Author Topic: Made a HUGE mistake (Read 773 times)

United · « **on:** July 19, 2004, 11:06:30 AM »

I get my new PC in the mail. I go to set it up, everything works great, except for sound. So, I try to do a few things and activate the sound card(Sound Blaster Live! 5.1). In doing so, i make a big mistake and delete it from the PC, so now the PC doesnt recognize the hardware. I read that the only way to fix this is to redo the entire PC. So, not knowing exactly what Im doing because im an idiot, I pop in the WindowsXP reinstallation CD. I redo that, and now ive run into a bigger problem.

After redoing the PC and turning it back on, I now how no programs loaded, the internet doesnt work, and the sound still doesnt work.

So now ive got a $1200 dollar paperweight.

Is there any way to fix this? (the computer, not my stupidity)

Also, in the hardware management section it says that the ethernet connection drivers are not loaded, and I cant find where those are so I can install them.

Im the biggest idiot out there...

boxboy28 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2004, 11:56:23 AM »

i need to know more about the specs if its a DELL was it a package thing (is there a model name and #)

Internet connection issue! Drivers should be onthe mother board CD or the Dumb dell CD. goto :

Start
settings
control panel then goto system
there click on hardware then device manager.
Once there click on "newtork adaptors"(the (+) sign next to it.
then "right click" on the ether net card listed (im assuming your using enther net not a modem)
and goto update driver. the driver should be either onthe windows CD or the MOBO CD (your gonna have to look thru them to find it, Windows might have a generic driver for it)

Once you get connected to the net goto DELL and get the drivers they have, But since its a dell you should be able to call there stupid guys in customer support- LOL)

as for the sound card do the same thing nad see if the drivers are loaded, if not your sound card im sure came with an istallation disc which should have the drivers on it)

Now getting into the Bios ya have to do when you first start the computer, usually its down by hiting the DELETE key or F5 (something like that , look when the system is starting on the start screewn some where it should say "TO ENTER SET UP PRESS (what ever key)"
when you go in dont change a thing accept for the "ONBOARD sound" if thats what you have! (your gonna have to look the the menu to find it) i would make sure you turn it "OFF" or to automatic (if its on Automatic turn it off)

for the IRQ stuff :
goto
Programs
accesories
system tools
system info
then conflict/sharing or the IRQ link look to see if more than one thing is using the IRQ the sound card is on! if it is move your sound card to a different slot.

this is just a quick basic thing to look at I hope it might help ya but till i know more about the system thats all i can throw at ya!

United · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:14:55 PM »

Thats some good stuff there, but I dont think that is the problem.

The computer is not acknowledging that the sound card exists, so its just like I dont have one in there.

I did the first thing you said and there wasnt a network adapters thing anywhere. im running on a Linksys Cable router and modem if that helps any.

With the installation disk on the sound card:
It is absolutely useless since the computer wont acknowledge the sound card exists. Every time I load it it comes up with an error message saying that there is no sound card.

I tried all of what you said and nothing changed, or at least nothing I know of.

Heres my PC specs:
Dell GX270 Optiplex (not sure of model #)
3.2GHz P4
2048MB 333MHz DDR Ram
128MB NVIDIA Geforce FX5200
120GB SATA 7200RPM Hard Drive
3.5inch, 1.44MB Floppy
Windows XP Pro
Integrated Intel Gigabit NIC
48x32 CD-ROM and CDRW/DVD
Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Digital sound card

Thanks for your help.

:edit: Also, the network: The computer wont recognize that the cable network is plugged into it either, so the internet doesnt work on it at all.

B17Skull12 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:20:21 PM »

redownload the soundcard software from the companies website.

LePaul · « **Reply #4 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:28:20 PM »

I certainly dont mean to sound insulting....but have you called Dell Tech Support (the fine elephant herders of India are probably manning the phones...)

The reason I ask is asides us guessing and comparing setups, Dell's folks will know first hand what motherboard, chipset etc is all in there.

MOIL · « **Reply #5 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:29:34 PM »

United: "So now ive got a $1200 dollar paperweight"

Lemme get this right, you spent $1200 on a new system and you got a sound blaster 5.1 sound card ? On purpose?

I would contact the Dell genius' and have them diag it.

~~P.S. And no you're NOT an idiot;)~~

United · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:34:05 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MOIL
United: "So now ive got a $1200 dollar paperweight"

Lemme get this right, you spent $1200 on a new system and you got a sound blaster 5.1 sound card ? On purpose?

I would contact the Dell genius' and have them diag it.

~~P.S. And no you're NOT an idiot;)~~

Actually no I didnt, I got the PC in the mail yesterday and saw that it was in there. I fugured, "heck, why not." So, i come down this morning and try to get to work on it and all this stuff happens.

Im trying to get it done without having to contact Dell (bad past experiences), but I think im going to have to.

Skull, I dont have internet accesss on the new PC, so I cant download new software onto it.

MOIL · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:35:04 PM »

LePaul: "....but have you called Dell Tech Support (the fine elephant herders of India are probably manning the phones...)"

This is the truth too, let's take an American company, that the US helped make big and very profitable.
Then instead of giving our boys here in the USA jobs, we'll move ALL the tech support to barely English speaking India:rolleyes:

Ask me again why I can't stand Dell and thier lousey products!

No offence to United;)

United · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:38:27 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MOIL
Ask me again why I can't stand Dell and thier lousey products!

No offence to United;)

Heh, this is the first full system Ive bought from Dell, and by the way its going for now Im not gonna buy another from them. i would much rather have built my own, but as you can see I know absolutely nothing about PCs and would not do any good at all building my own.

MOIL · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:42:26 PM »

United: "Im trying to get it done without having to contact Dell (BAD PAST EXPERIENCES), but I think im going to have to.

I hear ya brother

MOIL · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:45:18 PM »

United,

If you need help or have questions I would be more than happy to give you a hand.

United · « **Reply #11 on:** July 19, 2004, 12:46:40 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by MOIL
United,

If you need help or have questions I would be more than happy to give you a hand.

Id love it. Shoot me an email, b_nicely_united@yahoo.com, and hopefully I (err.. you more than likely) can get it working again.

LePaul · « **Reply #12 on:** July 19, 2004, 01:04:54 PM »

I didnt mean to have this turn into a Dell Sux thread...I've had their servers and they are very good. Their pre sales and server techies are good folks. As to the jobs they've sent overseas...well, complain...I know some companies are starting to bring the jobs back based on not-so-great-savings and customer complaints.

I hope you get your system figured out, United...otherwise, return it...I think your window for a refund is very very short (we have a Dell call center near here in Maine)...and thye'll give you a lot of toys for you to keep it from coming back (digital cameras, PDAs, printers...who knows).

If you get a refund and opt to look for some really cool gaming eqiupment, check Alienware out

Roscoroo · « **Reply #13 on:** July 19, 2004, 01:17:47 PM »

at least it aint a compaq ((((( shudder )))))

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #14 on:** July 19, 2004, 01:21:30 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul
I didnt mean to have this turn into a Dell Sux thread...I've had their servers and they are very good. Their pre sales and server techies are good folks. As to the jobs they've sent overseas...well, complain...I know some companies are starting to bring the jobs back based on not-so-great-savings and customer complaints.

I hope you get your system figured out, United...otherwise, return it...I think your window for a refund is very very short (we have a Dell call center near here in Maine)...and thye'll give you a lot of toys for you to keep it from coming back (digital cameras, PDAs, printers...who knows).

If you get a refund and opt to look for some really cool gaming eqiupment, check Alienware out

ALIENWARE????????? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!
They are the reason I started building my own. I bought the latest, greatest 3 years ago from them with 3 year "ON SITE" warranty. Motherboard failed after 6 months and they were great. Fed-exed mobo and PSU to Hawaii and a contract tech came to my house and replaced them, as promised. Six months later same failure. I found that I knew much more bout puters than their tech supp. Researching AMDMB forums, I found many others with this mobo problem. At first they refused to fix my box at home again, saying they didn't do major repairs on-site anymore even though my contract said they had to. After many days of arguing with supervisors, they decided an on-site repair was cheaper than an on-site Lawsuit. I also convinced them to send their current Asus Nforce board as a replacement so it wouldn't fail again in 6 months. I took the Alienware to Guam and built my first box based on an MSI Nforce board. Later I upgrade that one to my sig box and took those parts to upgrade the old Alienware.

NO MORE PREBUILTS for me.