Click here for the previous article in this series, which listed other comments from readers and helped with problems in locating proper sound card drivers.

What happens if you still can't find the sound software? Is all lost?

No, not necessarily. Sound manufacturers seem to have creative ways of naming and packaging their software. Perhaps that is why a major brand name is Creative Software!

Try the disk or diskettes labeled PnP. That stands for Plug and Play. It sometimes includes the sound software. (I know, you're asking why they don't label it in a more intelligent manner, such as Sound Driver. I wish I had a good answer).

In other systems, it might be in disks or diskettes labeled System, motherboard, MoBo, Recovery disks, or System Recovery Disks. If it's the latter option, check whether that System Recovery Disk has a selective recovery rather than a full recovery. A full recovery may overwrite your entire system so that your computer will be the same as when you bought it. The data and programs that were installed subsequently may be lost. A selective recovery may be able to fix your sound system without modifying anything else.

Finally, check that plug once more. Are you sure it's in the right jack? Is it pushed in all the way? It doesn't hurt to check for obvious things.

I'd like to thank those of you who sent in your ideas and suggestions. I hope to prepare more follow-up articles with additional ideas and suggestions. I also hope to be able to add articles about non-Wintel systems in the future.

Send your ideas to me, and let me know whether you want me to mention your name in future articles.

Click here to contact the author of this article.

Click here to read the first installment in this series.

Click here for other articles about caring for your computer.

Click here for an alphabetical list of articles by David Grossman

Click here for a subject list of articles by David Grossman