Strange Sound Problem
 

I reformatted and re-installed Windows XP (Home) about a week ago. Since then I've updated all the drivers, re-installed everything, the usual. Well, I finally get around to installing Winamp and notice that my speakers don't want to work.

I have already updated the drivers, so I go back and install an older driver to see if they would work then, they don't. I re-installed the newer driver. I then go into the control panel and mess around with about every single sound setting I can find, and that does nothing.

Everything physically is hooked up right, I've checked it and reconnected everything far too many times.

Any help would be apprieciated :(

Specs:
1.4 ghz Athlon
Creative Soundblaster Live!

Are you talking about rear speakers?
If so enable Hardware Acceleration in Directsound Output.

No, I mean both my speakers and subwoofer.

do you get ANY sound at all, even hissing or regular speaker noise? if not, that'll be a connection problem. if you do get speaker noise but no real sound (i.e., music, etc.), then that would most likely be a setting or configuration problem.

do the speakers not work when you have winamp playing, or do you get nothing at all?

i know with the speaker/subwoofer setup i've got (altec lansing), the speakers are hooked up to the sub. if the cable isn't plugged in all the way, i get no sound at all....

make sure it's not set to digital output only.

Bingo. That's what happened to me when I installed my Creative 5.1 system last year. When I had it set to digital all I got was some weird noise at low volume.

If that doesn't work, try a different set of speakers, just stick a set of headphones in the jack and see if that works.