For over six months now, I've been without sound on my desktop, running Windows XP Home, with SP2. All updates are current.

Sound is mobo SoundMax, on a Gateway, 1.4 MHz, with 384 MB RAM.

Speakers are fine, and there are no indications of any problems, except that no sound comes from the speakers.

Here's what I've TRIED : Updating the drivers; uninstalling all software that uses any sound (I don't use anything remarkable - just Finale NotePad, and GuitarCoach); I'm not a gamer, so there's nothing there; rolling back SP2; and installing an external USB sound device. I've also tried unistalling the devices, and re-booting, thinking PNP would pick it up, but it didn't.

When I GO to Control PANEL -> Sounds and Audio Devices Properties -> Audio; the only playback device that is available is Line #n Modem Playback (or something like that). Even when I had the USB external sound installed, it wasn't an available choice for sound playback. SoundMax Digital Audio should be there, but it isn't. It is available as a choice in other device properties. Disabling the Half Duplex device, gives me no playback options whatsoever.

Short of rebuilding the hard drive, isn't there something else I can do to get my sound back? All that I have done, tells me in my gut, that a setting is wrong - but where? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Old Salt
With the Soundmax device drivers installed, what appears in the device manager? Right-click My Computer-->Properties-->Hardware. Device manager-->Sound video and game controllers - what is listed in that SECTION?Devices are - Audio and Video Codecs, Legacy Video Capture devices, SoundMax Integrated Digital Audio, and Unimodem Half Duplex Audio Device.