Windows Vista forum: Dell Inspiron - Audio Issues

Total posts: 12 (Showing page 1 of 1)

Thread display preference:
Collapsed
Expanded

Back to Windows Vista

Tracked Track this thread

Answers

Answer Best answer as chosen by user evienyc

When you say

by Jimmy Greystone - 12/30/11 4:56 AM

In Reply to: Dell Inspiron - Audio Issues by evienyc

When you say you reinstalled the drivers, and then checked for updates, from whence did you get the drivers and check for updates? If it was from Windows Update or the "Update Drivers" button in the device manager, there's a good chance that's your problem. Usually it takes an event like this for people to realize the folly of downloading drivers from Microsoft.

So, following along this line of reasoning, go to Dell's support site, enter in your service tag, then download the latest audio drivers there.

If you already did that, then what I would do is download a Linux LiveCD like Knoppix. Burn that to a disc, boot from it, and then see if you can get audio. Since this is a completely different OS, and running off a CD/DVD, it helps narrow it down to either a stupid Windows trick or a hardware issue. A 3+ year old laptop should have pretty decent hardware support on Linux, so if you're still not getting any audio odds are the motherboard is bad. However, if you do get audio under Linux, then you know that the issue is with Windows.

Was this reply helpful? (1) (0)

Staff pick

Update

by evienyc - 12/30/11 2:57 PM

In Reply to: When you say by Jimmy Greystone

On your advice I went to Dell's support site, entered my service tag and downloaded the latest audio driver, only when I ran it I got an error saying "This is not the correct audio driver for this system". I went back to the Dell site to read further & it seems the driver is compatible with Windows XP; I have Windows Vista.

I also downloaded a Linux LiveCD, booted the laptop with the CD and presto! I've got sound! Okay, so at least now I know it's definitely a Windows problem. Thank you Jimmy Greystone for helping me figure that out.

Since Windows is telling me I already have the latest audio driver and Dell is providing me with a driver that is not compatible with my Vista OS, what can I do now?

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Duh...

by evienyc - 12/30/11 3:01 PM

In Reply to: Update by evienyc

Ignore that... apparently I wasn't paying attention and was checking for updates for Windows XP. Goes to show just how incapable I am.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Driver for Vista downloaded

by evienyc - 12/30/11 3:48 PM

In Reply to: When you say by Jimmy Greystone

After figuring out my duh moment I downloaded & installed the proper audio driver for Vista from Dell support site. Audio still not working. This is so frustrating.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Well

by Jimmy Greystone - 12/30/11 6:12 PM

In Reply to: Driver for Vista downloaded by evienyc

Well, at least you know that it's a software issue, so worst case scenario you just format and reinstall. That's considerably better than the prospect of getting a new motherboard OOW.

So, I would suggest going into the device manager, removing the drivers installed now, then going back and installing the drivers you downloaded from Dell again. If that doesn't work, I'm afraid I've spent a bit too much time in the Mac world, and my Windows skills have atrophied a bit, so I'd have to hand it off to someone else for anything between that and just formatting the system and starting with a fresh OS install.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Installed new

by evienyc - 12/30/11 10:36 PM

In Reply to: Well by Jimmy Greystone

I removed the old drivers & installed the brand new ones from Dell, multiple times, but no dice. Seems the OS doesn't want to cooperate. Thanks for all your help though... you got me a lot further than where I was before!

If anyone else has any further advice aside from formatting the system, I'm all ears.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Are you sure this device works?

by R. Proffitt - 12/31/11 9:13 AM

In Reply to: Installed new by evienyc

I've seen folk work on this for months and then take it in to hear it's the motherboard. For less than 3 bucks in my mailbox I can get sound again on most machines.

See http://www.amazon.com/External-Adapter-Desktop-Notebook-Laptop/dp/B0019SVUQK/ref=pd_cp_e_4

Your choice here but what tells us this audio in this machine is working?

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Audio with Linux

by evienyc - 12/31/11 12:49 PM

In Reply to: Are you sure this device works? by R. Proffitt

When I boot the computer using Linux Live CD the audio works without issues so I know the device is working... just not with Windows.

Thanks for the link to the external adapter... might have to try that temporarily until I can find a permanent fix.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

Good answer. (Love it!)

by R. Proffitt - 12/31/11 2:03 PM

In Reply to: Audio with Linux by evienyc

Those Live CDs are my weapon of choice for issues like this when I need to test the hardware.

PRETEND this is a new Windows install. Install the USUAL. The Motherboard Chipset package, then the the Audio driver and finally Dell's Quickset app.

Once the Dell Quickset is installed, try the keyboard volume controls.
Bob

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

by evienyc - 1/4/12 8:06 PM

In Reply to: Good answer. (Love it!) by R. Proffitt

Bob, I'm not familiar with what you mean by pretending this is a new Windows install & the subsequent steps. Can you provide more detailed information about what needs to be done? Where do I get all those things to install or pretend to install? I'm not very tech savvy so I'm learning all of this as I go. Any additional help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick

You could have installed Dell's Quickset

by R. Proffitt - 1/4/12 8:43 PM

In Reply to: More by evienyc

And it might have worked. Why not try that?

Was this reply helpful? (0) (0)

Staff pick