How hard is it to install a sound card on a PC?

My Sound Card went out and I am thinking of replacing it myself. It will be very basic simple sound card. I have worked on my PC very little and don't want to get in over my head, but can't really afford to pay a computer guy 85.00 an hour to install it for me. I am, however, great at following directions. Do you think I could do it myself, or should I leave it to the pros?

How hard is it to install a sound card on a PC?
Nah, it's very easy, and you can do it yourself. Just do the following:





1. Open up your computer case





2. Locate a free PCI slot of your motherboard (it'll look like this http://www.hothardware.com/reviews/image... )





3. Remove the slot cover on your case that corresponds to the slot your installing the card in (http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/7179/... )





(Note: If you're removing a existing sound card, just replace the old one with the new one, and skip steps 2 and 3)





4. Take the new sound card, and push it firmly but gently into the slot until it snaps into place. Hook any internal cables that were attached to the old card to it.





5. Secure the card to the case with a screw if need be (not all cases require that you do this)





6. Close your case





7. Start up your computer, and install the driver for the card off of the CD that came with it








And that's it! Enjoy your new sound card. :)
Reply:You're very welcome. Merry Christmas to you too! :) Report Abuse

Reply:If you can operate a screw driver and are able to use your hands, you can do it yourself. I have had my 10 year old build computers from start to finish with very little assistance. Simply purchase the correct card, mostly PCI type and open case and install in a PCI slot and hook up your CD (sound) into the new card. With your Motherboard manual in hand, turn on your computer and access the Bios and turn of the on board sound if it did not have a sound card installed. Once it boots up for the first time it will auto detect the new card and you should install the drivers (new card disks).
Reply:pop it in and and install drivers, no problem.
Reply:Computers now-a-days are pretty easy.


You could do it yourself in less than 20 min's.





Just buy the one you want, turn off the computer, unplug it, remove the cover, find the old sound card.


Remove the wire attached to it.


Unscrew it, pull it straight out.





Replace with the new one. If you look at the slots on the card and the motherboard, you'll see where it goes.


Attach the wire to the new card.


Tighten the screw back.


Plug in the computer


Start the computer up and it should say 'new hardware found"


Please insert disk "the one that came with the card"


Follow the directions and your up and running again.


Once everything works put back the cover and tighten all screws.
Reply:Buy sound card, uninstall old sound drivers, place sound card in the computer slot, install new sound card drivers. There you go.
Reply:If you can locate the sound card inside of your computer, then it should be a piece of cake. Locate the old card, take it out (disable it if it is onboard) Put in the new card in the same slot or another slot, power up your computer and insert the disk that came with the card to install sound drivers. Your computer should tell you that installation is successful and you are all set!
Reply:Go to device manager, uninstall the sound card. Shutdown the computer.


Open the computer, you can see the old sound card by the slots for mic, speakers and audio in jacks.


Remove the screw that fixes it, remove the sound card and plug in the new sound card. Fix the screw, close the computer.


Restart the computer. The sound card should be detected and installed.


If the sound card is not detected. Put the CD that came with the sound card, autorun should start and install the sound card. Otherwise install it through device manager.


Good luck.
Reply:well the sound card ss mounted on the mobo so you basically got to pull all out till you can get to it, I can list a few things to make it easy.


take cover off case.


remove all the ribbons from drives and power supply.


remove your power supply.


identify your sound card, remove it and replace,


put back together, If to cramped take some more stuff out, hope you wrote down what wen where. $85p/h is a rip off any way shop around for.


you want to swap sound card for sound card as it will be compatible with mobo, otherwise check what mobo is compatible with? good luck