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Permalink Reply by Greg De Santis on September 11, 2009 at 8:11pm

I am trying to remember your exact model of computer, but do you have a Dell Dimension C521?
I have only seen audio and video cards coupled together like the new ATI cards, but I have not seen an audio and network card coupled together sharing a driver.

Are you seeing any "unknown" yellow question marks in the control panel - system - hardware devices window?

Have you tried to go into Control Panel and use the Add Hardware and does it identify anything additional?

For Windows XP:
Use the shortcut Windows Key-R or click start and click Run to open the Run dialog window.
And type mmsys.cpl and hit enter or click OK to open the Control Panel's Sounds and Audio Devices Properties.
And does this show if there is any sound hardware?

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Permalink Reply by SassySweetBren on September 11, 2009 at 8:44pm

Gregm when I ran mmsys.cpl it showed no sound or audio. Yet, in the audio driver file it shows them.

Here is a capture that might help. Oh, I am using an old Dell 2350.

Checking for new hardware shows nothing new.

What I was trying to say is that my old card had sound because I could make calls. I am not sure about the new one. It is a Speedstream Ethernet Adapter.

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Permalink Reply by Greg De Santis on September 11, 2009 at 9:20pm

This suggestion is all hardware, but the first thing that pops into my mind is that the sound card and the network card are trying to use the same IRQ / DMA and resources - so they are stepping on each other. So if you shutdown and remove your ethernet card and reboot without it; does the computer identify and try to install the sound card drivers? Of course keep those newly downloaded Dell Audio Drivers handy just in case you need them.

If so and if your sound is now working correctly, then you can shutdown and put the Ethernet card back in and upon rebooting, does the computer now find an available IRQ / DMA channel and resources to install the driver successfully seeing how the computer only has one device to install instead of two.

There is a remote possibility that you may have to manually assign the network card's resources from its device properties.

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Permalink Reply by Tracy on September 11, 2009 at 9:21pm

Hey S~

If it were me, and after I'd tried all you've tried, I'd be inclined to simply install a PCI soundcard and be done with it. They're so inexpensive now, many less than $20 USD. Here's one, but there are plenty around (including ebay).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829118103

T

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Permalink Reply by SassySweetBren on September 11, 2009 at 11:22pm

Thanks Tracy.

Greg, it is late and I will need to do this tomorrow. The software for the new card has to be installed first. That means that I will have to take it out and do what you suggested and put it back in. Like I haven't done that a few times already. ha ha

I will get it a shot to see what is going on. I know where you are my dear if that doesn't work.
Thanks sweetie.

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Permalink Reply by Aryeh Goretsky on September 11, 2009 at 11:24pm

Hello,

From looking at this page on Dell's web site, it appears the Dell Dimension 2350 has an on-board sound. You might want to try running Windows Update and seeing if it detects, downloads and installs ths missing device drivers for the built-in sound card.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

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