I just formatted my computer and for some reason I don't have a sound device when I go to Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices. My soundcard is built into my motherboard, so I'm not sure what to do. Whether I have speakers are not doesn't matter, for even if I plug headphones into my audio plug thing, nothing happens. Anyone know what my problem is or how to fix it? All my drivers and enabled as well, and I am using Microsoft XP. Thanks

Go to your motherboard's manufacture's site, and look for your exact motherboard. In there, you should be able to find drivers for your integrated materials. If not, you bought one shitty board.

I had exactly the same problem. If you open device manager, you should see that you're missing the driver for your "Multimedia Audio Controller" It's under "Other Devices" Goto http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html and follow the instructions on that site.

(Note: To open Device Manager, open Control Panel then open "System". Click the Hardware Tab and click "Device Manager".)

However, you can skip all of these steps if you had the drivers cd that was given to you when you bought your computer. That cd has every driver needed for your computer to work properly.

If you misplaced/never recieved a driver cd, then you can do what Mies and isantop said.

The problem with that is that a lot of computers aren't shipping with disks at all (HP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, and other popular brands). My compaq didn't even come with a recovery disk.

The problem with that is that a lot of computers aren't shipping with disks at all (HP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, and other popular brands). My compaq didn't even come with a recovery disk.

You can always request it from the manfacturer. If they charge you a fee, then try and search online to see if you can find your driver. If not, last resort is buying it from your manufacturer (if they have one).

Alright, I've tried everything, and I've searched long and hard. I think my main problem is that my Realtek Sound Driver isn't showing up in my device list. Is there a solution to this?

Search for it. use the search function.

http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&q=Realtek+Sound+Driver&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 (http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&q=Realtek+Sound+Driver&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)

@Han: I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be searching for, or where I should search.

@ M: I've tried like four of those already.
In device Manager, under sound, video and game controllers it lists the following:
Audio Codecs
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Driver
Legacy Video Capturing Device
Media Control Devices
MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Service
Standard Game Port
Video Codec

Of these, Audio Codecs-Media Control Devices can only be updated (however I have updated them all) They cannot be disabled or uninstalled, they are all working properly.
My MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Service and Standard Game Port can be Enabled, Disabled, Uninstalled, and Updated. Currently they are updated to the max, working properly and enabled.
Video Codec can only be updated but is updated to the max. It cannot be disabled or uninstalled. It is working properly.

When I click to show hidden devices, these also pop up.
Microsoft Kernel System Audio Device
Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatabilty Driver
I can neither enable or disable those two, only uninstall and update, they are both updated to the max.

With all this, I still do not have an audio device showing up when I go to:
Control Panel > Sounds and Devices.

Did you try my fix?

Did you try my fix?

There was no "other devices" in my device manager, so no. Thanks for the tip though.


EDIT:FIXED, thanks for all the help guys.