New Sound Card, but No sound?

Question

I had an on-board sound card but the sound was really distorted and scratchy, the computer is a few years old so I figured the computer needed a new sound card. So I went to Wal*Mart and purchased a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE for about $40. I followed the instructions to install it, (I.E.
1 remove any audio card in computer and uninstall its software. Disable any on-board audio device. Turn off computer.
2 insert sound card into open pci slot, no cables neccessary!
3 install software.
4 match the colored connectors for your speakers and insert into appropriate hole.
Now I have no sound whatsoever. I've even tried uninstalling this new card and reenabling the onboard RealTek'97 and it doesn't even work! We even took it to a computer repair shop and after two days of not being able to figure it out he gave the computer back and told us that it was a bad sound card. So we repackaged the sound card took it back and exchanged it and the new one doesn't work either!

[System]
CPU=Intel ~2.5GHz
BiosDate=05/12/04
Memory=758 MB
OS=Windows XP Home Service Pack 2(5.1.2600)
Language=English
DirectX=9.0c

The computer is an emachine T2824

Intel Celeron D Processor 325

I have uninstalled and reinstalled multiple times each time waiting for microsoft to detect the new card. Of course this last time because the computer technician didn't reuninstall when he couldn't get it to work the computer never did detect the 'new' new sound card but I shall try once again a little work never hurt anyone. I'm watching this question like a hawk so I will update when I get back from reuninstalling. lol.

Oh, and I checked in BIOS Audio IS enabled.

Back, no luck same as before. As to the volume/mute answer I can't even open speaker config as it says, "The audio device supported by this application is not detected. This application will now close." I've been wondering... This is what I have under sounds and audio devices' hardware tab:

Lite-on combo ltc 48161h - DVD/CD Rom
Sound Blaster Audigy - Sound, video...
Realtek AC'97 Audio - Sound, video...
Audio Codecs - Sound, video...
Audio Codecs - Sound, video...
Media Control Devices - Sound, video...
Media Control Devices - Sound, video...
Legacy Audio Drivers - Sound, video...
Legacy Video Capture Devices - Sound, video...
Video Codecs - Sound, video...
Is there something missing from this list? I think I might have uninstalled something at some point and that might explain it not having an audio device.

I have the stock amplified speakers that came with the computer.

Some one recommended that I run dxdiag well here is the only error. (oh, directmusic plays.)

DirectSound test results: Failure at step 3 (DirectSoundCreate): HRESULT = 0x88780078 (No driver)

Answer 1

I wish I had more information about your computer (processor, motherboard, and operating system (win 98, xp?) because its very hard to hint any diagnostic procedure without this info.

OK Much better, here some issues you may look:
1. There is a slight posibility dust/dirt has reached your pci slots. This has happened before. you can try plugging the borad in another slot, or using a COnTACT CLEANER spray to clean those PCI slots.

2. Sometimes this has happened when there are previosly failed installations. Correcting this condition can get tricky, but in general, Assuming you have the new card installed, you can look at the DEVICE MANAGER, going to control panel, SYSTEM, then look for the HARDWARE tab, then DEVICE MANAGER: Now that you see all your devices, go to the top menu, VIEW, show hidden devices.

Now, if you see any devices with an Exclamation sign in yellow, delete them. and reboot. This will clear the failed installation condition.

3. Finally, you can try using the automatic detector for sound blaster hardware from the soundblaster site, see if it detects the card indeed, here..
http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/softwareupdate.asp?nSUFlag=1&sDestUrl=http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/&hdAllProduct=1&LangID=1033&hdDspLangID=1033

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Do you have power amplified speakers for your computer? Regular un-amplified speakers will not work with these add on cards. When I built a computer for the first time, the sound was on board. I had un-amplified speakers at home, and they did not produce but the slightest bit of sound, even though I had all of the volume controls "pegged out". Also check your control panel settings and the software settings that came with your sound card to see if there is something set to "mute" or set too low. The settings to be concered with in windows control panel are the volume, wave, and CD.

Answer 3

this may sound silly, but 1stly updaye your graphics card driver. then i suggest oyu physically remove the sound card. and re-boot see if you can get the on-board sound to work. then insert the sound card. And either insert the cd when XPlooks for drivers.Make sure your new sound card in present under system in control panel . Make sure it's installed, enabled and has drivers installed too. check the web site for updates, check to make suree the sound card isn't default on digital output stuff like that. update your directX. email if you'res till having probs. CAn you try the sound card in a diff pc? Or a diff pci slot on your pc?

Answer 4

try to uninstall driver & hardware in your control panel then restart it. turn it on again then let XP detect the card by its own then it will ask you to install driver or if not go to devide manager then update for new driver for your sound card.

Answer 5

A simple way to test the card is not at fault would be to rty a different PCI slot for it.

Answer 6

Disabled in the BIOS. Check there first.

Answer 7

Did you disable the video in the BIOS?

Answer 8

you may want to check if there is any updates for the card software.

Answer 9

you sound techish I have had some copys of windows that just do not like sound if you have another hard disk put it in and intall windows see if that works.

Answer 10

only check bios