the computer is has never had a soundcard since I've owned it. Installed soundblaster card, used its installation CD. New PCI device.. on startup- if I use that wizard it says it can't find driver, if I use autoplay and driver CD, it can't find soundcard. I'm pretty sure its in there correctly I've tried a couple of different PCI slots. In setup PNP is set to no but does that only matter for ISA? Please help, my son is losing what little faith he had in his mothers tech ability. spage

Not sure if it'll help - or even make any difference, but Windows is a Plug'n'Play OS, enabling that in the BIOS might be a good idea. Modern expansion cards are PCI and usually PnP - older ISA cards were not PnP, although it's possible some later ones were. Your work is both true and original. Unfortunately, the parts that are true are not original, and the parts that are original are not true.

For PnP to work correctly you must first install the drivers and then the device so when the system sees the new device it will go looking for the driver. Try removing the device from within Device manager, install or reinstall the driver and then attach the device. Start the machine thereafter. HTH Bryan

Try browsing the install CD and look for a "readtxt" file,which should have info on the installation. Some driver CDs do not auto install.

" older ISA cards were not PnP, although it's possible some later ones were." Some were. I have a Creative Labs Sound Blaster 16 bit ISA card and its PnP. The "name" of it is right on the tip of my brain but it just won't come forth right now. It's installed in one of my backup/experimental machines.

My SB32 is Pnp also Woof

Ok - 'show and tell' ; ) my USR Sportster is an ISA PnP (optional) Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience