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Computer help forum: Help me narrow down my sound problem

by: helsharmar June 15, 2012 10:27 AM PDT

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Help me narrow down my sound problem

by helsharmar - 6/15/12 10:27 AM

Every time I get ready to buy a new sound card, my sound problem magically is fixed, but then it reappears. It has been suggested that I get a new sound card, but I want to rule out the speakers. The desktop computer (XP) is almost 7 hears old, and the Harman Kardon speakers are at least that old. Everything works some of the time, and I can hear noise from the speakers even when all I can hear is scratchy sound. This happens whether I play a clip online, music using Windows Media Player, etc, or a CD. I've checked and changed settings, run diagnostic tests, and tried unsuccessfully to reload the SB Live 24-bit driver (it wouldn't let me). I am a veteran but unsophisticated computer user. Is there a way to test just my speakers? At least I could then rule them out (or in).

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Test with Headphones

by KenHusveg - 6/15/12 11:09 AM

In Reply to: Help me narrow down my sound problem by helsharmar

Using headphones; test your sound with and without the external speakers connected. This should tell you whether the speakers or sound card are the issue. The Harman Kardon speakers are older and probably not designed for use with a computer so just having them connected might be what's giving you the problem.

Also check the "Device Manager", "Sounds, video, and game controllers" for any "exclamation point" icons.


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Thanks, I will try that.

by helsharmar - 6/15/12 11:43 AM

In Reply to: Test with Headphones by KenHusveg

I'll try to find some headphones to do that. Will it be obvious where to plug them in? The speakers, if I remember right, were ordered with my previous computer, and they were great at the time--they are computer speakers. The sound problem is only a few weeks old. The only abnormality in device manager is an exclamation point by an unknown imaging device, which I suspect is my webcam, and which I suspect no longer can be found because Norton screwed around with my computer.


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Reset

by KenHusveg - 6/15/12 5:50 PM

In Reply to: Thanks, I will try that. by helsharmar

I noticed Bob mentioned "reset" which reminded me of something else to try.

The universal temporary fix for Windows problems seems to be re-boot and see what happens. For hardware issues one more step may help. Shutdown your computer, unplug any power source and USB connections. (For laptops also remove the battery). Wait a minute or two, plug everything back in, reboot and see what happens.


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Thanks

by helsharmar - 6/16/12 8:42 AM

In Reply to: Reset by KenHusveg

Rebooting was not the answer, since the problem persisted through many reboots. However, the unplug/replug everything trick seems to have worked. "Seems" because I'm not sure the problem won't recur next time I shut down, as has happened before. Here's another thing that may have helped. While the computer was shut down (it's a Dell Dimension 9100 btw), my husband removed the cover and vacuumed out dust. A bonus: my computer again recognizes the webcam built into my monitor, whereas I had been getting "please plug in supported device." Thanks so much for your advice.


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If I were to guess.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 6/15/12 10:34 AM

In Reply to: Help me narrow down my sound problem by helsharmar

I would guess you need to install the latest or last motherboard chipset driver (sad I can't find the make, model of the PC or I would have given a link) then try again.

But what did you do about the old XP DMA bug? Did you try the usual reset for that?
Bob


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Here's the quick no reboot XP DMA reset.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 6/15/12 11:12 AM

In Reply to: If I were to guess. by R. Proffitt Moderator

http://winhlp.com/node/10

Notice it can cause choppy video and audio issues?


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Huh?

by helsharmar - 6/15/12 4:44 PM

In Reply to: If I were to guess. by R. Proffitt Moderator

Are you answering my question? What is the DMA bug? And what is the usual reset for it?


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I supplied a link to the reset for this.

by R. Proffitt Moderator - 6/15/12 4:46 PM

In Reply to: Huh? by helsharmar

It tells more and how to reset it.

It's a shame you didn't supply the full machine make and model. Otherwise folk have to guess if this applies.
Bob


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