no sound

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jo-Anne
  • Start date Start date
J

Jo-Anne

A week ago, a friend helped me install a new wireless router on my
5-year-old Dell desktop computer running Windows XP SP3. Immediately after
that, all my usual computer sounds (startup, closedown, plugging in a
device, etc.) got much quieter. Turning up the volume on the speaker and at
the volume control on the taskbar had no effect. Yesterday the sound
disappeared entirely. The speakers are plugged in to the power supply (green
light on) and to the computer.

I'd be very grateful if someone could tell me where I should start
troubleshooting.

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
 
What does Device Manager show for your Sound card?
Did you also install a Wireless NIC/Network card at the same time you
installed the router?

JS
 
Not sure what the Sound card is. There are several things listed in Device
Manager under Sound, Video, and Game Controllers. If the Sound card is
Creative SB Live! Series (WDM), under Properties it says "This device is
working properly." Is there anything else I should look at there?

The other things in Device Manager that seem to have something to do with
sound are Audio Codex, Legacy Audio Drivers, and UniModem Half-Duplex Audio
Device. Properties for all of them show "This device is working properly."

I didn't install any wireless card with the router. I was replacing my old
router with the wireless one so I could use my new notebook computer on the
network. The router is plugged into the desktop computer (the computer with
no sound).

Thank you!

Jo-Anne
 
What happens if you power down the router, unplug it and then see if there
any improvement with the Sound.

The two Sound and Router should not be related but stranger things have
happened.

JS
www.pagestart.com
 
No change. Still no sound.

Jo-Anne

JS said:
What happens if you power down the router, unplug it and then see if there
any improvement with the Sound.

The two Sound and Router should not be related but stranger things have
happened.

JS
www.pagestart.com
Click to expand...
 
If you have a Sound card, then shutdown the PC and remove it.
Power up and check that Device Manager shows no remnant of the sound
drivers.
Then reinstall the card, make certain it is fully inserted into the
connector.
Reboot and install the drivers. Test to see if sound is heard.

If it is a sound chip, go into the BIOS and see if you can disable it in the
BIOS setup.
Exit and save the BIOS settings (only if you found a way to disable the
sound chip).
Reboot to Windows and check that Device Manager shows no remnant of the
sound drivers.
Go back into the BIOS and enable the Sound chip, Exit BIOS and Save
settings.
Reboot and see if Windows find the Sound chip and installs the drivers.
Test to see if sound is heard.

Note: If no sound enable/disable feature in the BIOS then exit the BIOS and
DO NOT save any changes.

JS
 
It's a SoundBlaster Live! card, but I have no idea where in the computer to
find it. Is there a schematic somewhere that I could access to see where to
look? (The schematic that came with my Dell desktop computer doesn't show
the innards.)

Thank you again, JS!

Jo-Anne
 
Jo-Anne said:
It's a SoundBlaster Live! card, but I have no idea where in the computer to
find it. Is there a schematic somewhere that I could access to see where to
look? (The schematic that came with my Dell desktop computer doesn't show
the innards.)

Thank you again, JS!

Jo-Anne
Click to expand...

You can learn a bit about your machine, by looking at the back.

There is an "I/O plate" area on the back of the computer, and
in that area, there would be a couple PS/2 connectors, some
USB connectors, and so on. If you see audio connectors (anywhere
from three to six of the 1/8" audio connectors) near the
USB and PS/2 connectors, covered by the custom designed
I/O cover plate, then your audio is "integrated" into
the motherboard.

If you look at the back of the computer, there are also
slots for add-in cards. The number of slots may vary from
three to six or so. If you see a faceplate with five or
six audio connectors on it, sitting in one of the PCI slot
areas, then you likely have a PCI sound card. Opening the
computer and visually examining the card, may reveal a
brand on it.

So that is one way to guess at what hardware is used.

Sometimes, people have both of those options present
in the computer at the same time. When the installer
puts in the PCI card, he/she may disable the AC'97 or
HDAudio integrated codec in the BIOS. So only the
PCI card shows up and is seen by the OS.

On this motherboard, you can see six audio connectors
in the "I/O area". They're arranged 2x3, because the
I/O area isn't that tall.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-131-218-S02?$S640W$

This is a picture of an "add-in" sound solution. This
fits in the slot area. Here, the audio connectors
are in a "thin column". A Soundblaster might have a
similar faceplate, with four or more connectors in
the column.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-255-08.jpg

Paul
 
Although "Device Manager" reports your Creative SB Live to be working properly,
that doesn't ensure it is.

Have you checked to make sure the speakers cable(s) is plugged into the correct
jack(s)?

Have you tested the speakers on another PC to verify/discount them as the cause
or have you tried connecting known good working speakers to you PC to
verify/discount them as the cause?

Have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling the drivers/software for the Creative
SB Live? If you need to, download the drivers from your PC manufacturers
support site and install them per their instructions or get them for your exact
Make/Model Creative SB Live! device from the Creative support site.
http://support.creative.com/Products/product_list.aspx?catID=1&CatName=Sound+Blaster#

Is your device shown/selected as the "Sound Playback Default" device to use in
Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices applet > Audio tab?
If yes, click the "Advanced" button and make sure the correct speaker
configuration is selected.
If no, is it selectable in the "Sound Playback Default" dropdown list? If not
listed/selectable, uninstall/reinstall the drivers as previously mentioned.



--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
With the PC power turned off:
If it's a card then open the case an you should see the sound cables plugged
into the card's silver colored mounting plate.
To remove an static charge you may have accumulated by walking across a rug,
touch the case with your hand.

Inside the case you will note the card is secured to the PC with a phillips
head screw.

Remove the screw and gently pull the card out of the socket/slot.

Then follow the instructions in my previous post.
No need to put the cover on back on the PC until you have finished
as long as you don't leave the PC on for an extended period of time.

JS
 
Thank you, Paul! This is most helpful!

Jo-Anne

Paul said:
You can learn a bit about your machine, by looking at the back.

There is an "I/O plate" area on the back of the computer, and
in that area, there would be a couple PS/2 connectors, some
USB connectors, and so on. If you see audio connectors (anywhere
from three to six of the 1/8" audio connectors) near the
USB and PS/2 connectors, covered by the custom designed
I/O cover plate, then your audio is "integrated" into
the motherboard.

If you look at the back of the computer, there are also
slots for add-in cards. The number of slots may vary from
three to six or so. If you see a faceplate with five or
six audio connectors on it, sitting in one of the PCI slot
areas, then you likely have a PCI sound card. Opening the
computer and visually examining the card, may reveal a
brand on it.

So that is one way to guess at what hardware is used.

Sometimes, people have both of those options present
in the computer at the same time. When the installer
puts in the PCI card, he/she may disable the AC'97 or
HDAudio integrated codec in the BIOS. So only the
PCI card shows up and is seen by the OS.

On this motherboard, you can see six audio connectors
in the "I/O area". They're arranged 2x3, because the
I/O area isn't that tall.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-131-218-S02?$S640W$

This is a picture of an "add-in" sound solution. This
fits in the slot area. Here, the audio connectors
are in a "thin column". A Soundblaster might have a
similar faceplate, with four or more connectors in
the column.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/13-131-255-08.jpg

Paul
Click to expand...
 
One more question, Brian: If I plug the speakers into my new notebook
computer at the Audio connector, will I need special drivers or other
software to make them work?

Thank you again!

Jo-Anne
 
Well, the sound is working again--and I'm not sure why. After doing all
sorts of troubleshooting, I unplugged the speakers from the desktop computer
(for the second time) and plugged them into the notebook computer; they
worked there, so I plugged them back into the desktop computer, and now
they're working properly again. I don't understand what happened, but I'm
pleased that I have my sounds back.

Thank you, JS, Paul, and Brian, for all your help!

Jo-Anne
 
It could be a number of a few things why they didn't work properly. It could
have been loose in the jack, if it was unplugged it may have been replugged into
the wrong jack, a wire may be bad but still gets enough good contact if it's in
the right position,and one or two other possibilities.

Glad to "Hear" you have them working again, enjoy and have fun.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
You're welcome.

JS

Jo-Anne said:
Well, the sound is working again--and I'm not sure why. After doing all
sorts of troubleshooting, I unplugged the speakers from the desktop
computer (for the second time) and plugged them into the notebook
computer; they worked there, so I plugged them back into the desktop
computer, and now they're working properly again. I don't understand what
happened, but I'm pleased that I have my sounds back.

Thank you, JS, Paul, and Brian, for all your help!

Jo-Anne
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like you may have knocked the cable out when changing the LAN cable
(if the cable was changed). Also as the other person mentioned when the
cables go bad they can work intermittantly depending on how they are placed.
 
Back
Top