Sound Card failure??

bill-kranz wrote on 7/26/2012, 11:56 AM

I have a Creative SB Platinum sound card with the break out stand alone console box from about 5 years back.
About 5 months ago the GTX 8800 video card failed. One reason I think is that the PC has been used in a space that has no AC. When I got the unit back I also had them perform a sound card check which passed okay.
But when I got the box hooked up again I could not get any sound through the Denon amp/external speakers part of the system. There were no yellow warnings on the System Hardware listings. I was careful to "Unmute" the break out box volume option.
I decided to test it with some smaller can speakers and got sound through that okay as hooked up to the back of the SB sound card input.
I also had just received a LCD monitor with built-in speakers and they worked also.
Then shortly after by a few days those LCD speakers were without sound output as was the 2 can speakers. My Sony Vegas Pro 8.0c also gave a error message about not finding a audio aspect it needed for sound playback.
I have not checked all the menus in the SB software part or Windows XP 32 bit but it seems my sound card has bit the dust.
Is there a way to double-check this without taking it back to the Repair Shop?
I do have a older PC but am not willing to go tearing into that as there is important data on it and I am not that experienced with PC repair.

Can I bypass the SB card and use the motherboard sound ??? Duhhh doesn't sound logical not sure...

What do you think?

Any help appreciated...

Thanks,
Bill

PS - If that card is bad I would like another without having to buy the break-out box - is that a option?

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 7/26/2012, 1:03 PM

I can't specifically tie this to your reported problems, but that series of SB, SBLive, and internal Audigy cards was known for overheating and failing. Reinstall your audio drivers, and double check every setting before drawing that conclusion. During driver installation, it should let you know if there is a hardware problem.

If it still appears the card is at fault, remove the card, delete the drivers (you may have to do this manually), and use the onboard audio for now. There may be a newer, better audio device in your future . . .

bill-kranz wrote on 7/26/2012, 2:06 PM

Hi - Thanks for that information while I get to sorting this problem out.

One of the things that happened when they installed the new video card is that it knocked out the Creative drivers (no sound) and they had to re-install those to get the sound working.

So now I'm thinking - is this a sound card driver problem as before?

Also, backing up a bit, when you say "reinstall your audio drivers..." should I first delete them or just overwrite them?

In either case if I perform the test as you indicated I should have a clearer idea of a hardware problem and or drivers problem.

Thanks!! This will help!

Bill