Sound in safe mode

If the video card is working in safe mode and a new card didn't fix the problem, it's likely a configuration/operating system issue.

Assuming you have XP, try this:

Log into Safe Mode
Click Start, then Run, then type 'msconfig' without quotes.
Under General, select diagnostic startup
Hit Apply and OK. When it asks to reboot, click OK.
This time, try and let it boot into Windows normally.

Safe mode is for trouble-shooting not running all the time in. It will not load the drivers for sound, just like it does not load the drivers for video.

A new card should have worked though, what exactly is the issue, you don't say much as far as what the problem is.

Also need to list the brand and model of the computer.

You can get a working used computer for about the price of a video card, may on craigslist for well under $100.

I didn't give to much info on the problems cause I kinda gave upon it. The computer and the card are about 6 years old.

The card died slowly, not instantly, and I had used it without issue for years prior to having any problems. The problems it originally started with, were just random occasional glitches in the screen. Eventually becoming drawing errors where blocks of the screen were all messed up, at which point it would freeze and I'd have to reboot. Now it won't load at all in anything except safe mode. I get to a certain point and it simply stops and I have to force a reboot, which sends it to the safe mode selection screen.

All screens prior to being able to run only in safe mode, and now that I'm in safe mode... Always, have vertical lines running top to bottom in groups of 4 lines, space, 4 lines... across the width of the screen. These lines are present even in the boot up screens. And when I tried another video card they were there also. As well I still got the graphics glitches and drawing errors with the other card.

As I said, kinda just for the hell of it. I had read on a forum that baking your video card (heatsink removed) in the oven at a certain temperature for a certain time would fix a broken card. I tried it and it worked.... on 2 different occasions. The card worked fine as tho it was new. But it didn't last more than a couple months then I was back to the same problems. A new card from the store didn't fix anything. New drivers didn't fix anything. I really don't know what the actual problem is, but I don't see how to fix it short of just getting a new system.

Which I'd like to avoid doing if possible. At least for now... I really just want to be able to have sound. I don't know why it's not possible to tell a computer to load sound drivers~

As far as brand and model, this isn't a pre built system. I built it myself years ago. Some parts. Grandfathered from my previous system. All parts that matter replaced at the time. Asus Motherboard AMD processor 2411 Mhz, 2gigs ddr ram.

Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT video card.

I just tried this, and it did the same thing as always... Starts loading, reaches the screen with windows xp logo and simply stops loading, then the screen goes black. Followed by me rebooting into the safe mode options screen.

Another couple options...

You may have tried it, but instead of safe mode, what about entering VGA mode?

Also, do you have access to a Windows XP install disk? You may have a corrupt OS/registry.

I've completely reformatted, and reinstalled the operating system twice since having these issues, and it hasn't made any difference.

As far as VGA mode... I don't think I've tried that. Will have to  

The issues you describe sounds like a bad video card. If you got a new one to replace it, should be in warranty, unless you got a used card. It "may" be the power supply, maybe RAM, maybe the video card slot.

You will not get sound drivers to load in safe mode. It's like ordering a Diet Soda and then saying why can't they put sugar in it?

Safe Mode is made for trouble-shooting a system when it can't load, often due to corrupt drivers. It only loads the minimum needed to get an output on the screen and to have your mouse and keyboard work. It can also load network drivers so you can update files, anti virus, etc... If you could load more drivers in Safe Mode it would defeat the whole purpose of using it.

First off, thankyou to everyone who offered advice and tried to help me.

As I wasn't familiar with VGA mode. I looked it up. From what I was reading it sounded like VGA mode was simply a way to allow "safe mode" to run with your current system video drivers.

That didn't sound helpful to me, but got me thinking. So I disabled my video card in the device manager. After which, I tried booting normally.. and it worked. Such a simple trick, not sure why I hadn't tried it yet....

Granted I still have the 640x480 graphics. But, at least I'm not running in safe mode and my sound works, which was all I was really after in the first place.  

Again thanks guys.