No sound out of my computer

richwhit

Hi all,
I've recently bought a second hand desktop PC and monitor and cannot get any sound out of it.
I've been told the sound was working fine before I received the computer and I'm not sure of something may have become loose in transit or whether I've not set it up correctly.
At the moment when the computer starts up I don't get the usual Windows jingle when it's opening windows.
Any help or troubleshoooting guidance would be really appreciated.
Many thanks in advance,
Richard

googler

Are there speakers built into the monitor?

If not, have you connected some form of sound system or headphones to an Audio Out on the base unit?

richwhit

Hi googler,

Yes the speakers are built into the monitor and I have tried putting my headphones into the Audio Out socket but no sound still - looking gloomy I guess??

Thanks, Richard

jackieblack

Set to 'mute'?

richwhit

Hi Jackie,
How can I check whether it is set to mute?
I have gone into Control Panel and Sounds and all it tells me is that there is no Audio Device connected??
On my old PC i had a speaker icon at the very bottom right of the screen which I could right click to open up options but on my 'new' pc it's not there.
Thx, Richard

jackieblack

I'm no expert but 'no Audio Device connected' sounds like it might identify the problem.


On my PC (running XP) in Control Panel, Sounds & Audio Devices, Volume Tab you have a couple of boxes:
'mute' and 'place volume icon in the taskbar'
The first should be unticked and the second should be ticked.

There is also a section for speaker settings, you can select the correct set up for your PC

googler

Make sure you put the headphones into Line Out, not Speaker Out, on the base unit, of course.

No signal at the actual output of the sound card indicates that something has happened between it working with the previous user and yourself. Maybe the sound card has become unseated from the motherboard slightly, in which case you need to open up the PC and reseat it. Lots of YouTube video guides on how to do this. Look for 'PCI card' tagged videos, or 'soundcard installation' or similar....

How many leads do you have between the base unit and monitor? Is an audio lead one of them?

richwhit

Thanks guys - Ok Jackie I see where you are at on the tabs but it does not give me an option of ticking those boxes so I guess that No Audio Device is the problem and once it detects an audio device then I will be allowed to tick/untick this box sooo.. guessing that I need to open up my PC to see if the sound card has come lose.
Will report back once I've tried this and thanks again guys.
richard

GunJack

no audio device connected probably means the audio driver is not installed.....make & model of the pc and may be able to steer you in the right direction for one....although if it's not a Dell chances are it'll be this one... pick the correct operating system and get that one...

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsCheck.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

tick the box and hit Next

richwhit

Thanks GunJack,

When I go in to the RealTek link you gave me I get 3 options

1.ALC5621 (Datasheets)
2.High Definition Audio Codecs (Software)
3. AC'97 Audio Codecs (Software)

Which one do I choose??
Thx, Richard

GunJack

it's an older machine, so more likely AC'97, and driver only

..just make sure you get the version to match the operating system...