PC speaker issues; help needed!...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:16 pm

OK, so I got our Sony Vaio (which runs on Windows XP) hooked up fine to our new computer desk. Internet and every thing works fine-except the speakers-I know that they are piugged into the proper port on our PC, as well as being plugged into a power-strip we have, but whenever I watch gameplay footage from IGN, or Gamespot, or try to watch a shmup video I've downloaded; there's no sound! Again, everything's hooked up, and I know the power is on with the speakers, because the green light, when you turn them on, is on. I even checked the volume at the menu on the lower-righ-hand side of the desktop, and the volume, at all levels, is turned up as far as it'll go.

So, what should I do? Any advice would be much appreciated; thanks!

Arcatech · Post by **Arcatech** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:49 pm

You might need to download some codecs for your media player.

Try doing a google search for it.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:24 pm

AFXisatwin wrote:You might need to download some codecs for your media player.

Try doing a google search for it.

Well, I already have DivX, so what would I need to download?

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:31 pm

Are you sure the speakers work?

Post by **Ghegs** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 6:46 pm

Indeed, from your post it's not clear whether you've actually ever heard of anything coming out of your speakers. If not, try to play an MP3 or a CD or one of the dozens of WAV files Windows comes equipped with.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:08 pm

Ghegs wrote:Indeed, from your post it's not clear whether you've actually ever heard of anything coming out of your speakers. If not, try to play an MP3 or a CD or one of the dozens of WAV files Windows comes equipped with.

Well, I know they are on, because I can hear some static when I turn the volume dial on one of the speakers up. Plus, I can hear some radio noise; in short, I'm hearing all the noises I would normally hear on my speakers-except when I try to play a game video, there's no sound. I just tried a CD, and no sound from that either.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:31 pm

So, most likely, you didn't hook them up correctly.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:34 pm

Or maybe his soundcard is going kaput.

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:47 pm

I'd be willing to put money on Dave having hooked his speakers up incorrectly.

ArrogantBastard · Post by **ArrogantBastard** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:51 pm

Either that, or the computer doesn't really have the sound drivers installed correctly. Check into that, too, Dave.

superhitachi4 · Post by **superhitachi4** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:04 pm

PM sent. omgtacosalad

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:21 pm

superhitachi4 wrote:PM sent. omgtacosalad

Thanks for the info in that PM. And thanks for the vote of confidence guys!

I may not be very PC-savy, but I'm not a total idiot-there's only 2 things you need to do to hook up the speakers-plug them into the only port on the Vaio's flat-screen monitor, and then plug in the speaker's power cord into the power strip that we use for our Vaio-I did both of those things, and it still doesn't work.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:26 pm

Uh, and isn't there an audio cable supposed to go from the computer to the monitor? Unless is a multi-connector, there's nothing feeding the speakers. Look for a headphone symbol or one that looks like soundwaves and an arrow pointing away from them.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:41 am

Specineff wrote:Uh, and isn't there an audio cable supposed to go from the computer to the monitor? Unless is a multi-connector, there's nothing feeding the speakers. Look for a headphone symbol or one that looks like soundwaves and an arrow pointing away from them.

Yeah, I have that plugged into it;s proper port; and Media Player Classic downloaded and installed, and I'm still not able to hear any music on our PC.

EDIT: Just checked all of our codecs, and for every one it says, "This Device is working properly,".

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:47 am

Did they work before you got the new desk?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 5:07 am

mannerbot wrote:Did they work before you got the new desk?

Yep, I didn't have any problems with them then.

Well, at least this isn't a serious PC issue, at least not for me, since I'm not a PC gamer-but I would still like to get the sound back at some point. I'll also have to give CompUSA, where we got this computer in May '04, a call-we signed up for their best service plan, so might as well use it.

D · Post by D » Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:06 am

Go to

START
SETTINGS
CONTROL PANEL
SOUNDS AND AUDIO DEVICES

In the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties, while in the first TAB (volume) press on the Advanced... button. This will open another screen with a sound mixer. Make sure nothing is ticked and all volumes are in the top position close it. Hopefully now you have sound.

Once you have sound try ticking the audio devices you don't need since they will produce extra static you don't need.

If this doesn't work go to the 3rd TAB (audio) and select another default device for Sound Playback to see if you have sound with another device.

Meddle around with these settigns and hopefully something will happen. try also with headphones, speakers might be faulty, but don't put the headphones too close to teh ears, the volume might be too high and I don't want to be held liable for deafness

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:31 pm

D wrote:Go to

START
SETTINGS
CONTROL PANEL
SOUNDS AND AUDIO DEVICES

In the Sounds and Audio Devices Properties, while in the first TAB (volume) press on the Advanced... button. This will open another screen with a sound mixer. Make sure nothing is ticked and all volumes are in the top position close it. Hopefully now you have sound.

Once you have sound try ticking the audio devices you don't need since they will produce extra static you don't need.

If this doesn't work go to the 3rd TAB (audio) and select another default device for Sound Playback to see if you have sound with another device.

Meddle around with these settigns and hopefully something will happen. try also with headphones, speakers might be faulty, but don't put the headphones too close to teh ears, the volume might be too high and I don't want to be held liable for deafness

Thanks for the suggestions! This being a flat-screen monitor, there is a speaker at the bottom of the front of it; perhaps the monitor isn't plugged into the hard drive firmly enough? But then, wouldn't there be other issues with the monitor?

mannerbot · Post by **mannerbot** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:14 pm

gosh I hope you didn't plug your monitor into your hard drive

FatCobra · Post by **FatCobra** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:13 am

Sounds like a messed up and/or integrated soundcard to me. Intergrated stuff just doesn't cut it anymore.....

Are you hearing the normal Windows dings and beeps though? If so, definitely a messed up card or drivers.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 4:25 pm

mannerbot wrote:gosh I hope you didn't plug your monitor into your hard drive

quoted for funnyness.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:42 am

FatCobra wrote:Sounds like a messed up and/or integrated soundcard to me. Intergrated stuff just doesn't cut it anymore.....

Are you hearing the normal Windows dings and beeps though? If so, definitely a messed up card or drivers.

I'm not hearing any of those sounds, and I did everything D said to do, and still nothing!

How could it be the soundcard when this thing is less then 2 years old?? We've had no other major problems with it; except regarding viruses, and that was from Internet Explorer and Outlook; neither of which we use any longer. Plus, it's telling me that all the sound codecs are functioning properly.

How much would a new soundcard cost?

ArrogantBastard · Post by **ArrogantBastard** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:41 am

Have you thought about plugging the speaker jack into the PC tower? Maybe that's the problem?

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:25 am

Dave, what if you take a pic of the back of the tower and the monitor's jacks and post it over here? Or better, tell us what's the model of your Vaio so we can look up the manual online and trouble shoot it. We want to help, but unfortunately, it's like we're flying blindfolded over here.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 9:35 pm

ArrogantBastard wrote:Have you thought about plugging the speaker jack into the PC tower? Maybe that's the problem?

Yep; that did it!

I had it plugged into the headphone jack on the side of the flat-screen monitor.

Everyone please excuse my while I have a nervous breakdown. Kidding! Seriously, though, thanks for your help everyone, even if it was just some humor to help me through this issue.