No sound in left speaker using Altec 2.1 system in Windows 7

Hey guys! I need help with a sound issue I have on my computers at home using an Altec Lansing Multimedia Speaker system 2100 (2 speakers and a sub) and Win7 Home Premium (64-bit). In Windows XP I used to simply plug the speakers in the output of the computer (green jack) and sound would go to all speakers but now with win7 sound is only played from sub and right speaker, while the left speaker does nothing. At first I thought the left speaker may be busted, but when I switch the right and left jack connections behind the sub, the left speaker plays (through the Right speaker output) and the right speaker stops playing. So I tried putting the 2.1 sound system on an XP computer to make sure it still works fine and it does. Any ideas?

You need to change the sound settings. Open control panel. Make sure the view is set to small icons. click Sound. Right click your sound card and select Configure speakers. You should select one of the boxes under Full Range Speakers. If it doesn't work after the speakers are properly configured, then double click your sound card and you be able to change more options from there. You might also have an icon for you sounds card in control panel that options can be changed through. The main thing to look for is a 2.1 option.

Based on what you have written under you system specs, it looks like you are using the basic default Microsoft drivers for your sound card. Installing the latest drivers from you manufacturer would help solve any sound issues.

Here is a link to the support page for your computer. All your drivers are listed their and Windows 7 64-bit drivers are listed first. I would look compare the dates for your drivers against the ones listed on that page. Anything with a date before November 10th, 2009 should be updated with the drivers available on that page. Not everything needs a driver from the OEM, but anything listed on that page does.

Support for R510 SAMSUNG

Thanks Petey7 for your response. I tried what you said, configuring the speakers and updating the drivers (all-ready updated). Unfortunately my speakers are still acting up. There is no option for 2.1 speaker system in the configuration window. Only Stereo, Quadraphonic, 5.1, or 7.1. What can I do to get the 2.1 option?

Stardown, welcome to the forum.

Unless Samsung is as anal as Sony is about drivers, you should be able to use the reference Realtek driver for your laptop,

http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/3756-latest-realtek-hd-audio-driver-version.html

which is a fair bit more recent the one Samsung has.

What can I do to get the 2.1 option?

Click to expand...

Set it to stereo. Despite being labeled as such, that is all 2.1 speakers really are as they still only use a single connection to the sound card (or anything else they connect too).

OK. I tried downloading the latest drivers from the link provided above but it still doesn't affect the sound through the right speaker. Sound is coming from sub and left speaker but zilch from right. If I switch the cables for left and right speakers sound still comes out only from the left output. (Both speakers are therefore working properly) and if I put the system on an XP machine everything works fine (output jacks are working properly) soo... I don't know what happened between XP and Win7 for it not to send sound properly to both outputs in the back of the sub...

Just tried something. I know that both speakers work properly through the left output. If I only plug a speaker in the right output than I can clearly hear the base through the sub and very faintly music from the speaker. Where is the balance option in Win7 maybe the sound is balanced all to the left? or maybe it's a hardware issue with my connections?

I found the balance. Only the left level affects sound through both right and left speakers. The right level does nothing. If I slide the left all the way down no sound comes from either speaker even if right is at 100%. Everything levels according to only the left. Why is that?

HAHA... I found it... thanks for your help guys! There was an issue with the wire I was using to connect between speaker system and computer. When I was using the XP computer I was using another wire and so it worked fine...