I used the free version of Malwarebytes 1.44 - in general I've found it pretty good.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

I'm a SUPERAntiSpyware fan myself.

Check it out at http://www.superantispyware.com/index.html

There's a FREE version and a PRO version for Real Time blocking. They are identical except for the Real time for the PRO version. It can be set for program update scans to be checked every 8 hours and it has several sorts of Custom Auto-Scanning.

I don't think I'm alone in believing it's the best on the market. Apparently, so do 20M other users.

Try using 'FRIEND' as a Coupon to get yourself a 25% discount on the PRO

yes i have been using super anti spyware for a while now,
just done an update and they do offers like $9.95 to upgrade to pro,
as said the same but real time,
i have AVG real time,

My PC's just come back from repair with a new motherboard. Everything is working fine except for sound. I've done all the obvious checks - volume levels, cable connection, etc. but still no sound.

Doesn't have a dedicated sound card. On board sound is provided by the Intel MOBO D845GVSR AAC45439-30. When I look at the device manager, the audio device is certainly present. Can't figure out what's wrong. Any clues?

Have you checked the volume controls and there is a sound section to the control panel where the default sound device is specified.

Have you found the Realtek controls in Control Panel? It is a complicated beast. If it hasn't been installed that will be your problem.

Haystack, do you mean this?

Kayak, here's a screenshot of the Control Panel. Is it "Sound Effect Manager" you refer to? If so, I've played with it, still no sound.

Yes, it's that.

The mixer part is probably where it's going wrong, ensure that all volume controls are displayed, that none of the little speakers at the bottom are crossed (mute) and that Wave volume is high since most sound comes via the Wave control. Also that the drop down menus (source selection) are correctly set, sometimes they default to a voice modem if you have one.

Kayak, volume levels are all set to high. Source, as far as I can see is set correctly as I do not have an active voice modem. Quite puzzled by what's happening (or not happening!). Do you think it would help to uninstall the device driver and re-install it?

Thanks for your help.

Klal,

We had exactly the same problem this week with a brand new HP machine straight from the factory. It just wouldn't detect any speakers.

After much to-ing and fro-ing , we uninstalled the Realtek driver and re-booted the machine. On re-boot, the Realtek driver self-installed. We re-booted once more and, Hey Presto, it detected the speakers! It's currently fine.

Is that you posted in 8694 what comes up when you click on Sound Effect Manager? Cos it's quite different for me. I think you may have the basic driver installed but not the rest of the package.

Hillary, thanks for the info. I was contemplating doing the same thing. Will give it a go shortly.

Kayak, that screenshot is not from SE Manager. Here's what it looks like actually:

klal

Yes. It is the audio tab on that window. It is there that you choose ansd set the default audio device.

And at the bottom you tick 'only use defaut devices'

I've tried all the advice given here to fix the problem - still no sound. I've even downloaded the latest audio drivers for this MOBO without any luck. Guess the machine will have to go back for another fix. :-(

klal

Another thing to try is to remove the hardware item from the hardware list in the Device Manager window. Expand the sound devices and remove the one that looks like being for your sound device. Reboot the PV and the device should auto install. If not then do the Add Hardware in the Control Panel area. This should then find the sound device and reinstall it.

Thanks Haystack. Have tried that this morning. The device was recognised and re-installed by the system but still no sound! I know the speakers are fine as they work as normal when connected to my laptop. I guess it has to be something else that's the problem.

It's just a long shot klal but try looking in the BIOS (press Del on booting). There will probably be a setting to disable the sound function of the motherboard. I don't think that is your problem since the device wouldn't even show up if it was sent wrongly, but you never know, there might be another setting.

Thanks Kayak. The BIOS setting was one of the first I checked - it was and is enabled. One question though - would it make sense to try and update the "Audio Codecs" driver? I notice when I look at the properties for the codecs driver, it says the manufacturer is unknown - I thought it probably ought to be Realtek.