PCI sound card

[tomharries]

I recently installed a PC Line PCL SC5100 sound card (after a fair bit of difficulty with the drivers).

Device manager recognises the audio device and confirms it is working properly. but everything else says that there is no sound card installed.

all it appears able to do is play audio cds in the cd drive. there is no other sound. in multimedia the audio and midi tabs are disabled but the devices tab says all the audio devices are there (apart from a line input device).

NB I note with interest that there is no website for the manufacturer, only a premium rate phone number which i have no intention of using as i am on enough telesales lists already! I also note that a lot of people seem to have had problems with this device.

Has anyone else had problems with this device. If so how did they resolve them.

At the moment i'm thinking about just buying another sound card but if the problem is with the PC rather than the sound card that woudl be pointless.

Its an old PC with Win98. its not very powerful but i see no reason why it cant handle a sound card.

[AnotherMuggle]

I don't know the answer to your problems I'm affraid but what drivers are you using with the sound card?

Are they generic drivers or were they supplied with the card?

Also, is this card in replacement of another card? If so, did you remove all the drivers from the old card before installing the new one?

[glc]

Unfortunately, that's what happens when you buy cheap offbrand components. You can buy an entry level Creative Labs card without spending a fortune.

[tomharries]

I'm using drivers downloaded from the chipset manufacturers website, C-Media (the driver on the installation disk will not instal).

It is not a replacement sound card (as far as i know, i've only had the pc a few of months).

My basic problem is, if the driver or sound card doesn't work, how come i can play audio cds.

I take the point about buying a cheap sound card but i dont want to buy another one until i'm certain the fault is with the sound card and not my PC.

[AnotherMuggle]

Did you install the Sound Card into the computer yourself?

Sometimes sound cards (particularly older ones) have a cable directly from the card from the audio outs on optical drives...this may be why you can hear the sounds from audio CDs but not from the hard disk.

I would be supprised if the problem is with your computer...it is most likely a software issue!!

[tomharries]

Originally Posted by tomkear2006 Did you install the Sound Card into the computer yourself? Sometimes sound cards (particularly older ones) have a cable directly from the card from the audio outs on optical drives...this may be why you can hear the sounds from audio CDs but not from the hard disk. I would be supprised if the problem is with your computer...it is most likely a software issue!!

that makes sense. i realised last night that the cd player is just a basic cd player(you're right about the audio cable, thats how my system is set up) and doesnt really involve the sound card.

I've given up on the sound card and will get another one sooner or later.

It's just annoying that the pc says all the drivers are there but not the sound card! its definitely installed ok. and device manager has it down as working!

ah, the wonders of modern technology!