So all the sudden I get an audio problem; no sound. I check the device manager and there's an exclamation on the 'Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver'. I tried updating the driver = no good. The standard audio controls don't recognize any hardware plugged into the system, so I can't even change anything there.

I surfed around for anything related and can't find a straight answer to my situation. I installed my old sound card and disabled the microsoft driver. I can get sound from the card, but still can't control the sound from the basic system volume control, and now the 'microsoft' driver is gone from device manager so I can't enable it. After hours of trying to troubleshoot this thing I'm about ready to throw it out the window. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks fellas. :hs:

 

Delete all the sound drivers from Device Manager, then reboot and let Windows re-detect everything. If that doesn't cure it, you may be looking at a dead sound card.

 

That sounds extreme, since I don't think it's the card. What I did was get a home theater setup and wanted to use the 'optical out' on the motherboard. The card didn't come with the PC; I bought it for the Logitechs I picked up months back. So I uninstalled the software that came with the card, took out the card, and everything was working fine till last night. Still think I should delete all that from the device manager? What gets me is not even my webcam shows up in Sounds and Audio Devices in the control panel.

 

I would still give it a try. You're not going to be any worse off than you are now. Sometimes a fresh detection of hardware solves the problem.

 

Tried it and no difference. Those drivers reinstalled, but that Microsoft driver won't come back so that I can uninstall it. I disabled it and it disappeared, and I have no idea how to get it to come back. I tried finding the driver at the Microsoft site, and there's no download for it. Safe mode doesn't help either. I'm thinking a sledgehammer is in order.

 

format

 

did you try downloading the latest drivers from the manufacturer website?

 

Don't look at Microsoft for the driver, look at the manufacturer of the card, or motherboard if it's onboard.

Of course MS won't have it, it was most likely using one of the crappy default MS ones.

 

+ 1

 

I did check Sony for updates, and the only audio driver they have for my system is the SoundMax driver that I've already updated; separate from the MS one that had a 'yellow!'. I'll just try updating every driver they have for my model and see what happens. After that I'll have my buddy back home help me by remote to see if we can figure it out.

Format?! I would if I had a CD. I got a legit key that came w/ the system, but no CD. If I'm going to go through the trouble...

I started looking at bare-bones systems cause it just may be time to upgrade. It's a Pentium 4 2.8Ghz that I've had for 6 years or so. My 2 DVD drives are new so the less I need to buy for a new system the better.