No Sound - Removed Sound Devices

[sling-shot]

Recently, I did not use my computer for a week or so due to a faulty power plug leading to UPS malfunction. The computer sits in a fairly dusty environment. Once I restarted the computer after cleaning it up a bit, I get this error on start up and no sound from the speakers.
It looks like the on-board sound card has become faulty. Any way of finding out for sure?
May be another dust cleanup for the motherboard will get it back? If not I will have to replace the motherboard.
- SS.

[theharvester]

The only thing I can think of is checking in the BIOS to make sure it didn't somehow get disabled.

I also think just adding a separate sound card would be much easier and cheaper than replacing the motherboard just for the sound card.

[Yoyo]

I agree with Harvester, if everything else is working, buy an addon sound card.

[uncleV]

The computer sits in a fairly dusty environment. Once I restarted the computer after cleaning it up a bit, I get this error on start up and no sound from the speakers.

So throw the dust back to the case!
Kidding.

Worst inspect visually motherboard again? Check if the chips stay firmly in their slots?

[trustytrev]

Hello,
        It could more likely be due to a corrupted file somewhere after your power malfunction.I would try reinstalling your sound driver in PCC.
I have encountered the same issue while messing with my sound devices in relation to a firefox/utube sound issue.It arises when the sound device has been disabled or removed at loading in the kernel somehow.Once the offending device is reinstalled things return to normal.It did in my case at least.
trustytrev.

[sling-shot]

Presently I have a young person in the household not allowing me the time to open up the case again.

The same issue is there in Windows XP too on the same machine, so it is unlikely to be software issue. In fact Windows XP kept on BSOD ing until I disabled sound driver in safe mode.

I will try checking the sound chip. I have to refer the manual to locate it and to do that I have to locate the manual first or may be I will just use a magnifying glass to read the labels.

Will take a few days

[uncleV]

Presently I have a young person in the household not allowing me the time to open up the case again.

Wake up in the deep night, preferably ~4 am...
Stick the dogs/cats mouth with tape...
Get your flashlight...
And do it, do it!... shhh...!