Had new Solid State hard drive installed, now audio sounds funny

[ComputerDumby]

my laptop used to sound like a stereo (the internal original speakers), i could jam the better portion of my house with it.


now, after this new hard drive was installed (by a repair service) - it sounds, well, like a laptop.

its not very loud even with all the seemingly possible volume controls on the highest level.
but its not just an issue of volume, it sounds "distant", without bass, like at the other end of a long tunnel.

any suggestions before i have to sacrifice a day of bringing my laptop back to the repair guy?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Check to see if any of your mixer control settings have been changed, not just volume levels.

I'm referring to digital processing settings that might add or omit reverb, extra bass, or maybe simulate certain venues--such as a stadium, a concert hall, a living room, a beer joint, etc.

Do you know that you are now using the same sound driver as before the SSD was installed? Maybe the repair service changed that too, accidentally or on purpose, for unknown reasons.

 

[ComputerDumby]

how do i check this?

 

[ComputerDumby]

i think my computer is proud of it's "Beats audio"

is that a driver?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I don't know "Beats audio" from Adam.

It may be lovely or a total disaster.

You should be able to access all sound control settings through Control Panel and drilling into all the options in the "sound" applet. Look for other possibly sound-related applets in Control Panel--you may have one named "Beats" or "Realtek HD Audio Manager" or whatever.

Drill down into each and every setting when you open the applet.

I've got Realtek sound. Below is a picture of what's shown when I open the Realtek applet in Control Panel. Lots of sound-changing crap I don't want or need. Notice that I have "environment" and "equalizer" set to "none".

You should be able to go back to earlier drivers, IF NECESSARY, through Device Manager.

 

[fireberd]

Beats Audio is HP's sound enhancement to the basic sound device. It is supposed to make the audio sound better.

Dell used to use SoundBlaster MB, which was similar.

 

[ComputerDumby]

this is frustrating.... sounds like crap.

 

[GokAy]

Did you try installing beats audio software/driver from HP support site yet?

 

[ComputerDumby]

i didnt, BUT i did contact the repair guy and (though busy) he also suggested i try this or bring it back in next week.

if you could link me to the place where i could do that I'd be really grateful

.....with myluck i would download the wrong thing and make it worse (as i did earlier today: resulting in no audio at all and then having to do a long system restore just to get the crappy sound back)

 

[fireberd]

The first thing I see, you do not have the correct sound driver installed. You list "High Definition Audio Device" which is the generic, basic function, Windows installed sound driver.

Install the correct sound driver (e.g. Realtek. Conexent or whatever your system has).

 

[ComputerDumby]

okay, if you will link me i'll do it.

 

[fireberd]

What is the exact model of the HP? Can't link you without that.

But, I'm leaving for the night. I'm a musician and off to a job. I won't be back on line until the morning.

 

[ComputerDumby]

let me know how to get you the model # and i'll send it over (true to my name huh ?)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Go to piriform.com

Download and run their free "Speccy" program.

Look over what it reports. Post the exact name and model number of whatever it reports about HP. Not the hard drives, not the RAM, not that stuff. The name and model number of the machine itself.

 

[ComputerDumby]

downloaded speccy, where exactly on speccy is the name and model number your needing? i dont see "machine" anywhere

on another note i think iv narrowed it to a pavilion m7 (probably still too broad for your taste i assume?)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

What does it say in Speccy re the motherboard?

Or try this:

BELARC PRODUCTS, BelManage, BelSecure, Data Analytics, Security Advisor, Belarc Advisor

and download and run Belarc Advisor and report what it says under "System Model".

 

[fireberd]

If this is your PC, here is the link to the IDT sound driver

HP Software and Driver Downloads for HP Printers, Laptops, Desktops and More | HP® Support

 

[ComputerDumby]

Model 181C (U3E1)
Version 078E100002205710000620100

 

[fireberd]

That does nothing. A google search does not turn up any HP Laptop.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Model 181C (U3E1)
Version 078E100002205710000620100

Where did that come from?

Did you run Belarc?