Strange blaster Z issue..

[Mach7]

I have a question that nobody seems to be able to answer.

I have Jetline systems computer that runs my sim that I purchased back in 2016. I'm running widows 7 and the system is not connected to the internet. This "offline" status was two fold as i do not have any antivirus software on this machine and I found Win 7 updates, (when they were available), would render one or more subsystems incompatible, forcing me to delete the update to get my pit up and running again.

Regardless the system has operated flawlessly for 10 years until a couple of days ago.

When I booted the computer I did not hear the normal windows start up "logon" sound and saw a text buttle that said "device driver download successful". Once the bubble was cleared I noticed that my Sound Blaster Z was not even recognised.

I reset the computer with the same result, then ran computer restore and restored my system to an earlier date and time. That didn't work either.

I shut off the computer then came back hours later and everything worked perfectly. I then restarted the computer again and again, with no issues with the sound or sound card.

I figured it was just a glitch until I tried the system the next day..and it didn't work, (no sound).and the associated "device driver downloaded successfully" text bubble.

Its sort of hit and miss now...sometimes i turn the unit on and it works with sound, sometimes i turn it on and it doesn't work with sound.

I tested the system a day or so ago and it didn't work, (no sound), then when i came back to night after being away for 2 days, it worked

Nothing else is effected by this issue...FS9 boots normally and all my subsystems function properly....just the sound card.

I checked all connections, with no issues found.

I initially thought it was downloading a new device driver that was not compatible, but dismissed that idea when i re confirmed the computer was not connected to the internet.

I call Jetline systems and they seemed a bit miffed as well. They suggested a new Sound card...but can a sound card go bad like that?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Jim

[KyleH]

...but can a sound card go bad like that?

Yes it can. Some component is beginning to go flakey after 10 years. Sounds like something is causing Windows to see it as new hardware at times.
It could also be the motherboard. Start with the cheaper components first.

[Mach7]

Thanks KyleH,

So here is the update. I bought a brand new sound card...the exact same one I have in there now, changed it out, (very easy), turned on the computer and it worked perfectly.

On initial boot up it advised of new driver installation, same bubble that was coming up when the old card tried to initialize, which tells me the card must have been working on and off, and also sometimes was recognized by the computer as "new: hardware.

cycled the computer on and off a number of times for 2 days straight and it still works perfectly.

The only problem now is the red led light that illuminates inside this particular card does not illuminate, and when I try and open the Sound Blaster SBX control panel the computer says it is not detected.

I can live with that as I never used the control board anyway, and I equate the failure of the red SB LED is because the sound board control panel cannot be detected by the computer.However when i go into the device settings the system says the card is functioning properly.