VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[COURVO]

I was reconfiguring my computer for two monitors last night. That all went well, even though it meant unplugging everything, moving my computer box out of its compartment, adding the monitor cable, and then plugging everything back in.

Trouble is (and I didn't think much about it when it happened), when I plugged in the power source for my Aphex HeadPod, I noticed a little spark jump between the plug and the receptacle. The computer was off at the time.

Later, I noticed I had no sound.

My headpod was connected via an audio cable to my new Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum soundcard.

Now, my computer doesn't even show the X-Fi in my device manager (Windows XP SP3). It's as if the sound card doesn't exist...no recognition of its existence on my motherboard ANYWHERE.

Could the SPARK have done this?
Is the slot in the motherboard shot?....or is it the soundcard?
Is there any way to "reboot" a Soundcard?...a fuse perhaps?...circuit breaker?
Is there any way to check if it's completely goners?

I fear the worst.

CourVO
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Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV."

[Chuck Davis]

I'd try removing the card from the PC. Then re-seat the card and reboot. See if Windows then finds the card. If it was a good shot of static electricity you may have damaged the card, but a bit of fiddling with it could prove otherwise.

Good luck!
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

[Ed Gambill]

Dave

I have seen those sparks many times. They have yet to cause a problem for me or my gear.

In-Rush-Current is what is happening the very moment that you plug in the power cord. For a split second the primary winding of the power supply transformer is taking in electric. After the winding is saturated eith EMF (electro motive force) aka electricity things settle down. If the unit in turned off when you plug in the cord the likely hood of a spark is very much lessened.

Good luck with getting things up an running again.

Ed
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Esse quam videri "To be rather than to seem"
www.SaVoa.org No. 07000 Member AES

[louzucaro]

Chuck's advice is the same as what I'd have said: Turn off everything, take out the sound card, stick it back in, reboot.

And, like Ed, I've had it happen many times without permanent issue. Once, the little panel surrounding all the ports on the back of a PC wasn't in place correctly and it would spark EVERY time something was plugged in / unplugged. Had to practically rebuild the computer to get it to sit right and cut it out.
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Lou Zucaro
http://www.voicehero.com

"Well, yeah, there's my favorite leaf!"

[Chuck Davis]

The main problem with Dave's computer is....it's a computer.
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Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com

[Eddie Eagle]

[COURVO]

Thanks Chuck, Ed, Lou, Eddie....

Chuck, it worked like a charm!! Go figure.

I probably would've gotten to that sooner or later, but I was ready to launch into all other sorts of FAQ's, phone calls, support e-mails, and software suspects before I got down to checking to see if there was gas in the tank.

You guys rock!

.....and I really needed it, 'cause I got another job just this morning!

CourVO
_________________
Dave Courvoisier - Las Vegas, NV
http://www.CourVO.com
CourVO@CourVO.com
Courvo's "Voice Acting in Vegas" Blog: http://www.CourVO.biz
on your phone at courvo.mobi
702.610.6288
"I'm not a news anchor, but I play one on TV."

[Chuck Davis]

Excellent Dave. Glad it all worked out.

Now when you go to start the bike in hte morning...that's when you need to check that there's gas in the tank..or that the fuel valve's on.
_________________
Wicked huge.....in India.
www.chuckdaviscreative.com