Help! - No sound from my PC

cosmic_surfer

Hi all, it's a long shot i know but wonder if anyone has any suggestions?

I've switched my week old dell on tonight and can get no sound from the speakers. I've just checked the speakers on my minidisc, they're working fine.
I'#ve got a Soundblaster 24 Live card in my pc, which says it's fine according to the device manager.

Any suggestions would be extremely well received!!
Cheers

Toxteth_OGrady

Have you got mute inadvertently selected?

:cool:

TOg

cosmic_surfer

unfortunately not! :-(

all i know is that it was all working when i switched off last night, today nothing!

backflip

OK, if not mute how about volume level or headphones plugged in?

cosmic_surfer

no, everything's just as i left it last night.

Can't help but think it must be something to do with the soundcard, don't see that i can do too much with that though.

backflip

If you are reluctant to delve inside to check the seating of the card, I'd let Dell be aware of the problem and get them to sort it. Likewise system restore is possibly an option but again I'd let Dell advise you first. Juggling about with settings and peripherals (cables etc) is one thing but taking the lid off is something I'd leave to the retailer.

criminal_smile

Absolutely no need to fear taking the lid off the pc. Just make sure the power is switched off and the power lead disconnected so you won't fry.
Once open, just make sure all AGP and PCI cards are pushed firmly in. Continually plugging in and pulling out cables (or bouncing your pc around the room) can cause the cards to work loose from time to time.
While you're in there, see if it needs a bit of a clean. You'd be amazed at the dust that can build up. A soft paintbrush can clean most of it, but for those hard to reach spots, invest in a can of spray air. Blows the dust out of the crevices and from around the fan. Once this done, power up and try the sound again.

backflip

I agree that there is nothing to fear in taking the lid off but I don't know how Dell would react bearing in mind the system is only one week old, that is why I suggested he get in touch with them first before he does anything. I'd hate to see any problem with his warranty or any hassle because Dell didn't authorise taking the lid off. Also with it being only one week old I doubt there would be a sufficient accumulation of dust in that period to cause any problem.

Toxteth_OGrady

Is your sound card showing in Device Manager?

Or try running the sound diagnostics in dxdiag.

Go Start -> Run, type dxdiag in the box and OK.

Go to the Sound tab and run the tests.

:cool:

TOG

Browntoa

try a windows restore, may be a corrupted driver

should be an initial one from when they set the machine up