No Audio, No Sound Device; yet device enabled

Hello,

I have a 2003 Dell Latitude C600/C500, it has XP Professional on it. It plays system sounds, but no other sounds. When I open the audio properties, it shows no sound device and the boxes are all greyed out, I can't change anything. I can't open the volume control because it tells me I have no sound devices and need to install them. I've tried without success. I followed the troubleshooter, the sound device is enabled in the device manager, and the troubleshooter then tells me to check if it is set as my sound device, and if not, to change it. The problem is, I can't change anything because it is all greyed out.

I've followed the troubleshooter, I've restarted and restarted. Once in a blue moon it works, but I have no idea what I did when it does. I've racked my brain, and tried every resource available in my comp. I googled the problem, and the only guy I found who had the exact same problem with the same system and computer never got his answer (like 2 years ago). Everything else I've read for other systems but tried anyway, didn't work. :-(

Thank you SO much if you can fix this!