Sound issue

This is a unique situation that I've never encountered before in all my years with computers.

I have a 6 year old desktop that I've basically built (I bought it off of someone and have replaced most of the components over the years). I also have a 5.1 surround sound speaker system (Britz brand) that I bought in Korea (220V) 5 or 6 years ago. The speakers are solid wood, and have their own remote. The subwoofer has some sort of electronics in it, almost like a built-in receiver that control the speakers (options for different levels of bass, treble, center, surround, etc. along with different "modes" such as music, movie, etc.).

I'm sincerely hoping it's a software issue, because I don't feel like replacing my speakers.

The issue:

The volume on my system is about 10% of what it was. I've checked my sound card software, Windows, every application, for volume controls and have turned them all to 100% in an effort to affect it -- no effect. To give you an idea of what I'm experiencing, the actual speaker volume ranges from 0-80. I usually leave it at 50, and have the sound on the computer at about 50% and it is perfect for watching movies in my 10x20 foot living room. Now, with the speakers at 80, and computer volume at 100%, the sound is the equivalent of somewhat manageable but definitely not nearly as loud as I like it.

I did recently install Adobe CS5 Master Collection on my machine, but I can't isolate the issue to that, due to the fact that after the installation, I didn't restart my computer immediately, and another person in the house used the computer when the sound issue arose. I did uninstall the Soundbooth and Contribute (parts of the CS5 package), since I thought that possibly the Soundbooth was affecting it, but after uninstalling those items and restarting my machine, there's no difference.

I'm really hoping it's a software issue somewhere, but since the speakers are several years old, I can't rule out something going wrong on the board in the sub.

My specs (I used Everest Ultimate):

Hardware --
Gigabyte GA-K8N-SLI motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
3GB DDR SDRAM
2 internal IDE 500GB hard drives (I believe WD)
USB Hitachi 1TB hard drive
USB Hitachi 2TB hard drive
Toshiba-Samsung SH-S182D CD/DVD +/-R burner
C-Media CMI8788 Audio Chip

Software --
Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit) with all latest updates
C-Media Oxygen HD driver version 5.12.1.8
Major installed programs:
-Firefox 3.6.3
-Winamp 5.72
-Burrrn 1.14 beta2
-Imgburn 2.1.5.0
-Adobe CS5 Master Collection (minus Soundbooth and Contribute)
-Comodo Internet Security (includes antivirus and firewall)

If anyone requires more information to help me solve my issue, let me know. I would really like to resolve this!

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I couldn't figure out how to edit my post (apparently I waited too long), but subsequent to the post I have:

Uninstalled the complete Adobe CS5 Master Collection (including Adobe Media Player)
Updated my sound card driver to 7.12.8.1777
Rebooted the computer

However, none of those things have affected the volume issue.

The speakers are still CAPABLE of loud sounds... if I click the Mic feed button on the Xear3D (Audio Driver Application), it sounds loud static (even though I don't have a microphone connected).

 

Ok, so, you mean when the volume is high it sounds bad?

I can't understand very well your problem.

 

Do you have another set of speakers? Or another computer to test the current speakers?

 

I mean when the volume is SET to high... it's NOT high. For instance, everything is set to max volume (speakers, all computer settings), but it sounds like it's set to maybe halfway.

I have another set of speakers, but not another computer to test these speakers (I have a laptop, but it only has the one audio jack, this speaker set uses 3 audio jacks for the surround sound and etc.). The other speakers are only stereo, so yeah I'll have to try those I suppose.

I'll post an update after I test the other speaker set. I guess I didn't think of that.

I reinstalled Adobe CS5 Master Collection, since the uninstall didn't affect anything (it's a pain, too... between uninstalling and reinstalling it was about 3 hours).

 

UPDATE:

I tried the stereo speakers, same results as with the other speakers, so... the speakers are ruled out.

I am beginning to think it's the sound card. The actual sound card is a Bgears sound card ordered off of Newegg... it's no longer on Newegg, and doesn't seem to be manufactured anymore, Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Channel-Sourc...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1276332276&sr=8-1 ). And no, I didn't pay that much for it!

I re-seated the sound card, and after booting up, I got a BSOD. I rebooted, at the logon screen Windows 7 hung indefinitely, rebooted once more, another BSOD. I removed the sound card, rebooted, the computer is working fine.

I'm not very happy that the sound card seems to have gone bad. I looked it over and didn't notice any blown transistors/capacitors/etc. It looks like it's in perfect condition... so electronics go.

This sound card's getting replaced with an HT OMEGA CLARO.

 

Wooooaaaahhhhhh.

You uninstalled this software but you didn't mention how. When I upgrade my Realtek Drivers (audio), using CClean to uninstall and then using it to scan the Reg there are ~113 obsolete entries I can remove. Leaving these entires can cause "conflict" and or disabling effects.

Assess the "sound manager" settings beforehand (screenshot). I suggest you use CClean, properly remove the current drivers and reinstall. Access both the global (MS) sound and then your Sound Mang, ensure settings are as "expected". Test.....1.2.3.....

 

So, in this moment you're using HT OMEGA CLARO, and i suposse this one works "fine".

You can do the next tests:

- Try different software or websites to play sounds:

• VLC Player
• Some Video Youtube
• Install Klite Codec Pack

If the problem still

* You must uninstall successfully drivers and audio software.
* Go into Program Files and delete any folder with sound settings of your audio software.
* Run Ccleaner to clean registry
* Uninstall the sound device in "System > Device Manager"

Now, reinstall all, and if you can conserve only the audio driver without install the audio software that will be good to see any problem.

Sound settings have a lot of settings, disable all microphone settings nad check for some audio booster.

Tell us results, if you could send screenshots of your sound menus will be good.

 

When I get the time, I'll do the suggested troubleshooting... possibly tomorrow. Thank you very much for the suggestions, Bold Eagle and itmortiz!

I ORDERED the new sound card from Newegg (I'm in Germany), so it should be here in a week or so I'm hoping.

I did simply use Uninstall a Program from the Control Panel in Windows 7. I've used CCleaner before, but only for malware issues... I didn't realize it had an uninstall tool!

 

Okay, I'm once again stuck and assuming the sound card is at fault.

I completely removed all audio drivers/software, rebooted, shut down the computer, re-seated the sound card in the PCI slot, booted up the machine, installed the latest audio driver/software from the supporting website, rebooted, and while I didn't get a BSOD, I also have absolutely ZERO sound, even after configuring all of the sound options. Screenshot links below of current settings:

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66060

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66061

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66062

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66063

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66064

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66065

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66066

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66067

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66068

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66069

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66070

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66071

http://flickcabin.com/public/view/full/66072

 

By the way, the BSOD code was:

0x00000124 (0x00000000, 0x8D121024, 0xB2000000, 0x00070F0F)

 

Read this:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;952681&x=19&y=12

Was usefull?

 

Somewhat, thank you. I did google the 124 stop code, and didn't come up with any actual solutions from it. Either way, after I un/re-installed the audio drivers/software and re-seated the audio card, I'm not getting anymore BSODs. Just no sound at all now. Heh.

 

I finally got the HT Omega Claro sound card today, and successfully installed the card/drivers. It's a better sound card, anyway -- I definitely noticed a difference! It works perfectly, so I'm thoroughly convinced my old card was bad.

 

Good to see you have it sorted.

 

I turned on my computer (Dell Dimension 4550) this morning, to a loud buzzing sound. It was suggested I try to clean the fan blades -- not easy to reach. I did try, and shot some Wd40 in there too, but couldn't see that I was reaching any real joints. It's not a chirping sound as some fans make, it's a continuous loud BUZZZZZ. I'm wearing earplugs to work at my computer.

Any suggestions? And I couldn't see how to start a new topic, btw, so I hit reply on this topic.
LJTexas