My driver for my sound card is for windows xp..i now have vista the driver will not download do i need to buy a new sound card or can I update driver?

"No Active Mixer Device installed".....The Sound and Audio issue of Windows.....the infamous issue being faced by many PC/Laptop/Notebook users all over the world....on clicking the volume control icon in the task bar near the clock.....or....Sound and Audio Devices Grayed Out in the Control Panel

Guys....the solution's very simple....This is a sure shot solution...101% guarantee...Just do this...
Go to Device Manager, select Sound, Audio and Games Ctlr expand (+) press the plus sign, go one by one on all those that show a speaker image...select each one by one and right click, and if it has the "uninstall" option...just uninstall. Dont do anything further....just shut down pc/laptop
Then...u need to go into system BIOS
1 - Start PC/Laptop...press DEL or F1/F2/Insert/Home key...this selection of key to go into BIOS depends upon ur type of PC in some Del key works in some F1/F2 key works to go into BIOS....you need to do this before the WindowsXP screen appears....get into BIOS...
2 - Scroll/go to On Board Peripherals...press enter...next screen....
3 Look for
A- "On Board audio"
B- "AC97 audio" or any thing that says "Audio"
C- "Look for anything that says "MIDI" with some numbers 301,205 etc in [ ]
just Disable all the above by using PgUP PGDN key Press F10 and chose Yes to save the setting in BIOS or use Save and Exit in BIOS
Let WinXP load...go to Device Manager...go to Sound Audio and Games Controller...check all those that you uninstalled earlier if they RE-Appear...It should NOT......Re-appear.....if it does then do the above process once more.

U are now all set for the next move....
U need to spend just 1$ to buy this product on Ebay...you can buy any similar product of your choice but it must have the audio and mic output ports like this one has...and must be able to connect to your USB port of your PC/Laptop

This below image and product name is only for your info, you can buy any such similar product available in your area....but it's must have the Audio and Mic output ports like the one on the image below and must be able to connect to your PC/Laptops USB ports...

"USB 2.0 Mic Speaker 5.1 Audio Sound Card ADAPTER #9340"

You can Google it and locate it where you can buy...

Connect it to a USB port, connect your speakers/mic to the correct audio/mic slots in this device....WinXP will auto install this hardware and you will get back your Volume Control Icon...and all functions will work in Control Panel (Sound and audio Devices)...