This was originally posted in December but I've been on holiday and my PC hasn't magically fixed itself while I was away (curses).

I recently ran Windows update including DirectX 9.0c, and since then I haven't been able to get any sound on my PC. This is not just WMP but all sound files. In WMP I'm getting the error message:0xC00D11BA: Cannot play the file, and this states that "there is a problem with your sound device, such as a sound card or sound controller." I checked in My Computer and Via AC'97 Audio Controller (WDM) was listed with no exclamation mark next to it. Checking under Properties, there were no hardware conflicts and it wasn't disabled. However, under "Sounds and Multimedia" everything was greyed. Also, there was no speaker icon on my desktop toolbar. I ran dxdiag.exe and this stated "No sound card was found. If one is expected, you should install a sound driver provided by the hardware manufacturer." Following other forum suggestions I reinstalled DirectX (and uninstalled Winamp, which was crashing). I also deinstalled the driver and had huge problems reinstalling it, but finally managed to reinstall one (Vinyl AC'97 Codec combo) directly from the Via website, which is recognised by my device manager but the rest of the problems still exist.

Tragically I don't have a system restore point prior to installing DX9.0c, so I can't install DX9.0b as someone had helpfully suggested.

Is there anything else I can try, to get my sound back?

HI,
If its recogising the card but still isnt working then you mustn't have the right driver package./or its not installed right.

If you kept a record of your right driver, try searching it up.
If you didnt, search up the original specs on your computer. Many sites list the original drivers it came with and you can download em from there. You can also eyeball the card to find out exactly what it is.
Lastly..when you take a driver off winme .. on the reboot it will put exactly the same driver BACK unless you force it to go to the driver you want. Win 98 didnt do this automatically but ME does and it can be a royal pain.
When making it take a driver.. always choose the specific driver. ( let me select the driver from a list)and make it take it.
Ya gotta shove it down its throat *S*
(remove it from device list first....
have the drivers ready and unzipped in a folder and know where it is...
on reboot ESCAPE out of the ADD harware screen that comes up.. and when you get to windoze go to the new hardware wizard and have it search it up and then MAKE IT EAT the driver *s*.. ok ?
Lastly..
youll find in start/programs/accessories/systemtools/system information... open it up.
By clicking on the different menu titles and then selecting a choice from the upper menu, you can print to a file ... all the drivers used on your computer ( once its working right) so you never have to rack your brain if this happens again.*w*

A computer is a perfectionist's nightmare.