No Audio Device - Dimension 2400

Two things.

1.  Check the BIOS (Setup) and make sure the Integrated Audio (May be labeled Legacy Audio) was not accidentally disabled in the BIOS.

2.  Download and install the Intel Chipset Drivers and then install the Dell sound drivers.

A few more things to try,  but can't say if it will help or not. 

1) Something simple but sometimes overlooked:  in Control Panel - Sounds tab,  see if you can change the default audio device in the pulldown menu.

2) System restore may be worth a try if you can get it back to when the sound was working.  Not a fix per se as much as a way to trace what actually caused the problem in the first place - could've been the registry fix, but could've been something else.  I've seen other posts where SP3 occasionally does things like this (but with no definitive solution).

3) In Device Manager, right click and uninstall the sound device (possibly listed as Soundmax or ADI), then reboot and let Windows reinstall it.  This may get Windows to recognize it again properly.

4) I'm not familiar with the Firewire 410, but if the drivers and software are still installed that may be causing a conflict.   Try uninstalling all traces of it from Add/Remove and Device Manager.  You may want to boot into Safe Mode - Device Manager - Show all hidden devices.  It may also help to uninstall/reinstall the Firewire card itself in Device Manager.

I forgot to list it but I have checked the bios. Intergrated sounds is an on or off choice and it is on.  Can you tell how to know what chip set drivers I would need?  Is that info in the bios or device manager or somewhere else?

Thanks for the reply! I will have to check on these things when I get home later.

Thanks for the feedback!

1)  Yes, I did that - went to the default windows scheme - pretty sure the problem is deeper than that

2) I have done a restore - did not help.

3) I did uninstalled and reboot - it didn't work but I may try again just for fun... I have heard people say as I have searched other forum that sometimes this problem maigcally goes away - which in reality is something was finally done right and the reboot brought all back together...

4) I have not uninstalled the software for the m-audio firewire - I think I did a reinstall of the latest drivers..... wait - yes that did an uninstall first. I am trying to leave the firewire out of it for now - just hoping to get the basic intergrated card to work again and then try the firewire device again. But, as you say - add remove and device manager - all traces - I have not done that and will try that.

Thanks!

There is only one "chipset" driver - the Intel Chipset Driver - listed on the Dell downloads for the 2400.  The chipset drivers define what is on or attached to the motherboard, among other functions, and if the Chipset Drivers are corrupted you won't be able to install any sound drivers. 

HERE is the chipset drivers download.

HERE is the Integrated Audio driver download.

Awesome - thank you very much - I will try that as soon as I can.

fireberd:

There is only one "chipset" driver - the Intel Chipset Driver - listed on the Dell downloads for the 2400.  The chipset drivers define what is on or attached to the motherboard, among other functions, and if the Chipset Drivers are corrupted you won't be able to install any sound drivers. 

HERE is the chipset drivers download.

HERE is the Integrated Audio driver download.

I downloaded and installed the chipset driver and then I did the Integrated audio driver.   I still have the same error message - "No Audio Device"

I also uninstalled the M-Audio software. Still no luck. 

Any further suggestions?  I do appreciate the help.

fireberd:

There is only one "chipset" driver - the Intel Chipset Driver - listed on the Dell downloads for the 2400.  The chipset drivers define what is on or attached to the motherboard, among other functions, and if the Chipset Drivers are corrupted you won't be able to install any sound drivers. 

HERE is the chipset drivers download.

HERE is the Integrated Audio driver download.

The firewire device should not cause the problems you have.  I have an Alesis io26 Firewire recording interfact (8 channels) that I use with Sonar 8 for recording.  Whether it's connected or not has no bearing on my SoundBlaster sound card (except the Alesis is both my input and output device with Sonar 8). 

Did you check the BIOS, to make sure the Integrated Audio is enabled?  If it happened to get disabled you wouldn't have an "audio device".

Yes, the bios setting for the integrated sound is a simple on or off choice and it is "on".

fireberd:

The firewire device should not cause the problems you have.  I have an Alesis io26 Firewire recording interfact (8 channels) that I use with Sonar 8 for recording.  Whether it's connected or not has no bearing on my SoundBlaster sound card (except the Alesis is both my input and output device with Sonar 8). 

Did you check the BIOS, to make sure the Integrated Audio is enabled?  If it happened to get disabled you wouldn't have an "audio device".

Go to the Device Manager, uninstall the sound in the Device Manager (regardless of it's status).  Restart the PC and Windows will (should) detect and reinstall the sound.  If this doesn't fix it, my suggestion is to run the Windows XP "Repair" from the Dell Windows XP CD.  Repair is similar to an install except you select Repair instead of install/reinstall.  If the Operating System is corrupted it can cause devices to not work properly. 

Thanks  - I did already do that to the soundmax "device".  It had no error but I did it anyway.  Should I do that to everything in the sound area in device manager? 

I  backed everything up so I guess I am at that point of using the install CD. I did not realize I could only use a repair feature so I will do that before reinstalling XP. 

When I was talking to M-Audio they had me look for IRQ conflicts... there is some sharing but no reported conflicts.  My understanding is that a reinstall of XP helps sort all of that out.

Another option I have considered is paying Dell the $49 to log into it check it over - do you think they would have any luck?

fireberd:

Go to the Device Manager, uninstall the sound in the Device Manager (regardless of it's status).  Restart the PC and Windows will (should) detect and reinstall the sound.  If this doesn't fix it, my suggestion is to run the Windows XP "Repair" from the Dell Windows XP CD.  Repair is similar to an install except you select Repair instead of install/reinstall.  If the Operating System is corrupted it can cause devices to not work properly. 

Please post the solution if you find one. I am having the same problem. I've checked the Device Manager for Audio and it has no device listed, and everything is greyed out.  I can hear modem sounds from the computer, but just no sound from speakers and cannot play music CDs in CD drive.

I will second that request! I, too, have been struggling for the past 4 months with the same problem. I had to re-install my operating system after getting a virus. Ever since then, I also have "No Sound Device". I've spent hours on the phone with Dell Technical Support to no avail. Ended up purchasing a new computer but still need this one for work. It sounds like this is a common problem with the Dell Dimension. PLEASE POST A SOLUTION IF YOU HAVE ONE!! Thanks a million.

We solved the problem by going to the Dell Support SIte for the 2400, Drivers and Downloads, and downloading and installing the updates listed there for the computer. They are installed in the order listed, I believe it's chip set, bios and then audio. Restart after each one.