Sound error - Code 19?

[jeff1000]

Hello,
I booted up my PC today and realized that my sound wasn't working. The speakers work, so I figured it was a sound card issue. I have an Audigy (not sure of model) but its one of the older 5.1 cards. I reinstalled the drivers, but then the card didn't show up on my system at all. I then tried to run sound off my mobo sound card, but had the same problem. After checking in system hardware I got "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"
Not sure what this means or how to fix it, but I need my sound back!!
Thanks.

[Sylvander]

If ever any problem arises that you think is related to software [the hardware hasn't been changed], then...

a. If you think it's a CONFIGURATION problem [registry and/or other configuration files], then...
Restore a configuration from [immediately] before the point in time when the problem was introduced [restore the registry of the 1st boot of that day].
So which Windows are you running?
If Win98, use scanreg /restore to restore a suitable configuration.
If WinXP use a Restore Point [restores the files AND the configuration].

b. If you think that MORE than just the configuration settings [in the registry etc] have been changed, but the files have changed, then...
If Win98, the only easy fix needs you to have made a backup of the system partition. If you don't have one, then you need to do a Win98 "repair" reinstallation, or else update the drivers. How do things look in Device Manager? Is the audio device enabled and working?
If WinXP, a restore point should take you back to when all was well.

For the future...
I strongly advise you to set up a system of backup that will make and restore an image backup [of at least your system partition] even when Windows won't boot [much better than System Restore, which can only work if Windows is working].
Whenever you're hit by ANY KIND of software problem, just restore the backup of the partition to "jump back" to the way things were when the backup was made [and all was well, because you only make backups when all's well].