No Sound, No Audio Device, Etc.

[pmori]

I haven't had sound for a while. I've tried to follow the driver update advice I've been reading on this site, but still no luck in getting the sound up. When I look under the "Sounds and Audio Device Properties" it reports under the "Volume" tab - No audio device; under the "Audio" tab it reports no playback devices, no recording devices, no MDIDI Playback devices. When I view the Hardware tab (Realtek AC97 audio, Audio CODECS, Legacy Audio drivers, media contgrol devices, legacy capture devices, video codecs), it reports that the devices are working properly. The Belarc analysis is as follows...PLEASE HELP!!!

Operating System System Model
Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600) TOSHIBA Satellite P25 PSP20U-012RJR
System Serial Number: 73031744C
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: TOSHIBA BTQ00
BIOS: TOSHIBA V1.10 06/10/2003
Drives Memory Modules c,d
60.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
38.20 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

LITE-ON DVDRW SHW-160P6S USB Device [CD-ROM drive]
MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-811 [CD-ROM drive]

TOSHIBA MK6022GAX [Hard drive] (60.01 GB) -- drive 0, s/n 63LG1829T, rev HB002A, SMART Status: Healthy 512 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'JP26' has 256 MB
Slot 'JP24' has 256 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 60.01 GB 38.20 GB free

Network Drives
None detected
Users (mouse over user name for details) Printers
local user accounts last logon
Administrator 2/19/2005 10:51:38 AM (admin)
Mike 7/18/2006 4:08:20 AM (admin)
Pam 7/18/2006 4:26:03 AM (admin)
local system accounts
Guest 2/15/2006 9:06:42 PM
HelpAssistant never
SUPPORT_388945a0 never


Marks a disabled account; Marks a locked account EPSON Stylus Photo 820 Series on USB001
Microsoft Shared Fax Driver on SHRFAX:

Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 [Display adapter]
Default Monitor (2x)
NVIDIA t Flat Panel [Monitor] (14.3"vis, November 2002)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Toshiba ToPIC100 CardBus Controller (2x)
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D2
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D4
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24D7
Intel(R) 82801EB USB Universal Host Controller - 24DE
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller Realtek AC97 Audio
Communications Other Devices
TOSHIBA Software Modem


1394 Net Adapter #2
IP Address: 125.202.67.205 / 32
Gateway: 125.202.67.205
Physical Address: 00:53:45:00:00:00
Atheros AR5001X Mini PCI Wireless Network Adapter
Dhcp Server: none responded
Physical Address: 00:90:96:59:BF:FE
Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
Physical Address: 00:02:3F:8178

Networking Dns Servers: 220.220.248.1
220.220.248.9
Texas Instruments OHCI Compliant IEEE 1394 Host Controller
Microsoft AC Adapter
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
USB Human Interface Device
SMC IrCC - Fast Infrared Port
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Toshiba Secure Digital host controller
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Printing Support
USB Root Hub (5x)
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
Norton AntiVirus Version 12.20
Virus Definitions Version 7/8/2006 Rev 3
Last Disk Scan on Monday, July 10, 2006 1:08:25 PM
Realtime File Scanning On

Missing Microsoft Security Hotfixes [Back to Top]

All required security hotfixes (using the 07/11/2006 Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary) have been installed.

[pip22]

When Windows says "This Device is Working Properly" it's really only telling you that it's drivers are installed properly. Windows isn't able to tell you that the device itself is faulty or broken.

I suspect the AC97 sound-chip built on to the motherboard has packed up. Same thing happened to me (mine also an AC97). I had to first remove it's drivers in Device Manager, then disable the AC97 sound in the BIOS setup, then fit a PCI sound-card + install drivers from the supplied CD.

[pmori]

Thanks for the advice, but I'd like to leave that more towards the end of the "last resort" spectrum as I'm assuming when you say "fit a PCI sound card" you mean purchase a new one and install it? Please clarify "fit."
For me it would be quite a task to remove and install a new one. Anyway, I've read the links on similiar no sound problems and did this:

1) Checked in Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Mg’mt > Services and Applications > Services > Windows Audio. Under “Starting Up Type” column it was “Automatic." Did a right click and initiated “Start,” got a message back that said “Could not start the Windows Audio on Local Computer. Error 1053: the service did not start or respond to the control request in a timely fashion.”

2) Updated Realtec driver (for Toshiba Satelite P25- S607 (my laptop))
with Realtek ALC202 at Reatek http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...&Software=True

3) I will check if the sound card is disabled in BIOS now...

I believe this No sound issue cropped up after an update...but it was so long ago (maybe a year and a half) that I can't exactly recall.

Any further guidance is GREATLY appreciated. My ultimate last resort is to re-install from the recovery CD but I'm not convinced that would re-initiate sound AND it would be a royal pain to do all of that. Thanks!

[pmori]

...checked BIOS and from what I could gather (couldn't find sound device under Advanced)...nothing is disabled. Thanks.

[tinkerz]

Check to see if:

Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator is listed under System Devices in Device Manager. If it's missing and have no sound follow the directions on the following website to fix it.. worked for me.

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1066427444

I take no credit for coming up with this solution... but I certainly will try and point people in the right direction.

Happy computing!

Tinkerz

[plasmabrain]

I've had this problem as well, and spent a lot of time trying to find a solution, as I'm sure anybody reading this has. I did a lot of thinking on how to fix this, and what I came up with is to disable (or remove) your soundcard BEFORE you install windows. Then update windows and install the drivers (if there is an .exe to install, if not put the drivers in a place you can remember). On the next reboot, enable (or reinsert) your soundcard and it seems to work fine after that. I also found that changing your computer type to "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC" in the device manager can help. Normally this is set to ACPI (uniprocessor), but I think there is a difference in the HAL between the two that can cause this problem.

I hope this helps anyone who has this problem....too bad it does require a reinstall of windows for it to work, but you will know next time to disable your soundcard before you have to install windows again.