Trouble with New Soundcard

[Tom Jensen]

I installed a new RocketFish 5.1 sound card in my Dell PC, Vista OS.

Before the new card was installed, I could hear NO sound, even from inside the PC. The device manager did not recognize any sound devices, either.

After I installed the new soundcard, I DO hear sound from inside the PC. (Does the sound card include a small speaker?) And the OS device manager DOES recognize the new sound card.

However, when I run the RocketFish CD that came with the card, the installation software DOES NOT recognize the soundcard. Also, the speakers I have attached to the new soundcard DO NOT put out any sound.

Can someone offer ideas on next steps?

Thanks!

[glc]

Have you turned the onboard sound off in the bios? Is the soundcard Vista-compatible? Do you have 32 or 64 bit Vista?

[Tom Jensen]

Thanks for the qucik reply. Answers:

Have you turned the onboard sound off in the bios?

I don't know. Do I do this with an F2 start-up and get into BIOS? Should I turn the onboard sound OFF?


Is the soundcard Vista-compatible?

Yes.


Do you have 32 or 64 bit Vista?

32-bit, SP1. Per the Rocketfish User Manual, it should be compatible with Windows Vista 32-bit, SP1.

[glc]

If you are going to use a soundcard, you must turn the onboard sound off. Why did you get a soundcard? Doesn't the onboard sound work?

[Tom Jensen]

I purchased the sound card so I could get sound from my accessory speakers for my kids' games. Before I installed the new card, I had no onboard sound. I did not even have the Windows volume control. As soon as I intalled the card, I immediately got Windows volume control and onboard sound?

[mazz72]

what happens if you pull the card out now? will the onboard sound still work?

[glc]

Have you ever reinstalled Windows on this machine? If you have, did you install all the motherboard drivers? What is the exact model of this Dell?