Don't shoot me!

[areolamay.livejournal.com]

Hi Everyone!

Okay, this is going to be easy for some and not so easy for me!

I've just pulled out of the depths of insanity - an "ancient" computer that for all intents and purposes - seems to be working a treat! Looking to donate for a tax relief.

Mind you:
Its running Win 98 and has a modem/sound card - Creative PCI - blah blah -
Basic as you can get.
Now for some reason, it won't play any sound! The basic CD player will play - but no sound. None of the windows .wav files will play, the speaker icon is not in the fixed bottom task bar - but Hardware profile says all are working!

FTW? Any suggestions? I've removed things and reinstalled - still to no avail.
Nothing is flagged in the hardware profile as - "not working" -

I've got speakers attached - the system just doesn't seem to recognise they are there.

I would be ever so grateful for any suggestions.
Keep smiling

H

Comments

[mouser.livejournal.com]

I bet it would make a GREAT sound if flung from the top of a building! Being that it's W98, that's what I'd do with it, anyway...

[kenbrody.livejournal.com]

No, silly mouser. His copy of Win98 has just gotten tired after all these years. Upgrade the system to Vista, and it'll be rejuvenated.

[snarl817.livejournal.com]

The sound chip probably doesn't have enough power. Try connecting it to a wall outlet with a power cable (just cut the end off of a spare, wrap -or solder- the bare ends to the sound chip). It should give it enough power. If it doesn't, try connecting it to the outlet for your stove or dryer. You may need to get the parts to build the adapter from Home Depot.

[tallanvor.livejournal.com]

No no no... The computer needs more voltage! They should flip the switch on the power supply from 110 to 220! That's sure to get it the necessary power!

[jon787.livejournal.com]

Boat anchor?

Doorstop?

Paperweight?

Re: shut it the sad lot of ye

[metao.livejournal.com]

To the OP: I know youve realised that most of the comments so far are just flaming you for being in the wrong community, but I dont think this one was. I mean, Windows '98? If its a higher-end machine for the time, it might be useful as a media centre somewhere. Otherwise, its time for this hard worker to be put to sleep.

Personally, Id go for "slim-line coffee table".

[glassarchitect.livejournal.com]

The second and third. Only powermacs and imacs are good for boat anchors. The have the convenient handles.

Re: shut it the sad lot of ye

[phrogg.livejournal.com]

Bummer. And before i got my fun in, too. *chuckle*

Good on ya for realizing the mistake, though. Not all our "guests" are so clever.

[falnfenix]

*sighs*


when, oh when will people learn to actually READ the community profile before JOINING??!?

[areolamay.livejournal.com]

When you learn how to create a decent icon.
You speck.

[usekh.livejournal.com]

Keep smiling
We're in tech support. We don't smile

[areolamay.livejournal.com]

then you should at least laugh.

[indigo-max.livejournal.com]

ROFL ... Oh my how many times I wanted to post that sentiment on some stupid easy to look up query (IE, "anyone know the number of the nearest widget store near me?")

Max...

[sdaemon.livejournal.com]

the CDaudio playing circuitry on those old cards is all analog, and doesn't require any driver support. it sounds to me like a driver issue.

oh wait forgot, not supposed to be helpful here. sorry, I'm new.

uhm...it sounds like your system is just thirsty. try giving it a glass of water, or maybe a can of coke.

[vortex.livejournal.com]

Too late!

Someone clued them in before we could get started...

[bitterfun.livejournal.com]

Your speakers might be broken. Try plugging them in directly to an electrical outlet. You may have to strip the ends for this test. If you hear a faint beeping then you know the speakers are working and that the sound card maybe outdated.

[taleya.livejournal.com]

Sell it on ebay.

And a good way to test the sound - make sure that you have "show speaker icon in tray" selected...and that you haven't got it muted. And make sure you have the speakers plugged into the right port. It should be the green one.

That said, wrong comm, as you may have gathered :P Take my advice and bow out gracefully, comment flounces and post deletion will only increase the mockery...

[areolamay.livejournal.com]

you too have a sad icon.
enought with the "it thinks it's people" shite.


grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[jjjiii]

Bang!

[brothersterno.livejournal.com]

HEY LOOK! YOU HAVE A ROUTER! just pitch a second NIC in there and learn some routing!

Otherwise, pay the damn disposal fee, no one wants a decade old computer.

[caerleon.livejournal.com]

Whaddya mean no one wants a decade old computer.. that's *modern* that is..

[heinousbitca.livejournal.com]

[jecook]

*steals and adds pic to collection*

[jecook]

I'd post something snarky, but I just finished dismantling a 5'*12' brick paver patio in preperation to level it and reinstall it *correctly*, and I just don't have the energy to do it.

These kids all need to get laid (including myself)

Love,

You humble (and tired) moderator

[taleya.livejournal.com]

Speak for yourself :D

The only problem is my other half is a programmer, and thus every bit the embittered smartarsed bastard I am. The snark flies thick in our house...

[ravenofdreams.livejournal.com]

What is it, like once a week that someone does this? Does no one read the comm info before clicking that join link? They're on the same page, for cripessakes!

[areolamay.livejournal.com]

pish posh -
If no one did that periodically, you lot wouldn't have anything to reply to.

[variablerush.livejournal.com]

Um, have you tried finding and installing AC97 drivers? They're compatible with just about everything. You just have to find the ones for Win98.

[manuka.livejournal.com]

I work for a nonprofit org.

Please do us all a favor and throw this thing in the trash. We can't really do anything with it either. Considering that its donation value is probably under $20, it's not even worth bothering with for the tax deduction. We have to spend an awful lot of volunteer hours sorting through the heaps of CRAP machines that get donated to us to come up with anything even remotely usable.

It's worth a hell of a lot more as Office Space style sledgehammer therapy than it is as a tax deduction.

Oh, and try reading the community info next time.

[hiroe.livejournal.com]

I call dibs on the processor and ram.

[irishmasms.livejournal.com]

It will run BSD and/or Linux...




(http://www.fuckinggoogleit.com/)


GTFG (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=gtfg&r=f)

[ohmyhead.livejournal.com]

DamNATION! I am LATE!! And who's the person that alerted the OP that they were in the wrong place? Wasn't there a whole super-discussion about banning the spoiler? Was it metao this time?

Meanwhile, I focus on the post at hand. And I suggest that the tech take the problem machine into the tub to see if the sound issue occurs under water.

[kalifla.livejournal.com]

This is an amazing thing to wake up to. I love this community.