To disengage the onboard sound card and enable an external one, you will need to perform a few simple steps. Before beginning, make sure that your external sound card is properly set up according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
1. Disabling the Onboard Sound Card
The first step is to disable the onboard sound card from your computer. To do this, you will need to open the Device Manager.
For Windows 8:
Right-click on the Start button and select Control Panel. In the Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound, then select Device Manager.
For Windows 7:
Right-click on the Computer icon from your desktop, and select Properties. On the left-hand side, select Device Manager.
Once you have opened the Device Manager, locate and expand the Sound, video and game controllers branch. Right-click on the onboard sound card and select Disable. This will disable the onboard sound card, meaning it will no longer be used by the system.
2. Uninstalling the Onboard Sound Card Drivers
Now that the onboard sound card has been disabled, you need to uninstall the sound card’s associated drivers. To do this, right-click on the onboard sound card again and select Uninstall. When prompted, select Yes to confirm that you want to uninstall the sound card’s drivers.
3. Installing the External Sound Card
Once the onboard sound card’s drivers have been uninstalled, you need to install the external sound card. First, insert the sound card into an available PCI or PCIe slot on the motherboard. Once the card is securely in place, connect it to the power supply and any other necessary cords.
Now you need to install the driver software provided by the sound card’s manufacturer. Usually, the installation CD will include an installation program that will guide you through the process. However, if you do not have the installation disc, you can often obtain the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.
Once the driver software is installed, restart your computer. When Windows starts up again, your new sound card should be automatically recognized and enabled.
4. Verifying the External Sound Card
Once your computer has restarted, you can verify that the external sound card is enabled. To do this, open the Device Manager again. In the Sound, video and game controllers branch, you should see the name of your external sound card listed. If it is not, you may need to install the driver software again.
You can also verify that the external sound card is working by playing a sound file. If you can hear the sound coming from your speakers or headphones, then the external sound card is successfully enabled.
Once you have verified that the external sound card is enabled, you can delete any leftover files or programs associated with the old onboard sound card. This will help ensure that the new external sound card is being used without interference.
Congratulations! You have now successfully disengaged the onboard sound card and enabled an external one.