i've been without sound for a month or so. here are some of the problems and things i've noticed:

the volume control does not show up. the sounds & multimedia properties in control panel does not show an audio playback device. i reinstalled the original drivers that came with my HP. when i try to play an mp3, wav, or shn (compressed audio) file in winamp, i get this error- mmsystem002: a device ID has been used that is out of range for your system. windows media player will play the mp3s but still no sound.

i've tried removing all of the things in the control panel -->system-->device manager --> sound, video, and game controllers, then rebooting. that didn't work.

i was messing around with some of the system tests in norton systemworks 2001. there is a sound card test and it says "sound card is not present."

would a system restore or reformatting fix this?? is my sound card dead?? thanks in advance for any help on this.

my first option, since you've already spent so much time on this, would be to reinstall.
I know some would disagree but it eliminates so many things in one swoop.
This is of course assuming that you havent opened the case and done anything to the sound card itself...maybe upon reinstall you should take it out, then when EVERYTHING else is installed, switch the machine off and pop it back in and see what happens.

try this
back up your registry.
copy the registry back up cab file just to be safe so it won't get over written.

Registry Help

boot into safe-mode
goto the device manager
remove everything under sound, video and game.

open regedit
goto to the edit menu
slect find

type in
media\00

then use find next or f3

you'll most likely find keys under
control\MediaResources.

you see joystick, Midi, Mixer, etc.

remove the whole key that you find the media value in.
but do not remove the parent key
such as joystick, Midi, Mixer, etc.

the keys you remove should have the value of the key that they once corresponded to under.

HKey_Local_Machine\CurrentControlSet\Control\Media

on them
such as
msjstick.drv

hopefully that will work

if this ever happens again
restore a registry back-up right away.
that should take care of it I'd think.

as if you have system restore running you could try that if you have a restore point from before this started.

although I never had much luck with windows me system restore.

If this is to much right now just take a look in the registry.
then repost.

TheGorx - Windows Help

hello
the alternate methoud i to shut off computer,remove sound card,reboot,shut computer back off,install sound card,reboot,goto add new hardware.and use the wizzerd.