conflicts" in the
conflicts list. There are no "other" or "unknown" devices anywhere else in device
manager.
Click to expand...

It wasn't necessary to restore so the devices were present in DM, although it
doesn't hurt to see if one of them may have been the cause of the issue.
It appears the Realtek is installed and working even though it's not.
Is it possible that one of the millions of games this user has installed could have
messed with the audio? Also, is it possible that this is a virus?
Click to expand...

Yes and Yes.
I ask because I think it's wierd that:

1 Realtek provides a recording device but not a playback device
2 I cannot connect to Windows Update (more on that in the Windows Update newsgroup)
3 I could not update Norton Antivirus (which I've since removed from the machine
per the client)
4 I cannot connect to Trend Micro's Housecall
Click to expand...

Let's try a reinstall one more time with a little more cleaning beforehand.
You don't state how you removed NAV and Symantec apps are well known for the
conglomeration they leave behind.
Get the Norton Removal Tool here: http://basconotw.mvps.org/SymRem2.htm and run it.
When finished reboot to Safe Mode.
Uninstall Any/All devices listed in Sound, Video and Game Controllers in Device
Manager.
Close out of Device Manager back to the desktop and open Explorer.
Delete all of the contents in:
C:\Documents and Settings\clients Username\Local Settings\Temp
C:\Windows\Prefetch
C:\Windows\Temp
Close out of Explorer (Do Not Empty the Trash), reboot and reinstall the Realtek AC
'97 drivers/codecs.

Now I also must enquire as to the reason the client requested service?
What was the client doing when the issue arose or just prior to it?
Had the client installed/unistalled anything prior to the issue?
When did the client first notice the issue?
Did the client have any error messages or sudden shutdowns?
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

No problem. <snicker>


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
I have tried all you've suggested, to no avail. The client claims to have
done nothing except shut down the computer and reboot it. She says she had
the same problem (no audio) some time ago, and the people at Real networks
had her download the DivX codec and the fixed her problem of not getting
sound when using Real player, but that is not what is happening here.
Anything else I should try? Thanx again for the your help.

Rip
 
Is she sure it was DivX and not DirectX/
What version of DX is installed? To see:
Click Start > Run, type in: dxdiag and press Enter.

If lower than dx9, download install an updated dx.

Also run the tests in dx under the appropriate tab to see what it mentions.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
No, I am sure she means DivX. She has a printed dialog via email with Real
tech support directing her to install the DivX codec to get het sound
working again. I think this is a different issue.

DirectX version is 9.0c
Test DirectSound button on the Sound tab yields this error:
DirectSound test results: Failure at step 3(DirectSoundCreate): HRESULT =
0X80070057 (Invalid Arguments(s))
Test DirectMusic button using the Realtek AC'97 port plays all kinds of
jumpy music, so I know the card works. I remain at a complete loss.

Thanx again,
Rip
 
From DX tshooting:
To verify that Windows is configured to use the audio features of your sound device:
Open Device Manager.
Double-click Sound, video, and game controllers.
Double-click your sound device.
Click the Properties tab, and then double-click Audio Devices.
Click your sound device, and then click Properties.
Click Use audio features on this device.
Click OK until you return to Device Manager.
Restart your computer.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
Not sure what you mean by From DX tshooting, but the 'use features on this
device' option is already checked and the PnP and On-board audio is enabled
in the BIOS. I'm beginning to think if I start uninstalling these bloody
games one by one, I will find the culprit. Microsoft is still working on
getting the machine connected to Windows Update site. I don't know what else
to do...

Thanks again,

Rip
 
RipperT @nOsPaM.nEt> said:
Not sure what you mean by From DX tshooting,
Click to expand...

From help > dxdiag troubleshooter.

but the 'use features on this
device' option is already checked and the PnP and On-board audio is enabled in the
BIOS. I'm beginning to think if I start uninstalling these bloody games one by one,
I will find the culprit. Microsoft is still working on getting the machine
connected to Windows Update site. I don't know what else to do...
Click to expand...

I'm running low on possibilities as well. I'll take a stroll down the web lane and
see what if anything I can get on:
</quote>

Which brings a thought to mind, there is a new DirectX End User Runtime. (June
'07), although it's your choice to try it or not.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en


--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
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