It's somewhat unusual to change a sound card in a laptop. They're often built into the motherboard. That's not to say it can't be done or wasn't done.

See link, it's for XP. Click the link below when the page loads wait for the pop -up window to appear, when it does click on fixit

Let us know if the fixit works.

The other thing is to look in your device manger, under Sound, Video, Game controllers to the left of that entry should be a + or arrow click it to expand the list your sound device name will be listed. You may even see an error there. If so right click on the name choose uninstall, reboot, windows should reinstall the driver for the sound device. That's probably what the automated fixit does at the link.

Here is a link that might be useful: .microsoft.com

Shax in answer to your question about posting the belarc, if you do be sure you x out any of your codes corresponding to your windows etc. your key codes are shown in those scans and that is not something you want posted publicly. If you copy and paste only the info on your specific sound info that would be fine.

On the report, what does it say under Multimedia?

I may be mistaken, but as I recall if there is no independent entry on the report for a sound card the system has as Mikie suggests an on-board sound card.

If under Multimedia there is an entry like Realtek, that is the sound driver.

DA

Belarc lists every on board sound device under multimedia from my experience. Looking at one now an old Compaq from the church it has on board sound and it's listed on Belarc, as Conexant High Definition Audio under Multimedia.

It makes so much more sense to go into Device Manger in windows for this particular issue, device manager will tell us the name of the sound device, it will indicate an error if one is present and give you the opportunity to uninstall it and reinstall the driver for the device listed.

Hmmm. Strange. Belarc says under Multimedia, "None Discovered", yet my Program Manager lists Realtek HD Audio (as working!)
After that, I'm lost!

Help appreciated.

Regards,
Shax

Here is a link that might be useful: My Computer

...yet my Program Manager lists Realtek HD Audio (as working!)

Go back into Program Manager, right click on the audio device and delete it. You may get some warning, just answer yes or ok. Reboot the computer and see if Windows reinstalls the driver.

If that doesn't work, trying downloading the driver that corresponds to your computer. From what I see there are several models in the M51S line (Se, Sn, Sr). You can find them here. Follow the corresponding instructions.

I'm also assuming you've checked the simple stuff like ensuring the volume is turned up and you didn't inadvertently hit the mute button.

This fix it from Microsoft will check the simple stuff automatically. See link.

Problems with sound and audio or no sound

This troubleshooter fixes many different problems.

Click the link and wait for the window Fix it to pop up, then click run now.

Here is a link that might be useful: support.microsoft.com

Did you try the on-board XP Help file? It has troubleshooters one of which is for sound.

DA

Well, thanks all for your advice, tried them all, but to no avail.
Am currently living/working in a small, dusty village in south of India, so IT help difficult to find! Will plug along silently...I guess if that's the biggest problem I have with this 'puter, life's pretty good!

Regards,
Shax.

It's interesting that you can't find any IT help in India. Here in America every time we call for support we talk to someone in India. :-)

Could be that the sound card has just failed. As I said, they are often integrated into the motherboard but it's possible it is a daughter card and replaceable. If you could find a tech manual for that specific model of laptop...

Also

"The number one reason for laptop sound to fail is for the speaker volume to be turned down or muted."

"If your sound card fails on your laptop and it's not a daughter card, it certainly isn't worth putting in a new motherboard, even if you can find one used. It's way too much work and you're likely to break something else, and there are plenty of work-arounds to a dead sound card."

"You can buy a USB sound card or a PC (PCMCIA) sound card, either of which will probably do a better job than the original integrated sound."

Here is a link that might be useful: Information

Yes, have checked volume controls/muting etc.

And while my nearest city is Bangalore, "The IT Centre of India", it's still a fair trek to a service centre. Which I'm going to have to do now anyway! Coupla days ago, I inserted a camera USB into a socket and the computer died instantly. Took 24 hours before I could start it again, then repeated the exercise with same result. Only this time, it won't restart!

Might as well get techs to check sound while it's in for repairs...

Regards,
Shax

When you say, "the computer died instantly," what exactly do you mean. The computer froze, simply shut off, or what? Is this first USB device you have tried? Do you have a corded mouse to see if the replicates the problem? Typically with USB devices you want to install the software before you plug in the device. Did you do that with the camera?

I might also suggest looking around Asus's site for update for the BIOS and/or chipset(s). This beginning to sound like something is amiss at the hardware level.

Mike,
it just died. Switched off instantly. No power. Black screen, no lights. And I had been using the same camera USB successfully for the previous few days. No point using a cord mouse, as I can't turn the computer on! And yes, the software was previously installed.

I took the computer to an Asus certified dealer last Friday, so expecting a result next couple of days.

Will let you know the solution if/when they do!

Regards,
Shax

Latest update...ASUS says I need a new motherboard, which will cost Rupees 13,000 ($300). Does that sound right? And if they replace that, I still keep OS and software and hard-drive data, yes? And could the faulty old motherboard be responsible for my previous lack of sound?

Regards,
Shax

Yes with fitting, yes and yes.

Quick update here...no sound with new motherboard, so I bought Driver Navigator scanned and downloaded 22 new/updated drivers!
Now I have sound....