Author Topic: I have computer related questions. Can you help? (Read 149822 times)

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #100 on:** September 23, 2009, 12:58:56 AM »

I took the battery out and the computer has been working fine again.

Thanks for the help.

Mop it up · « **Reply #101 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:00:30 PM »

You folks seem pretty experienced in the realm of computers so perhaps you could help me with my problem?

As I understand it, my sound card doesn't work because there is no driver for it installed. When I google searched for "multimedia audio controller driver" I came across and downloaded this one:

http://ac97-audio-codec.en.softonic.com/

However, when I went to install it, a message came up which said something along the lines of it being not compatible with Windows XP, and if I install it then it could cause system instability. I chose to attempt to install it anyway, and then the computer restarted.

Is this driver the wrong one or is something else the problem?

ShyGuy · « **Reply #102 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:01:41 PM »

The driver is wrong. What kind of computer is this? A brand or custom built?

Mop it up · « **Reply #103 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:02:42 PM »

I'm afraid I don't know that. How could I find out?

ShyGuy · « **Reply #104 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:10:03 PM »

Does it say Dell or HP on the outside?

Mop it up · « **Reply #105 on:** October 04, 2009, 03:23:55 PM »

The computer itself does not have any brand name on it.
It was given to me so I know not of its origin. But I do know that the hard drive was formatted before it was given to me, thereby deleting all of the previous owner's data.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #106 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:02:36 PM »

Is the sound card built into the motherboard or is it a standalone card?

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #107 on:** October 04, 2009, 04:51:33 PM »

I used driver scanner to solve some problems I had related to drivers
http://www.uniblue.com/

Mop it up · « **Reply #108 on:** October 04, 2009, 11:35:21 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on October 04, 2009, 04:02:36 PM

Is the sound card built into the motherboard or is it a standalone card?

It is built into the motherboard, I am pretty sure on that one.

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1 on October 04, 2009, 04:51:33 PM

I used driver scanner to solve some problems I had related to drivers
http://www.uniblue.com/

That program costs money. Is there a free solution?

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #109 on:** October 05, 2009, 12:21:58 AM »

well.....

I've told you a good program, and I vouched for it's usefulness
I leave it up to you to figure out how to get the program.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #110 on:** October 05, 2009, 12:51:21 AM »

I have used a for pay program called Driver Agent. http://driveragent.com/

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #111 on:** October 05, 2009, 01:02:02 AM »

Uninstall the driver you downloaded for your soundcard...and run Windows Update. Have it search for all hardware and software updates, it should find the drivers you need.

Mop it up · « **Reply #112 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:02:59 PM »

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1 on October 05, 2009, 12:21:58 AM

I've told you a good program, and I vouched for it's usefulness
I leave it up to you to figure out how to get the program.

If there's a way to get it for free then it is probably illegal.

Quote from: ShyGuy on October 05, 2009, 12:51:21 AM

I have used a for pay program called Driver Agent. http://driveragent.com/

I didn't pay for this computer so I'm not going to pay any money on something which may or may not get it to function as it should.

Quote from: Brandogg on October 05, 2009, 01:02:02 AM

Uninstall the driver you downloaded for your soundcard...and run Windows Update. Have it search for all hardware and software updates, it should find the drivers you need.

The driver was never installed because the computer restarted. Windows Update didn't find anything which needed an update.

Thank you for trying to help guys, but I guess I'll just have to use my other computer when I want sound.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #113 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:13:46 PM »

Open up the Device Manager then remove any traces of improperly installed sound devices (hardware/driver oddities are recognized and shown as exclamation points).

Next, tell us the model # of the motherboard (if you can open it up and read it off the hardware), and we'll manually find the drivers related to that board, cuz THAT'S the surefire way to go about this.

Mop it up · « **Reply #114 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:27:40 PM »

Quote from: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2009, 05:13:46 PM

Open up the Device Manager then remove any traces of improperly installed sound devices (hardware/driver oddities are recognized and shown as exclamation points).

Done.

Quote from: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2009, 05:13:46 PM

Next, tell us the model # of the motherboard (if you can open it up and read it off the hardware), and we'll manually find the drivers related to that board, cuz THAT'S the surefire way to go about this.

Unfortunately I don't think I can do that one. I took off the casing and there is a big metal sheet on one side of the board, and I didn't see any numbers on the other side. It looks like the board is connected to the metal sheet so I don't think I could remove it, at least not without taking the whole thing apart which probably isn't something I should do.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #115 on:** October 07, 2009, 05:53:08 PM »

Quote from: Mop_it_up on October 07, 2009, 05:27:40 PM

Quote from: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2009, 05:13:46 PM
Open up the Device Manager then remove any traces of improperly installed sound devices (hardware/driver oddities are recognized and shown as exclamation points).
Done.

Quote from: NinGurl69 *huggles on October 07, 2009, 05:13:46 PM
Next, tell us the model # of the motherboard (if you can open it up and read it off the hardware), and we'll manually find the drivers related to that board, cuz THAT'S the surefire way to go about this.
Unfortunately I don't think I can do that one. I took off the casing and there is a big metal sheet on one side of the board, and I didn't see any numbers on the other side. It looks like the board is connected to the metal sheet so I don't think I could remove it, at least not without taking the whole thing apart which probably isn't something I should do.

Shine a light in and take a picture of the non-metal sheet side. Post the picture.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #116 on:** October 07, 2009, 10:06:16 PM »

When you fire up the computer, hit the Delete, F2, or F12 keys at the first (BIOS) screen, it's usually one of those three that takes you to the settings. It should say the motherboard model somewhere in there - just don't change any settings, and when you exit, make sure you choose "do not save settings" or whatever the "no" choice is.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #117 on:** October 07, 2009, 11:58:46 PM »

You know, I don't think I've ever seen mobo model info inside system BIOS, ever. So I just look for the board print.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #118 on:** October 08, 2009, 12:49:55 AM »

Maybe it's just the PC model for "factory" PCs. I'm pretty sure my old A-BIT board with an Athlon Thunderbird 1Ghz CPU displayed the board's name in the BIOS. Anyway, just go with the flashlight idea.

Mop it up · « **Reply #119 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:06:39 PM »

I'm sorry I'm a bit late on this but here's the picture you requested:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/Mop_it_up/Bucket%20of%20Randomism/DCFC0002.jpg

Can you see what it is you are looking for? If not then I can try taking another one.

BlackNMild2k1 · « **Reply #120 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:14:34 PM »

Quote from: Mop_it_up on October 12, 2009, 08:06:39 PM

I'm sorry I'm a bit late on this but here's the picture you requested:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j82/Mop_it_up/Bucket%20of%20Randomism/DCFC0002.jpg

Can you see what it is you are looking for? If not then I can try taking another one.

Can you try taking a picture of the part of the board that has a brand like name on it, I think it would be close to the fan and probably covered by the think flat grey wires.

Mop it up · « **Reply #121 on:** October 12, 2009, 08:16:15 PM »

I did not see any words or numbers anywhere on it but I can take a closer look and see if I can find anything.

It will have to be later though because I'm not touching any of that stuff when the computer is on.

ShyGuy · « **Reply #122 on:** October 12, 2009, 09:01:36 PM »

Hmm 478 motherboard, Intel chipset, black PCB. I could probably detective this out.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #123 on:** October 12, 2009, 09:53:28 PM »

You've got plenty of spare PCI ports - there's a $30 Creative Labs soundcard (Rocketfish-branded) at Best Buy. It's probably worth checking out if you can't resolve your current issue. Here's a link - it only has a 2.9 rating on the site, but keep in mind most of the reviewers are complete morons. I'm going to buy the 7.1 Rocketfish card in a couple weeks (when I get my Reward Zone gift certificates) - it's the same exact card as the Creative-branded one, only without the shell and the $100 price tag.

Mop it up · « **Reply #124 on:** October 12, 2009, 11:43:24 PM »

Quote from: ShyGuy on October 12, 2009, 09:01:36 PM

Hmm 478 motherboard, Intel chipset, black PCB. I could probably detective this out.

So should I take another picture or can you see what you needed to see?

Quote from: Brandogg on October 12, 2009, 09:53:28 PM

You've got plenty of spare PCI ports - there's a $30 Creative Labs soundcard (Rocketfish-branded) at Best Buy.

I didn't really want to spend any money on this but I might do that if this annoys me enough.

News:

Author Topic: I have computer related questions. Can you help? (Read 149822 times)