I need a good diagnostic tool for Windows XP.

[Raj Ahten]

I know I have a real issue with my computer. I even know what it is. A while back I erased everything and reinstalled windows. The only problem is my sound card drivers were erased in the reboot and for quite a while now I have been without sound. (I didn’t use a system restore disk that would have likely had the drivers on it. That disk is lost to time.) I need a piece of software that will tell me what the hell type of soundcard I have so I can find I driver for it on the internet. It is some kind of crappy built into the motherboard type that came with my dell.

[Joviwan]

http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html

I've used this a few times, and when it couldn't outright list what I had, it pointed me enough in the right direction to suse it out myself. Only irritation is that it puts an icon or two on your desktop when you run it, even after you clear them out. Otherwise, it's clean.

[phongn]

It is some kind of crappy built into the motherboard type that came with my dell.

Go do Dell's website, input your model and it should have a section with the audio drivers. Windows Update might also work.

[Argosh]

Everest Ultimate Edition trial.
It'll show you pretty much everything about your PC you'd want to know.

[Raj Ahten]

It is some kind of crappy built into the motherboard type that came with my dell.

Go do Dell's website, input your model and it should have a section with the audio drivers. Windows Update might also work.

That did the trick for me and everything is functioning properly again. The solution was so simple its a bit embarrassing that I didn't think of it .

Thanks to those who gave their advice.

[Braedley]

http://www.zhangduo.com/udi.html

I've used this a few times, and when it couldn't outright list what I had, it pointed me enough in the right direction to suse it out myself. Only irritation is that it puts an icon or two on your desktop when you run it, even after you clear them out. Otherwise, it's clean.

Seconded. Although I prefer this link.

Also, as said before, go to Dell's website. It's actually one of the few things they do half well.

Another option is something like this.