My computer shut down by itself when I was updating some software and since then I have lost the use of some items. CD-RW, DVD-RW, Sound and Logitech Quickcam. They all had an "!" next to them in the device manager. I've resolved the CD and DVD issues from this newsgroup going into the registry and making some changes which removed all of the "!", but cannot get the sound to work or quickcam. In the Device Manager, no error is reported. However I have no sound at all. When I go in the "Sounds and Audio Devices" Control Panel, it says "No Audio Device" and all tabs are greyed out. I've uninstalled the sound drivers and reinstalled but it doesn't help, updated the drivers no help. Some added information. Also I get this message in the device manager, under the sound device properties. "Driver is enabled but has not been started"? Any idea how to change this without reinstalling Windows? I have Win XP Pro. MS-6565 (GNB Max)motherboard, 1 G PNY DDR 2100 RAM, Gainward Geforce4 TI4200 video and on board sound.

First of all make sure all sound settings in your bios are enabled. I suspect you put some incompatible software in and corrupted your files. Go to your device manager and delete all your sound devices. Then put your xp disk in and go to start run type in cmd at the prompt type exactly with the space between c / sfc /scannow that will fix the files. Then reboot and let xp install the proper drivers. That should fix it.

First of all thanks for your help, I tried your fix. It looked liked it copied files from the CD. Also it re-installed sound drivers on restart but still no sound. Checked bios and sound enabled.Same thing "No Audio Device" and "Driver is enabled but has not been started"? Any other suggestions??

start>control panel>admin tools> services scroll down to windows audio and double click to bring up properties. check that start up is set for auto >ok>apply see if that helps R.C.

I looked at this and it is on automatic setting. No luck. Dennis

I have exactly the same problem. It happens to be with onboard AC97 sound. And even when I BIOS disable the onboard sound, add a new sound card with new drivers, XP finds the new device OK, but all is still greyed out in the "Sounds and Audio Devices". It looks like some form of lock is being done when audio drivers are being installed, and if something goes wrong, it never gets cleared, and you cannot therefore install any other audio driver.... A complete system rebuild looks the only solution. ARRGGH! Any help would be appreciate before a complete day is wasted..

I've did the same thing! Disabled the on board sound, added a sound card and nothing! Everything looks fine but is still doesn't work. I've looked and looked on Microsofts support but cannot find anything remotely related... this is really a pain! If you fix it please send me an email. Thanks!