No sound on laptop

LMac

Short version
no sound from laptop - not even when starting up.
However, did play sound during PSA last night.
PSA error code was 2000-0142 status 79
ran microsoft fix it - no problems found
read dell and microsoft help pages

IDT high def codec listed under speakers/headphones- shows as operating normally. Is that enough to play sound? I googled it and it says its a chip that compresses data...I used to be top of my class in computer studies. Wishing id kept it up!

long version

A while back (a few months) there was an odd sound coming from the side of my laptop. Like a bee buzzing against a window! The next day I noticed the sound didnt work on the laptop. I assumed it was the speakers gone kaput. Made brief attempt to diagnose using internet tools (dell and microsoft help pages) and then gave up. IIrc, this included reverting to a previous restore point. BIOS is in my head.

Last night I decided to have another go as I miss iplayer, and via instructions on the dell site I ran a PSA and the laptop played sound. Given me a bit of hope that theres a possibility of restoring sound on it after all. The only PSA error code was 2000-0142 status 79. I googled this and read it was about hard disk drive failure. (eek!) but im using the laptop now...

Now a lot of the help pages talk about sound cards, but this is a laptop. When I look under device manager it says IDT high definaition audio CODEC under Speakers/Headphones. It says that it is working normally. I have checked system sound and itunes sound (btw, itunes detects a problem with audio when opening)

Im not sure what else I can do. Tempted to drop it into the tech guy down the road while Im on hols next week, but if theres something simple Ive missed Id be very glad to hear it.

Figment

Are there any other options listed under Speakers/Headphones?

LMac

No, just the codec. I take it there should be?

Figment

Not necessarily.

Can you post (or PM if you prefer) the service tag for the laptop please

LMac

Thanks so much. I have PM'd.

Figment

PM received.

Go to Device Manager, right click IDT high definaition audio CODEC. Click Properties. Click the Driver tab. Provide the following info

Driver Provider:
Driver Date:
Driver Version:
Digital Signer:

LMac

Provider IDT
date 26/02/2010
version 6.10.0.6272
signer microsoft windows hardware compatibility publisher

thanks

Figment

There is a newer version of that driver available from Dell website here

LMac

Thank you - I did run a search for updated driver (automated search option!) but it obv didnt find that one.

I have downloaded and restarted computer. It said words to the effect of enhancements were affecting the operation of the headphones (i wasnt using headphones?) and did i want to remove the enhancements. I said yes.

Still no sound though

Figment

OK, Try the DELL driver instead of the IDT one.

Figment

If still no luck, there's a Microsoft Troubleshooter here and DELL diagnostics here