Crackling sound problems on Packard Bell MH35 (Hera C)

[Amacey]

Hi all, been having a few issues with this laptop I recently purchased. I am getting slight crackling/pop noises from the built in speakers when playing sound. I have also tried two different sets of speakers and external ones which also result in crackling.

On device manager the audio device is listed as:
High Definition Audio Device

With two hardware ids:
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0268&SUBSYS_1631C20C&REV_1000
HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0268&SUBSYS_1631C20C

I have tried some various different techniques to get rid of the crackling like disabling sound effects etc, but to no prevail, am now stuck as to what to do. Some where online I saw about a "turn off pull mode" driver which has worked for a lot of people, but I can't seem to locate that driver.

Please help, thank you!

 

[Faladu]

This is what you have:

Realtek

ALC268

Realtek link mentions that is on Vista laptops and I dig a little, chipset dates to 2008, so it has aged a bit and that is not working in your favor, either.

Crackling/pop noises are CONSTANT? Then it's likely that port at fault.

Since it's laptop with USB ports (I assume) you can get a USB audio device as a replacement, and just disable that on-board one and hopefully it's listed in the bios.

This might do the trick:

SYBA SY-AUD20091 Adapter - Newegg.com

I think I am going to buy one of those for $9 myself!

 

[Amacey]

So do you think it is the on board sound card that is faulty resulting in the crackling noises?

Also thanks for locating what on board sound card I have, now I just need to find appropriate drivers for it and then try it.

I will find one of them usb adapter things from a UK seller and buy one if you think the sound card is to blame and not drivers.

Thanks!

 

[Faladu]

Driver here:

REALTEK - Download driver for ALC268 and Windows 7 32bit

Reboot after, if it's still crackling, as I kind of expect it to, the OUTPUT port is probably bad, and I'd get the 3rd party audio device, as is, it's not worth fixing, cost wise.

You did part of the troubleshooting by checking multiple speakers, very doubtful all yours are bad.

If I had to go in there to try and repair it.... or just to look and see if something inside was shorting it somehow could be lot of work, all the innards are under the keyboard, but the ability to get to them varies greatly.

 

[Amacey]

Yeah it will cost me about £15 for a new motherboard I think. So the output port, thats the speaker out port on the laptop to plug headphones into. Now would that also affect the built in speakers too as they are crackling also?

Will give you an update on the driver thing

 

[Amacey]

Right so just installed the latest drivers on that link, and yes as you predicted there are still crackling noises coming from the built in speakers and also on a headset when I plug that in also.

So the choices are:

New motherboard: £15.
External sound thingy: £10
New sound chip? Not sure if you can actually install one?

What's best?

Thanks!

 

[Faladu]

oh a new motherboard would be way more than 15 pounds.

For a laptop, looking at more like 100+ and isn't including the nightmare labor charge sure to follow.

So 3rd party sound is your way to go, 100%.

The sound chip on a laptop is part of the motherboard, AND VERY VERY unlikely replaceable, it would have to be a ribbon cabled daughter board for that.

To replace the motherboard on a laptop, you have to take it NEARLY

 

[Amacey]

No I have seen a few on eBay which are fully working for just £15-£20.

I can install it myself, so wouldn't need a labour charge.

 

[Faladu]

Swap out a laptop motherboard? You a masochist and a PC tech?

.....and it's coming from ebay? You a masochist and lucky?



You have to disassemble/reassemble that entire laptop to replace it, sans the monitor piece, though that too will get disconnected, and won't know if it's a good motherboard until.....

Vs. a 3rd party sound device.

You have been warned! muhahahahaha :devil:

You have ESD devices, the wrist band and mat, right? Roughly $25 USD for those.

Electrostatic Discharge for the folks wondering...

 

[Amacey]

Well I built my current desktop I'm on now, and I found a dissembler guide for my exact laptop so I will get a new motherboard, and divulge into the dark side. I'll report back in a couple of days to see if I have been successful

Yes I have all the wonderful blue wrist band etc, from when I built this desktop.

 

[Faladu]

OK, good luck! More scared about ebay seller than anything.

Since you want to go this route, I would open that sucker up and make sure it's not just dirty as all get out inside and causing the issue, sounds like something a coffee spill one too many could do as well.

One other thing try running a Linux Live disc (distrowatch.com, recommend Linux Mint 14) on your laptop and see if the sound is perfect or not, just as a final test.

 

[Amacey]

Just bought a new motherboard from eBay for £18.18, fully tested and working.

Laptop motherboard PACKARD BELL Hera C P/N 31PE1MB0010 DA0PE1MB6D0 | eBay

Yeah that's a good idea i'll give it a clean.

Will try the linux thing tonight and let you know what happens Cheers for all the help.