Onboard Sound Issues

MrWixx · 30 Jan 2010

Hey again guys,
Im back with another problem
(Part two from broken laptop)

Right, so I broke my laptop a few days ago and I needed a kind of.. "Get-me-by" computer while I give up and send it off to be fixed.

I've used all the pieces of computer laying around my house to construct franken-computer, upgraded it to Windows 7, and gotten it up and running.

The issue I am having is with the sound area.
(I can put it together, but when it comes to sound and how it works, I am a bit lost)

First, Windows 7 told me I had nothing installed for Audio
I went to Device Manager / Sound, Video, and Game Controllers and found something to the sound of "Macromedia Audio Device" with an exclamation point.

I went on to update drivers, it download the newest Realtek AC'97 driver

Now the audio says its working, but I am still not getting any sound output

I've used a couple different sets of headphones, to no avail

Any ideas?
Need more info?
Im here!

Thanks!
Mr.Wixx

Night Hawk · 30 Jan 2010

Headsets have to configured as well as sound cards in the Control Panel>Sound>Playback tab. When seeing the headset listed there right click on that to select the configure option and even set as the default playback device unless you run speakers as well.

When using the headset more extensively set that as the default playback device there. You can select the test option at any time to make sure both channels are seeing the normal output.

MrWixx · 30 Jan 2010

Alright, i checked that, configured the headset
This is what I get.

Still no audio output, but you can see that it.. thinks.. its out-putting audio

I gave you a picture though, should the "Speakers" option read Realtek and Default Device?

MrWixx · 30 Jan 2010

A hah
Just fixed it, there was a loose cable on the Mobo.
Thanks for the help!

Night Hawk · 30 Jan 2010

If you are hearing sound from the laptop's built in speakers then the last item to consider when more then one pair lacks any sound would be a look at the mini jack you plug those into. From repeated plugging and replugging in of headsets the main lead contacts tend to get pushed in and loss the spring after so long.

What that would mean there is that the contacts are no longer touching the plug's left and right bands inside the jack itself while everything is working normally. You may have to go with a usb headset if you are now using the 1/8" mini jack where those will then be detected and shown in the playback list there.

The dual listing of speakers plus suggests that's how Windows is seeing the headsets as speakers if you are using the mini jack. Another item is volume control on the headsets themselves since the jacks are not typically preamplified. Do you have any external speakers to try to see if the jack is still good?

Well! That was solved since we just missed each other there. Glad to hear you have solved!