Generic onboard sound - where is it ?

bonzo · 11 Mar 2007 at 20:38

I have a bog standard HP Compaq tower / P4 2.8 and i've no sound from the onboard OEM soundcard

Its just yer regular mini jack ins, ya know, the kiddie coloured sockets. But i have no sound at all.

A friend says that it needs to be turned on in the BIOS, but i had a look in there and there is no option for this. Theres no sound card " on / off " or whatever it would say.

The only reason i have sound at all, is that i have a pair of USB headphones ( i dont use speakers ) and these work fine. Yet i also have a regular pair of headphones with normal mini jack terminals but i can get nothing out of the PC whatsoever ...

Dammit

Inferno99 · 11 Mar 2007 at 21:49

Have you tried the drivers on the hp/compaq download page? Try getting into device manager and see if it is installed correctly under 'sound, video and game controllers'. Also enter the 'Sounds and Multimedia' hardware tab and check to see that your soundcard is selected under the preferred devices list.

bonzo · 11 Mar 2007 at 21:57

Thanks ma man..i will give that a go forthwith

bonzo · 11 Mar 2007 at 22:30

Just had a looksee under Device manager / Sound, Vid and GC's and the list is as follows..

Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
USB audio Device
Video codecs

I presume the USB audio device is my headphones, what the other stuff is i dont know. Also there isnt any 'Sounds and Mulitmedia ' sub tab under any of the above options ?

Inferno99 · 11 Mar 2007 at 22:37

Sorry meant the 'Sounds and Multimedia' icon in control panel.

Then after selecting that, click on the Audio tab. If the preferred device is USB audio device which is what it most likely is, try changing that to the sound card if the option is there. Only other advise is to try the hp/compaq webbie and try the drivers there as it looks like you're using the built in Windows drivers. Had a couple of Compaq's in the past which used the onboard Soundmax chip. Anyhow good luck!

bonzo · 11 Mar 2007 at 22:50

Hi - theres no Sound and Multimedai icon in mine, but there is an icon called Sound and Audio Devices, but it seems that just opens up the same stuff as System / Device manager / Sound, Vid + GC's

I'll do the HP webby thing instead, as that may make a difference. I'll have to remove the USB phones though, cos as soon as they're plugged in, everything defaults to ' C - Media ' in sound, and all other properties relating to.

Thanks for the tips !!

bonzo · 13 Mar 2007 at 21:53

Hi Inf - everything has worked out nicely. Downloaded the Soundmax drivers AND a new BIOS update - flashed it and installed the drivers and alls well.

Funnily, there is STILL nothing in the BIOS that lists " sound "

Been through every menu in the bIOS and theres sweet FA.

But what the hey - its all working sweet, so dont give a hoot

Thanks buddy

krisboats · 14 Mar 2007 at 10:26

bonzo said:
Hi Inf - everything has worked out nicely. Downloaded the Soundmax drivers AND a new BIOS update - flashed it and installed the drivers and alls well.

Funnily, there is STILL nothing in the BIOS that lists " sound "

Been through every menu in the bIOS and theres sweet FA.

But what the hey - its all working sweet, so dont give a hoot

Thanks buddy

My Onboard sound option was hidden in my bios too. It was in the Integrated Peripherals section, under Onboard PCI Controller, which, when opened, Gave me the choice to enable my onboard ac'97 audio.

Guess its pointless now you've fixed it but just thought i'd share it with you

.