Last week i downloaded a microsoft update for the sound as the speakers I was using was sounding like the chipmunks but when it downloaded the sound just stopped. Thought it might have been the speakers so bought Logitechx-140 but to no avail. Having had a look round there is this exclamation mark on the C media AC97 audio device. I cannot get rid of this and also my equalizers etc have gone missing. How do I fix this before I crack my lid!! I have tried scanning for hardware changes and rolling back the driver but not working.
Thanks in advance
could be the audio chip has failed. mine did that, sounded like garbage and there was nothing i could do. ended up buying a soundcard from staples and disabling the onboard sound - now it works like a charm.
do you have a sound card in another computer you can pull out to test? otherwise you can get them for like 20 bucks.....
hardware
prices 
I have tried scanning for hardware changes and rolling back the driver but not working.
