WinXP Pro and SoundMax Digital card on Asus A7V600 board. No Sound!

I hate to ask but I must. Are you sure your speakers are plugged in to the right plug, they are powered on, and their volume is turned on? If it set to 6 channel mode in the the driver's control panel? If so, check the plug, as the manual seems mixed up. It says in 6 channel mode both the light blue and lime plugs or front speaker out, which obviously can't be correct, so try the opposite of the one you are using.

Yes the speakers are plugged into the lime plug. Believe me, I checked all three plugs just for kicks. They are powered on and the volume is up. I tried all different channel modes, still no sound. the plug is fine. I plugged it directly to the CD Writer and got sound from my CD but it won't play any sounds coming from the onboard sound card.

Strange, I looked through the manual and it doesn't look like any jumpers or bios settings would mess this up. Your driver version is that same as the latest from Asus's website, and the fact that you get sound from CD Writer says that speakers and cables are fine. So at least we have those ruled out.

It could be a bad connection on the motherboard itself. How hard would it be to get a replacement?

I'm also working with the vendor about that. There were 2 other people that had the same exact problem with the same hardware and OS that I found in forums with no solution yet. Hopefully he'll just replace the board with a compatible one. I just got it so it should still be under warranty.

Is there any specific software for your setup in Control Panel, where you can configure digital AND analog?  Did you configure and test your speaker system for surround sound, regardless of the number of speakers in use and is WindowsUpdate current?  Do you also have an extra sound card?  I ask this because on one of our systems with similar setup and ASUS MB, I had a Creative Labs sound card installed and functioning in Windows XP Pro and the MB has Firewire capability.  The moment I plugged in an external device using the Firewire function, my sound card was disabled and sound controls moved to the onboard soundmax setup.

Just as an fyi, I had another question open in which we did "some" collaboration, so here is that question (although the AC97 is similar; the process and troubleshooting and drivers vary)...

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20926153/New-ShuttleX-system-Windows-XP-Home-No-Sound.html

My version of that dll (smwdm.sys)  is 5.12.1.3630 .... this handles analog signals and suspect that piece of your configuration is the problem.  Be sure that you have checked the Options in Media Player (which version now running?) check WindowsUpdate, checked Media Player for the .wav, .mid and other problem file types as the default player, and more shortly.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=soundmax+driver+smwdm.sys   .... I can't recall where I updated the *.sys and *.inf files, but it was either from WindowsUpdate or from Intel.  More if I find the other resources for this.  

In troubleshooting someone else's problem quite like yours, these links were very helpful, so sharing them here:
Producing Multichannel Audio with Windows Media 9 Series (this includes many additional links for codecs, etc).
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/Multichannel.aspx

Have you checked again your XP system files as follows, to ensure that your XP system files are intact
start-run- sfc /scannow  space after sfc and have XP disk handy.

Windows XP Lists CNR SoundMAX Audio Extension Card as an Unknown PCI Device
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307110

Yeah, I tested the speakers for surround sound. WindowsUpdate is current. I don't have an extra sound card, yet. :) I'm running Windows Media Player 9.0. I still have to do your suggestion from the earlier link of uninstalling any Media players and reinstalling Windows Media Player. But have been up all night working and am going to bed right now. Will let you know how the install goes.

Will try those suggestions as well and let you know, thx.

This link is for your Motherboard, and you may find help here as well in terms of updates BIOS flash info, etc., if needed.
http://www.asus.com/products/mb/socketa/a7v600/overview.htm

As a point of information, this from that link (which is why I asked, regardless of the number of speakers you have; did you configure them for these multi channel modes).:
S/PDIF out port on back I/O
The A7V600 provides convenient connectivity to external home theater audio systems via an S/PDIF out interface. Experience 5.1-channel surround sound and enhanced 3D audio while playing your favorite DVDs or games.

Audio ADI AD1980 SoundMAX 6-channel CODEC
S/PDIF out interface  

These are the links for downloads for that MB, if needed.  Be sure to read carefully the process if you do choose to download and install any changes or flash the BIOS, etc.  Incorrect process can blow your setup.
http://www.asus.com.tw/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V600

No pressure from me, but wanted to explore the possibilities before I log off for the rest of this day and share what I could.  

Windows Media Player FAQ - http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/player/faq.aspx?section=TOPISSUES&question=TOPISSUES2#NAME_TOPISSUES

Do DVDs play OK with video and sound and if so, using which program to run?  And which version of Media Player does play the Digital CDs OK?

How to troubleshoot playback in Windows Media Player 9
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811982&Product=wmp

Assuming Media Player 9 installed ... from within Media Player
Tools - Options - go through all the tabs, and ensure that under file types, you've assigned Media Player as the default for all the problem file types you've got such as *.wav, *.mid and any you're not hearing sounds through.  Also, as you go through these tabs, let us know if you have questions.

Last resource link then I'm off for the day.
Windows Media Player Multimedia File Formats
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316992&Product=wmp

Good luck,
Asta

Sorry to see we didn't help here BUT happy to see no point refunded for lack of "collaboration" on Asker's part.  Sure thought we nailed this one.  Never got Email notif on this ... .surprise!  Asta