is it possible for the sound card of a computer to be bad even though it says it is working properly in the device manager?Yes, Windows does not do a full diagnostic.Hiya.  I have just recently re-installed windows xp on my computer and ever since then i have had no sound.  The device manager tells me that it is working properly, but when i go to the sounds and audio section to try and bring some sound samples up, it shows no device detected.  I've tried to update the drivers for them but there are none better.  Should i try to re-install XP again?  I'm also not sure which is the sound device.  Here is the list of all the names under the sound, video and game controllers tab..Audio Codecs, Legacy Audio Drivers, Legacy Video Capture Devices, Media Control Devices, Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device and Video Codecs.  I'm PRETTY sure that the video one's have nothing to do with it, but I'm not familiar with sound devices and what they need to be able to work properly.  Sorry for the noob question 

thanxIn the device manager do any devices have a yellow question mark?
If so, all such have to be re-installed or removed. Any device that is not installed properly can interfere with the sound. Even video cards, in some cases.
You should not have to do the XP install over again. Instead, remove one to the suspect devices or update the driver.
Besides installing XP, you need to install whatever is needed for your motherboard chip set. Often nothing works right until you get that done. Did the  motherboard or PC come with an install CD other that the XP CD ?
Thanx for the quick response and yes there are a few that have yellow question marks on them under device manager.  Under other devices: PCI device, SM Bus Controller, Video Controller and Video Controller(VGA COMPATIBLE).  Once upon a time I had all the re-install CD's,  but I have lost them all.  This copy of Windows was given to me from a friend.I un-installed the files in question and installed them again, but only 2 have the yellow question mark now.  i tried to get updates for them, but that didn't work either.  There is nothing in Device manager about my graphics card specs either, so I'm wondering if the system is not fully recognizing the card.  I have downloaded the latest drivers for it also.Do you have the MBoard Driver CD for that machine ? ?Nope.  all I have is the OS disk.  I know my MOBO NAME and the chipset.  When i download the new chipset file, is there anything i have to uninstall for that update to work properly?.. thats the only thing i can think of at this point :/Here is a list of my DxDiag info involving my sound.

  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: DirectSound test results: Failure at step 3 (DirectSoundCreate): HRESULT = 0x8878000a (The REQUEST failed because DirectSound resources, such as the priority level, were already in use by another caller.)
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Sound Devices
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            Description: Modem #0 Line Playback (emulated)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID:
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 81
                   Type: Emulated
            Driver Name:
         Driver Version:
      Driver Attributes:
            WHQL Logo'd:
          Date and Size:
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider:
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Failure at step 3 (DirectSoundCreate): HRESULT = 0x8878000a (The request failed because DirectSound resources, such as the priority level, were already in use by another caller.)
Looks like you have a Voice/Fax modem. TALE it out of the computer (with power off). Reboot, remove any drivers for any sound devices. Reboot, windows may now 'discover' the right sound device and ask for drivers.
Later, put your, modem back in, if you need it.