What should you do if your PCI sound card stops working and the onboard sound is not detected in Device Manager?

If your PCI sound card stops functioning and the onboard sound is not detected in Device Manager, the appropriate step is to edit the CMOS settings and enable the onboard sound. CMOS settings, accessed via the computer's BIOS, control various hardware features, including sound functionality. If the onboard sound is disabled in the BIOS, it will not be recognized by the operating system or appear in Device Manager, which is why checking and enabling it is a crucial first step for troubleshooting.

If the onboard sound is necessary for your setup, this action can resolve the issue by re-enabling the integrated sound functionality, allowing you to use it as an alternative to the PCI sound card. Other options might involve replacing hardware or even reinstalling the operating system, which may not address the root cause of the problem effectively. Instead of immediately resorting to hardware replacements or software reinstallation, checking the BIOS settings is a straightforward and often successful troubleshooting method that can save time and resources.