Install a Sound Card

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Hardware Settings

Read the computer manufacturers and sound card manufacturers instructions.
On Windows XP & later versions of Windows, follow the manufacturers instructions. If no instructions check the manufacturer's website for help. Normally newer operating systems 'sense' the presence of a new card and auto install the product. If you still have problems and are using an older operating system (Windows 95/98 etc), you may wish to try the following.
Most sound cards today use software to change the system settings including IRQ, Address and DMA Channels. If yours is an older card which requires changing jumper settings, follow the manufacturers instructions carefully.
Typically, the only setting you may have to change are if using the card to control a CD-ROM drive. This step only may require manual hardware setup. CD-ROMS however, usually will operate properly using the defaults.
Most cards usually default to IRQ 5. Your software will autoscan the default settings to look for confilcts. Check your user manual for additional information on your brand.

Review the documentation for sound card completely.
Connect the keyed audio cable from the CD to your sound card.
Want to send the normal pc speaker sound to your sound card? If so, attach the cable.
Now insert the sound card into an available slot of the right type, ISA, PCI, etc.

Insert the manufacturers disk and type a:install or driveletter:install.
Default values for options usually work.
Restart your computer by doing a shutdown and restart.
When windows starts it will see the sound card and update the proper driver. Just follow the on screen instruction.

Help

Utility software: if your sound card loses its configuration for any reason, you can reconfigure it by running the repair.exe or diagnose.exe or other manufacturers program in the directory created when you installed the software.