Sound works, then doesn't during start-up

  • Thread starter Thread starter mcma4
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mcma4

My PC seems to "lose" the sound card DURING start-up. I know the sound card
is there and is functioning properly, and I know the speakers are connected
and function properly, because during the first part of boot-up I hear the
"Windows welcome music." But by the time start-up ends, the sound does not
work at all --- for system sounds, for playing a CD, for playinv files in
Media player, etc. When I look in the "Sounds and Audio Devices" Control
Panel, it says "No Audio Device." The sound worked great for years; I have
not added any hardwrae for over a year. I cannot link the start of this
behavior to any event like installing new software. I have already tried KB
article 307918. I have tried the Windows Troubleshooter (didn't tell me
anything I didn't alreday know). I have checked to see that the sound card is
enabled (it is) and it says "This device is working properly." I tried
updating the sound card drivers (it said no updates were needed). My PC is
running Windows XP Home Edition SP2. Any help you can give would be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.
 
What is "it" that told you updated drivers were not needed? Download new
drivers from the sound card mfg's website
 
Sorry wasn't clear: The "it" is as follows: Control Panel, then Sound and
Audio Devices, then "Hardware" tab. Then I selected my sound card (SoundAMX
Integrated Digital Audio), then clicked Properties, then Driver tab, then
Update Driver. It searched for a newer driver and replied that I didn't need
one.
 
As I said, you need to visit the mfg's website to get updates, the route you
took will not show that the mfg has released a newer driver. Check the PC
mfg's website, if it's a custom built PC check the motherboard mfg's website
for updated drivers.
 
OK; I;ll try to find it. Just for my education, though, what database does
the route I took check? If it won't check the manufacturers sites, or at
least a reasonably current list of same, what good is that route at all? Why
would MS have included it in the Control Panel? Thanks.
 
It checks the Windows Update website, which has drivers for allot of
hardware, but usually they are not current drivers, may just be a basic
driver with reduced functionality, and many times they either don't work or
worst case will cause your system to fail to boot properly after
installation, I recommend never to install drivers from windows update,
always get them from the PC, motherboard, or hardware mfg's website.
 
David B. said:
It checks the Windows Update website, which has drivers for allot of
hardware, but usually they are not current drivers, may just be a basic
driver with reduced functionality, and many times they either don't work or
worst case will cause your system to fail to boot properly after
installation, I recommend never to install drivers from windows update,
always get them from the PC, motherboard, or hardware mfg's website.
Click to expand...
 
WEb site died during my previous reply; here it is again:

I downloaded the specific driver for my PC (Compaq Presario 5310US) and
installed it. It worked, until I rebooted. Then I'm back to the original
problem -- sound works at the start of re-boot, but doesn't by the end of
re-boot.

By the way, perhaps it would help for me to define what I mean by “duringâ€
the boot (or start-up). To me, start-up is a two step process, at least as
far as the impact on the user. The first part is what I suppose is the
“true†start-up: The PC goes from truly off to at least functional: The
Windows welcome screen comes and goes, the desktop appears, etc. This part
takes about 60 or 90 seconds. The second part is waiting for the hard drive
to stop chattering – loading whatever startup applications it’s trying to
load. This part takes about three or four minutes (although it seems like
forever, you can imagine). I’ve tried to cut down on the start-up
applications but without much luck --- that’s probably a subject for a
different post some day. During this second part I can actually open Excel
or Internet Explorer or the Control Panel, although the system is VERY slow.
So it’s during this second part that I can see the Audio Device is available
at the start, but by the end it has become inactive.

Since this seems to be a re-starting problem, I have a suggestion: My
computer is several years old, and since re-starting takes a very long time
---maybe I need a good registry cleaner. Perhaps I'm grasping at straws but
it seems like it could be related. What do you think? If so, do you have one
you recommend? I've seen good reviews on Registry Booster, on PC Mechanic,
and on AMUST Registry Cleaner. Your thoughts?
 
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