No Audio Output Device is installed, HDMI Audio Out Works

[Planthony]

No sound.
Little speaker with the red 'x' appeared yesterday
I have gone through the whole update drivers circus to no avail, my laptop can't detect that it has speakers built in so it doesn't bother finding a driver for them.

This is where I am at:
- Intel Display Audio is the only driver installed for sound
- This means that sound works when the laptop is plugged into an HDMI
- When HDMI is not plugged in, the computer cannot find the built in speakers.
- I have Linux on this system and audio does not work there as well

I would call this a broken chipset, but the fact that the computer still processes audio with the HDMI cable attached is confusing me. Also, the 'audio board' for this laptop has 2 usb ports attached to it, and those both work fine.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[oscer1]

Hi welcome to the forum

first thing i would check is the bios to make sure it is enabled.

 

[Planthony]

I've checked the BIOS, nothing there for audio options, I checked for an update to the BIOS on Dell's website and there is one(A01) but it is apparently 32 bit only and won't install on my setup since I'm running 64 bit

 

[fireberd]

HDMI is separate from the PC's audio. HDMI is generated (usually) from the video and apparently Intel HD audio from your post.

As the sound does not work in Linux suggests that either it IS disabled in the BIOS (Setup as Dell calls it) or there is a hardware problem with the Realtek chip (the audio you have). In the BIOS, on many Dell's, it can be listed as "legacy audio". Neither available Dell on-line manual details what is in the BIOS. Normally, the BIOS should not be updated (flashed) but in your case I would try it, even if it is the same version as you have. If that does not fix it, I would suspect a hardware problem. The audio is on a separate board in this model and connected via a cable. First thing I would try is reseating the audio board cables (it has two according to the manual) and see what happens. "Reseat" - unplug cable or board then plug back in.

 

[Planthony]

Thanks for the informative post,

I'll check the Dell Setup again and try to upgrade it again. (Why would Dell only offer an upgrade incompatible with 64 bit OS?)

I've tried reseating both cables a few times already, what puzzles me is that there are two working USB ports on the board as well, would that be strange that only part of the board(audio) is broken and the other(USB) isn't?

Thanks again for your time, it is much appreciated!

 

[fireberd]

The A01 BIOS is for both 32 bit and 64 bit OS (see the screen capture below). A01 apparently is the only BIOS version issued for this model. There is no "previous version" available. On BIOS' with multiple versions Dell will list previous versions.

I don't know what all is on the "audio" board. Whether its just jacks or if there are some electronics. But reseating is one step, if it does not work with Linux. You can download Ubuntu Linux and run it from a CD (and maybe a USB flash drive). It good for testing hardware problems such as this. If the sound works with Linux that tells you the hardware is OK and the problem is in Windows.
The leading OS for PC, tablet, phone and cloud | Ubuntu

 

[Planthony]

I have A00 on this laptop (system info screen capture below)
Downloading the A01 update and running the exe gives the error seen in the other screen capture.
Looks like if you go to the folder listed in the error there is a WIN_... version of that exe that might work.
I'll try that and get back.

 

[Planthony]

I was able to install the updates(A01) BIOS, but no new options regarding audio :/

I guess I'll have to call it a hardware failure since it affects both Windows and Linux.

Thanks all for the useful information!

 

[fireberd]

Dig inside and reseat the audio board cables, if you are up to that.
The Dell service manual HERE details how to do that.

 

[Planthony]

I have already tried that twice, just going to assume its the board.

Thanks