The non-profit preschool I work at was donated some computers and I can't get the sound to work. All is there is a yellow question mark by multimedia audio controller. How do I figure out what I need for a driver. No make or model on these computers. I think they were just some workstations.

Help!

Sometimes you can just select "update driver" and it will find it for you, but I've never had much luck with sound cards.. sound cards can be a pain in the butt to get working - I bought 3 cheap sound cards for my PC that didn't work!

1. Open up the casing and remove the sound card (you'll need a small screwdriver).

2. Copy down all the information written on the sound card - you'll probably just need the make and model.

3. Put the sound card back in (press it home firmly until it is flush, but don't force it!).

4. Search for the driver on the internet - you should be able to find the correct driver on the sound card manufacturer's website, or alternatively you could find it on a driver guide site.

5. If the driver doesn't work; uninstall it, restart the computer and try again.

6. If the sound card just won't work; remove it, uninstall the driver, and use the onboard sound card - there is usually a sound card built in; you may need to reactivate it in the BIOS settings (the start up screen that appears briefly when you first turn on the PC - it's not complicated, but read an internet guide to using the BIOS if in doubt).

If you know it is the correct driver, it could be an "OEM" sound card (I had that problem) and you will need to quote all the information on the sound card to get a compatible driver.

IS there a way to get the info from a desktop that is the same that has working sound?

Only if it has the same sound card, but I don't know how to copy a driver that has been installed.

Honestly, the simplest way to fix the problem is to take out the sound card and write down the make and model - it won't take long to find a driver. To find the driver on the internet, just use Google and type in something like "download Soundblaster driver" - or whatever the name of your soundcard happens to be. It will only take 10 minutes to find one.


If the computers all have the same sound card, you can easily copy the driver to the other machines.

By the way, you can find the make and model of the computers by clicking on "view system information (click start, then my computer).

the non-profit preschool I work at was donated some computers and I can't get the sound to work. All is there is a yellow question mark by multimedia audio controller. How do I figure out what I need for a driver. No make or model on these computers. I think they were just some workstations.

Help!
You have to find out the name of the motherboard,in order to download drivers for this motherboard which will include the sound driver,margaret

Check if the computers are using onboard sound or have sound cards,if it is onboard then you need the motherboard driver,if it is sound cards then you need to take down the sound card details and download a driver from the internet,check the other computers to see if they have the same sound card,if so just run the sound driver on them all.margaret:)

the non-profit preschool I work at was donated some computers and I can't get the sound to work. All is there is a yellow question mark by multimedia audio controller. How do I figure out what I need for a driver. No make or model on these computers. I think they were just some workstations.

Help!
I would suggest you down load Belarc Advisor from the internet. Run the program and it will give you a list of the computer profile summary. From the information you can then narrow down your search for the specific drivers you need for the installed mother board.

I agree with Belarc Advisor, it will tell you to its best ability what you have. Then you can try to find the drivers on DriverGuide.com (printer drivers, cdrom drivers, modem drivers, sound drivers, mouse drivers, monitor drivers, etc.) - DriverGuide.com (http://www.driverguide.com)