audio drivers

Computers & Internet Forum

A friend recently gave me an old computer. Im very proud of myself for installing a hard drive, memory and a video card (never seen the inside of a computer before), but Im having a hard time finding a driver for my Legacy soundcard. Ive been told that Windows update has it but I couldnt find it. Any ideas?

Check out www.drivershq.com, and see if they've got what you're looking for. I haven't tried them myself, but if you know what legacy audio device you're trying to get a driver for, that just might be the place to grab one.

Maybe www.winfiles.com might have what you need also, but I can't vouch... I haven't been searching for drivers recently, so I wouldn't know what's best...

Windows normally supports all kinds of drivers, that is why it is bloated. If you are using XP or even 2000 Professional, Windows should automatically detect and install the sound card.

What exactly is the make of the card?

M.

Like I said the computer was given to me. When I went into properties it said my Legacy Audio was functioning properly. When I tried to get more info on the driver it gave me a blank screen, leading me to believe there is no driver

since you said you've never seen the inside of a computer before, i just want to clarify one point if you don't mind. normally when someone refers to a legacy device, they are talking about the old ISA connectors (usually black) that looks like this:

http://www.douglas.com/images/bxde631042top.jpg

if this is the case, then the sound card may not be plug and play. you may have to manually configure the IRQ and such depending on which version of windows you are using. and windows xp may not recognize it at all if it's not plug and play.

it would be helpful if you had some identifying info on the card and what operating system you are using. and if you've never been inside a computer before then kudos for your first time. and if the computer still works after you put it back together then double kudos. i choose not to think about the first time i ever opened a computer.

Id never seen the inside of a computer until last week , when I took the video card out of my 3.2ghz and put it in a 1.73ghz a friend gave me (I got an ATI 2800 pro for the other one). I also installed a harddrive and 1g of memory , loaded XP Pro, and was amazed that it actually worked! (except for the sound)

Before I started all this my nephew told me the computer I received had a soundcard ''built in'', so I took his word for it. Last night I got curious and decided to have a look. I saw what I assumed were some output jacks that basically went straight to the motherboard and nothing that even remotely resembled the soundcard I had on the shelf (except for the videocard that I installed). Then I saw a symbol that vaguely resembled a microphone and I thought '' hey ,these might be INPUT terminals, and I might not have a soundcard at all. '' Then I figured what the heck, the worst that can happen is I will blow up the new computer, so I installed the soundcard, loaded a driver, and VOILA the sound works!


PS I know you guys are all laughing at me , but Im ok with it. You at least deserve some entertainment for taking the time to try to help me out. Thanks

I had the same thing happen to me with a used motherboard that I bought from my boss (weird, but this guy is cool...), who had bought it off one of his friends. The MSI Ultra 700 board came with built-in sound, but it hasn't worked, and I've installed updated drivers, checked everything I knew about checking, and eventually had to take a really cheap soundcard out of a really cheap old computer that I keep for spare parts, shove it in one of the free PCI slots, and XP Pro automatically found the driver and, as you said, voila.

So, I know how you feel, and well done on your first foray into the innards of a PC! For me, it was great to know that their architecture wasn't totally over my head, which led me to build one, and then another...

There are 4 solutions.

1. If it's an intagrated sound card on the montherboard, then it's a matter of finding the motherboard software. The mother board name and model number are imprinted on the board itself. Then you can go the the motherboard manufacture website and download the audio drivers.

2. If it's a card but you don't know the manuf. look at the chipset (usually 2 large chips on the board) where you may be able to cross reference it to a list of sound card that used that chipset. Then again go to the manuf website or drivers.com and download them

3. Try Sound Blaster drivers. Some times the Sound Blaster audio drivers will work with non sound blaster cards and there's always a chance that it is a Sound Blaster Card.

4. Buy a el cheapo sound card like I did. I didn't need fancy 5.1 or 7.2 suround sound because I don't play games. I just need sound. So I went to CompUSA and bought a $14 sound card. That made life easy.

Hope this helps.

No, I am laughing at Mr. F - like this -->

F-man, if it makes you feel any better, I have never built a computer myself or messed around with the hardware either.

M.

AM, you're missing 1/2 the fun.