My sound started not working all of a sudden. I checked the normal things, and then I looked at the device manager, it had a thing next to it. I did the troubleshooting, and tried both uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers, and updating it. It's also telling me it couldn't find drivers or that it was corrupted.

So, I couldn't work that, I figure I'd tackle the other problem. There was a next to something that said COM4 in the ports section, so I thought I'd uninstall/reinstall it as well. Only when I went to reinstall, it didn't come up automatically like the other did, and I couldn't find it by searching.

If anyone could help, that'd be great, and my msn is invictus__@hotmail.com

XP? OS 10? OS 9? Linux?

Widows Xp Pro.

Richter has a laptop I think.. so XP or at least some form of Windows.

Edit: Ninja'd.

Start with System Restore. It's buried in an odd place. Open up the 'Help and Support' screen, it's on the right side, near the middle. Run the most recent restore point. If it's a corrupt driver, that'll correct it.

Dell Inspiron 8500, Windows Xp, the thingy comes up as Microsoft Kernel Wave Audio Mixer. No idea what that is.

Oh, ok.

Yay, it works! Thanks!

Any idea about the port? Since it's restored, it says "Multiport Communications Port (COM4)."

I think that's what it should say. Does it still have an error triangle?

Cool, I think I have a virus too! My system just started going nuts!

Like you lost control of your windows and stuff started freaking out? I had that issue before I updated Winamp. You might want to do a system scan for malware with a spyware program like Ad-aware or something.

You do have a pop-up blocker too, right?

I have almost nothing. I realized the free virus protection I had was doing me jack, so I removed it and was going to buy Norton, and it must have been providing Some protection...

I have no popup blocker, but I use Firefox, and I think I've got spyware as well.

Buy?? You're on DSL! You've paid enough.

If you're feeling illegal there's always Limewire or some other program for your "free" software needs.

Firefox should block your pop ups.. um.. make sure you update Windows constantly. Most you'll need is McAfee/Norton and Lavasoft Ad-aware (Which I think is free to use).

it's possible your drivers updated without your permission and
your computer just didn't like them. hence the need to rollback.

and download adaware and spybot for your spyware problems

I got rid of spybot, adaware, and the other one I had. They sucked.

I knew I had spyware, and they ALWAYS said I had nothing.

I'm getting Norton, and I always use firefox except when I click the email button from msn messenger.

My beef only with firefox is when I'm running four tabs (Lusternia Forums, Nexus client, Utopia, and Myspace), it's running in the 4-500,000k range. It's an insane memory whore. I can single-handedly lag my entire system. =\\

Adaware is good, but it's not perfect. Norton is okay, but it's nothing great, either. You will NEVER be safe from the malware. Infact, the only way to be safe is to just unplug your internet.

Sad that this may also save the credit market, eh?

If you want Norton to be effective, run it in safe mode once a week. Although, fair warning, Norton can and will delete system files. =\\

Ad-aware is doing better lately, but that's just my opinion. If it isn't picking up something then that's because it's actually been installed as a program. (Prime example. Yahoo anti-spy picks up Limewire because it's a media search program, which I've had no malware issues with, but ad-aware doesn't touch it)

You might want to go to Add-Remove Programs on occasion to see what you actually have as well. You might have something like Search123 or Ebates fussing with you too. Some things you do have to manually remove though.

I use McAfee though for my virus needs.. because I dislike ganking a Norton every year and having it not work with me.

One day when I'm working in the computer field I may buy legit programs.. maybe.

I'm running both McAfee and Norton right now. XD Because Norton came on it, and the school gives us a free McAfee.

I'm using Kaspersky Antivirus + Outpost Firewall + Ad-Aware.
No problems at all.

Wrong. Spybot + Adaware do wonders for me. If you know your infested, boot up in safe mode, and run them.