Xp pro sound problem

[pjphilli]

Hi
I have just had to reinstall XP Pro and have reloaded all my programs successfully. However, there is no sound from my CD player and not even the XP log on/off sounds.
I have gone through all the procedures in Microsoft Help. Also checked that sound is on in BIOS, my external sound system is ok, all sound devices are said to be working ok in Device Manager. I would appreciate any further advice.
Cheers Peter

[Barrykgerdes]

None of my computers with XP on them would run sound without installing the correct drivers. Sound is normally processed by an inbuilt device that needs the drivers installed. The drivers should be on your original computer installation disk else check the type and get the drivers from the internet.

Barry

[supernova1965]

Check in device manager if Windows has installed C-Media drivers for your sound Windows seems to do this sometimes with AC-97 Sound cards and I have never seen them work if it has you will need to reinstall the drivers from the motherboard manufacturer and not let Windows install drivers for your sound through Windows Update.
Hope this helps:bashcomp:

[mithrandir]

What sort of audio is it? For instance Windows keeps trying to install the ATI HD audios drivers on mine, and that breaks the Intel onboard sound.

Like the guys say. Get the right drivers for your exact hardware.

[pjphilli]

Hi All

Thanks for your very prompt replies. Yes I had forgotten to install the chipset software hadn't I? I just did this and now sound works fine on the AC-97 sound card and no doubt a lot of other goodies will now work on my mother board. I will add this step on my list of "how to rebuild after crashing".

Cheers Peter

[supernova1965]

Check your graphics card is it an ATI card and does it support HDMI mine has and adapter from DVI to HDMI if so it has a built in Sound card so that it can produce HD sound and when the drivers install windows seems to default to it you have to go to the mixer and choose the onboard sound or the computer is actually outputting sound from the graphics card but you don't have it connected to any speakers. I have a ATI card that does just this will be good for when I build my Media Center PC using Win 7

[supernova1965]

I make a complete Image of my computer when I have everything installed and working as I want it so if I need to rebuild I only have to re image my computer and windows and office is activated and all software is installed and working as it was when I made the image.

[mithrandir]

Its a ATI HD 2900 XT (dual DVI outputs), but I'm going to replace it with an NVidia card because ATI's OpenGL support on Linux (which the box normally runs) is c**p.

[supernova1965]

I have to agree NVidia do have good support for Linux. That ATI card does have the built in HD Sound.

[pjphilli]

Hi Warren
I bought some software on the net that was supposed to create an "image" disk. Using this was the cause of my downfall. Although the program seemed to work, when finished both my original and copied hard drives were badly corrupted. Windows XP tried to fix the mess on startup but could not. On reloading XP most of my data was saved but all email, internet with their data and some other programs were lost. So how do you create an image safely? Also can someone tell me how to back up my email messages?
Cheers Peter

[supernova1965]

Hi Peter
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with you image attempt what software did you use? Here is a link for Email Backup in Outlook Express http://email.about.com/od/outlookexpressbackuphelp/qt/How_to_Back_Up_or_Copy_Mail_Files_i n_Outlook_Express.htm
you can find how to do this for any mail client in google. As to Image software I have used Ghost at TAFE which is good but you just about need a Doctorate to get it right the one I use now is Paragon HDD manager I have attached a document with their details in it hope it helps. Any more help I can provide please ask. I think that the Paragon software is very easy to use and will see you right. Let me know how it goes

[pjphilli]

Hi Warren
Thanks for your prompt reply and advice. The software I used is Power Suite - Disk Tools. After it failed I went enquiring on the net and found a lot of irate users of this and other software from the same supplier. In future I will conduct such an investigation before I buy any software on the net!

I have just had a quick look at the procedure for email backup but I can't find where in Outlook Express the first step of opening the
Outlook Express Store is done. I have access to hidden files.

I will also look into Paragon HDD manager as it would certainly be handy to have a reliable program to do to hard drive imaging.
Cheers Peter

[Ian Robinson]

You sure the sound player is turned on ? have you muted it ?

I actually run my computers with sound muted by default as the sounds from the systems are infantile and bug me.

I only unclick the mute button when I am playing DVDs , or AVIs I've downloaded.

You need to check an app called Volume Control. Look in Entertaining under Accessories.

[Octane]

Ian, do you read threads in their entirety?

[supernova1965]

Here is the first step for exporting mail and contacts from Outlook Express in this screen shot if you need more help and you have skype you could skype me skype name is warren.maag or pm me for my phone number.

[Octane]

In the past, when I used Outlook Express, I just copied the *.dbx file to a safe location once a week as a backup.

You'll find it at:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Identities\{hexadecimal key}\Microsoft\Outlook Express

Regards,
Humayun

[Tandum]

One thing to be aware of is that Windows 7 has no email client. It seems Micro$oft wants people to use Windows Live Mail and I can't see a way to import outlook express data into it :( Could be a problem when you upgrade.

[g__day]

The solution - with a fair bit of creativity - that doesn't reply on a VM XP path.

Install Outlook 2007 in both XP and Win 7 drive partitions.

1. From XP64 launch Outlook 2007 and do an import from Outlook Express
2. Export the file as a PST backup from Outlook 2007 to some location on a hard drive that is visible to all O/S
3. Boot Win 7
4. Copy the backup PST file somewhere else on your hard drive (dump but essential to create it with you under Win 7 as the file owner)
5. Boot Outlook 2007 and import the backup.pst file

That only took 3 elapsed days and countless attempts to find a method that worked! Outlook 2003 import just isn't up to it. And OE and O have to be on the same O/S to import on the first place...

[Tandum]

Problem with that is you have to buy an office pack which has outlook and the cheap home/student pack don't :( Get that wallet out again and pay the 'ole bill :sadeyes:

If you already have office outlook then it's fine. Just this week I exported from xp outlook to backup.pst and imported to windows 7 outlook. 3 machines no problem. Last week though, it was from Vista mail, that took all week-end to sort out :(

[Ian Robinson]

Hey .... it could have been something so basic .... rather than something more complicated or difficult to fix ....

When in doubt go back to basics .... every good engineer knows that .

[supernova1965]

Windows Live Mail has all the features of Outlook and is free

[Tandum]

You are quoting me out of context, but here are microsoft instructions (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Import-messages-into-Windows-Mail-from-Outlook-Express) for moving from express to live mail. Didn't work for me on a number of occasions. I don't have the time to debug the process, I bypass it :)

[pjphilli]

Thanks Warren and others for your advice. I have tried the ways and now see my way clear to performing this excercise. Humayun - gee these files are buried deeply!
Cheers Peter