windows fails to detect sound card

After a reinstallation of Windows 98, I can't get the sound to work. I'm
pretty sure it isn't a hardware specific issue; all the speakers seemed to be
hooked up correctly. But my sound card simply doesn't show up in the Control
Panel under the Add New Hardware section.

I've tried installing drivers for several different types of sound cards but
I have a hard time knowing where to begin when I don't even know or remember
what kind of sound card it is. I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the sound card so
I know what driver to download? Shouldn't it do all that automatically?
Because it's not. When I tell it to look up new hardware to install, it gives
me the 56k modem speaker, and underneath that, whatever sound driver I just
installed (the wrong one so far.)

Please help, and thanks,

Damon

Have you installed the driver for motherboard (actually -- inf-file for its
chipset)? It has to be at the CDROM for your motherboard -- or you can
download the latest version either from Intel site,
http://support.intel.com/support/ or from VIA site, http://www.viaarena.com
(depending on the chipset).

After driver is installed and computer restarted, you have to install the
specific driver for sound card from its CDROM (or download it from the
manufacturer's site): not all of them are detecting by Win98 correctly,
because many of the sound cards simply did not exist when Win98 had been
released.
--
Mikhail Zhilin
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
http://www.aha.ru/~mwz
Sorry, no technical support by e-mail.
Please reply to the newsgroups only.
======

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
wrote:

After a reinstallation of Windows 98, I can't get the sound to work. I'm
pretty sure it isn't a hardware specific issue; all the speakers seemed to be
hooked up correctly. But my sound card simply doesn't show up in the Control
Panel under the Add New Hardware section.

I've tried installing drivers for several different types of sound cards but
I have a hard time knowing where to begin when I don't even know or remember
what kind of sound card it is. I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the sound card so
I know what driver to download? Shouldn't it do all that automatically?
Because it's not. When I tell it to look up new hardware to install, it gives
me the 56k modem speaker, and underneath that, whatever sound driver I just
installed (the wrong one so far.)

Please help, and thanks,

Damon

If the sound card is not integrated into the motherboard, then you can open
the box and look at it. You should be able to see the manufacturer's name.

If this is a brand name computer, you may be able to go to the
manufacturer's web site and get the specifices on the model that you have.
Some manufacturer's even ask you to enter your serial number and the
hardware as the computer was shipped will be displayed along with links to
drivers that are available for it.

PattyL


"Damon" wrote in message
...
After a reinstallation of Windows 98, I can't get the sound to work. I'm
pretty sure it isn't a hardware specific issue; all the speakers seemed to
be
hooked up correctly. But my sound card simply doesn't show up in the
Control
Panel under the Add New Hardware section.

I've tried installing drivers for several different types of sound cards
but
I have a hard time knowing where to begin when I don't even know or
remember
what kind of sound card it is. I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the sound card
so
I know what driver to download? Shouldn't it do all that automatically?
Because it's not. When I tell it to look up new hardware to install, it
gives
me the 56k modem speaker, and underneath that, whatever sound driver I
just
installed (the wrong one so far.)

Please help, and thanks,

Damon

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

Check out this link,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5571_upgrade-drivers-sound.html


"Damon" wrote in message
...
I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound
Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with
the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me
to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it
couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my
computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the
sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you
something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

I've already done this. The driver I downloaded wouldn't install because it
couldn't find the soundcard on my computer. The computer can't even find the
damn card! It's (apparently) a Soundblaster PCI128. I've tried at least 30
different drivers in the Device Manager trying to find one that works, and
none have. The driver I downloaded doesn't even show up under the Creative
menu, either. My speakers are making wierd crackling noises.

Fed up. I'm this close to buying a new computer, but I am a college student
and have limited funds so I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks to all of
you for your help, though. Really appreciated.

"charlie R" wrote:

Check out this link,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5571_upgrade-drivers-sound.html


"Damon" wrote in message
...
I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound
Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with
the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me
to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it
couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my
computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the
sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you
something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

When I try to add the sound card driver through Add New Hardware, I get this:

"The file 'a3d.dll' on Creative Sound Blaster PCI 128 Driver Disk cannot be
found."

I don't *have* a driver disk. Why would I? This stuff came with the
computer, and never asked for one before. Nice products, Microsoft.

"Damon" wrote:

I've already done this. The driver I downloaded wouldn't install because it
couldn't find the soundcard on my computer. The computer can't even find the
damn card! It's (apparently) a Soundblaster PCI128. I've tried at least 30
different drivers in the Device Manager trying to find one that works, and
none have. The driver I downloaded doesn't even show up under the Creative
menu, either. My speakers are making wierd crackling noises.

Fed up. I'm this close to buying a new computer, but I am a college student
and have limited funds so I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks to all of
you for your help, though. Really appreciated.

"charlie R" wrote:

Check out this link,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5571_upgrade-drivers-sound.html


"Damon" wrote in message
...
I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound
Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with
the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me
to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it
couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my
computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the
sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you
something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:21:01 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and composed:

When I try to add the sound card driver through Add New Hardware, I get this:

"The file 'a3d.dll' on Creative Sound Blaster PCI 128 Driver Disk cannot be
found."

I don't *have* a driver disk. Why would I? This stuff came with the
computer, and never asked for one before. Nice products, Microsoft.

You *should* have received a set of discs with your new computer.
These discs would have device drivers and user manuals. At the very
least you should have been given a CD for your motherboard.

Why don't you visually identify your soundcard? Everest may not be
identifying it correctly, especially if it one of those odd
sound/modem combo cards.

"Damon" wrote:

I've already done this. The driver I downloaded wouldn't install because it
couldn't find the soundcard on my computer. The computer can't even find the
damn card! It's (apparently) a Soundblaster PCI128. I've tried at least 30
different drivers in the Device Manager trying to find one that works, and
none have. The driver I downloaded doesn't even show up under the Creative
menu, either. My speakers are making wierd crackling noises.

Fed up. I'm this close to buying a new computer, but I am a college student
and have limited funds so I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks to all of
you for your help, though. Really appreciated.

"charlie R" wrote:

Check out this link,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5571_upgrade-drivers-sound.html


"Damon" wrote in message
...
I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound
Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with
the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me
to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it
couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my
computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the
sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you
something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.




-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

I don't believe that Everest is wrong. I am quite sure I have the sound card
that it indicates. This computer is from early 1999-2000, it is not new. We
upgraded the OS from Windows 95 to 98 a long time ago. I'm quite sure there
was no software included for the soundcard. Even if there was it would be
irrelevant because that is what the internet is for. I have downloaded many
drivers for my card off the internet. SBPCI_WebDrvsV5_12_01.exe.
SBPCI128Setup_w9x.exe. SPCTAUDIOSetupus.exe. All of them either crashed or
asked for missing files. I downloaded all the missing files off the internet
from www.soundcard-drivers.com. Still no change. And what the hell is a 56k
Speakerphone?

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Thu, 22 Sep 2005 22:21:01 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and composed:

When I try to add the sound card driver through Add New Hardware, I get this:

"The file 'a3d.dll' on Creative Sound Blaster PCI 128 Driver Disk cannot be
found."

I don't *have* a driver disk. Why would I? This stuff came with the
computer, and never asked for one before. Nice products, Microsoft.

You *should* have received a set of discs with your new computer.
These discs would have device drivers and user manuals. At the very
least you should have been given a CD for your motherboard.

Why don't you visually identify your soundcard? Everest may not be
identifying it correctly, especially if it one of those odd
sound/modem combo cards.

"Damon" wrote:

I've already done this. The driver I downloaded wouldn't install because it
couldn't find the soundcard on my computer. The computer can't even find the
damn card! It's (apparently) a Soundblaster PCI128. I've tried at least 30
different drivers in the Device Manager trying to find one that works, and
none have. The driver I downloaded doesn't even show up under the Creative
menu, either. My speakers are making wierd crackling noises.

Fed up. I'm this close to buying a new computer, but I am a college student
and have limited funds so I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks to all of
you for your help, though. Really appreciated.

"charlie R" wrote:

Check out this link,

http://www.ehow.com/how_5571_upgrade-drivers-sound.html


"Damon" wrote in message
...
I downloaded Everest, which informed me that I have a Creative Sound
Blaster
PCI128 (Ensoniq ES1370) sound card. (This is the card that came with
the
computer. It always used to work before.) The Everest program led me
to the
Creative website, where I downloaded the driver and was told that it
couldn't
install because it could not detect a Sound Blaster card on my
computer.

"Franc Zabkar" wrote:

On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 21:55:03 -0700, "Damon"
put finger to keyboard and
composed:

I don't want to have to crack the case open
and look directly; isn't there a way to get Windows to find the
sound card so
I know what driver to download?

Many people recommend Everest Home Edition:
http://www.lavalys.hu/products/overv...?pid=1&lang=en

Otherwise Windows 98 has msinfo32.exe which will tell you
something
about your "problem" devices.

-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.




-- Franc Zabkar

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.