No sound devices show up in "Sound and Audio Devices Properties"

I know I have sound devices but it doesn't recognize them in Sound and Audio
Devices Properties. What could be the problem?

Install the drivers. Check your utility disks, one of them should have
them. If not, go the manufacturers website and download them.
They are free.

Easier said than done. I can't find any drivers for Microsoft Synthesizer.

Microsoft Synthesizer?

Open your PC case (or if you know it) get the brandname of your
soundcard (manufacturer). Go to their website and download the
current/latest drivers that are compatible with WindowsXP and
install them. Microsoft Synthesizer is NOT a manufacturer of
soundcards. Yours may be defective and needs to be replaced.
You can find relative inexpensive ones at eBay.

I have the latest driver for my Realteak AC'97 card, but it still won't let
me play sound.

[still learning]

seems i had the same problem. besides the obvious i tried everyfix i could find.in doing so it came to my attention-I had no plug and play device enumerator under system devices. found the fix on this site from optrex. So a special thanks goes out to optrex. thank you, i have my sound back