no sound problem

[JohnF30]

Hi, I'm using a new Dell XPS 420 with Vista Home Edition Premium. I've hooked up my stereo using a mini-plug into the sound card line-in. At least I think I'm using the right input jack. My sound card layout doesn't match the diagram that came with the computer manual or comes with the Creative software either. But it's the grayish/blue jack and that seems to be the default color for line in. When I look up "sound device" in system information is says

Name Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM)

Manufacturer Creative Technology, Ltd.

Status OK

PNP Device ID PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_60021102&REV_00\4&1CF725D4&0&20F0

Driver c:\windows\system32\drivers\ctaud2k.sys (6.0.1.1281, 513.02 KB (525,336 bytes), 4/18/2008 11:05 AM)

 

Yet, I'm unable to play any music from the stereo and get it to come out of the speakers hooked up to the computer. The speakers work fine with internal software such as Windows Media Player so there's no reason to believe there's anything wrong with that part of the hook up.

I used this same line in cord and mini-plug on my Dell Dimension computer with Windows XP and it worked fine, so I don't suspect there's anything physically faulty with the wires or mini-plug.

How can I troubleshoot this problem? Could I hook up a portable radio to the line in jack and see if that gives me sound? Or an mp3 player? Nothing has changed between things working fine on the old computer and the new computer except for it being a different computer and sound card. How can I test the signal going to the mini-plug to be sure things are working to that point? Are there other tests I can do to verify that the sound card is actually capable of functioning with something plugged into the line-in jack? This has me stumped so far, and would appreciate any technical advice on how to troubleshoot this problem.

Larrydonline

[James]

i dont know what your saying.. but it sounds like you have bought a soundcard from a 2nd hand place. is it an old one or relatively new?

[MADcHATTER]

If I may venture a suggestion...

 

First yes, the blue plug is usually the Line In. But you need to make it Active in either the Windows Master Volume settings or in the SoundCards User Interface. Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM) is a SoundBlaster chipset usually integrated into motherboards. The driver is but one part of the package. You need to find the SoundBlaster control program and configure the Input port to be active. This will allow you to set a volume level in the Windows Master Volume settings. Check that first. I'm not sure in Vista if they have the little grey speaker in the taskbar like in XP, if they do dbl-click that then go to Options/Properties to see the selected controls. Find the Input and select it. That will add it to your Master Volume controls and give you a level control. If not, you may have to go thru your Control Panel/Sounds setup. You may also want to look there for the Soundblaster program User Interface.

 

Hope this helps.

 

MADcHATTER

[MADcHATTER]

If I may venture a suggestion...

 

First yes, the blue plug is usually the Line In. But you need to make it Active in either the Windows Master Volume settings or in the SoundCards User Interface. Creative X-Fi Audio Processor (WDM) is a SoundBlaster chipset usually integrated into motherboards. The driver is but one part of the package. You need to find the SoundBlaster control program and configure the Input port to be active. This will allow you to set a volume level in the Windows Master Volume settings. Check that first. I'm not sure in Vista if they have the little grey speaker in the taskbar like in XP, if they do dbl-click that then go to Options/Properties to see the selected controls. Find the Input and select it. That will add it to your Master Volume controls and give you a level control. If not, you may have to go thru your Control Panel/Sounds setup. You may also want to look there for the Soundblaster program User Interface.

 

Hope this helps.

 

MADcHATTER