Sound issues

HELLO!

I've been lurking around this site for months, trying to solve this issue on my own. I love the site, have enjoyed playing with all the goodies--AND there are plenty of goodies!

Okay, so...I obviously have not been able to solve this issue, and I'm positive it's some little stupid thing that I'm just not seeing:

Internal speakers are not working. I do believe it started with a virus/hijack a long time ago. Older logs spoke of a new audio endpoint associated with my nephew's using a site associated with up and coming musicians, and downloading some software to facilitate uploading some of his art. I cannot be positive, but that is what I could get from the logs.
Last resort was to replace speakers--one connector did appear to possibly be pinched/with exposed metal (from manufacturer)folded over upon itself.
So new speakers and connectors are present.

Even before replacing the speakers, the device properties said the device was functioning properly--I just figured I'd make sure to do everything possible, just in case the system was nuts...

Should I have attempted a 'hot' install?? I dunno...sigh...

Thanks to your site, I did find some hooks and some virus issues--I believe those have been taken care of.

Laptop, Toshiba Satellite L515-S4960
Win 7 32 bit
High Def Audio, via Realtek


I recently discovered an audio driver and some driver updates that were missing, and hoped that was the great 'fix'...Then I thought that maybe there was an ORDER to the installation of the driver(s), so I uninstalled and reinstalled, starting with the MB.
Still not working.
Here's a snapshot from Speccy:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/jPbgT7XTmIpQMRjkloHszsV

Please feel free to ask/order me to do and undo...I feel very defeated, and am willing to do whatever it takes.

Thanks in advance... :-/

-anu

 

Oh...I also reinstalled my op system a few days ago, as another hopeful approach to a remedy--just in case any files were corrupt.

 

If you have a set of external speakers or headphones, hook them into the audio jack. If you get sound the issue is with the PC speakers.

If still no sound, go to CONTROL PANEL>SYSTEM>HARDWARE PROFILES. Is there a red "x" or yellow "?" by any driver listed? If so it means a missing, out of date or corrupt driver for that device.

Finally (even if Hardware Profiles doesn't show any issues), go to Toshiba's support site and download/install the latest sound card drivers for your model - Windows 7 doesn't always automatically update or install the latest driver versions.

Hope this helps.

 

Hi gman,
Thank you for replying!
Yes, exterior speakers and headphones both work--even without the newest drivers, they have worked--no markers by devices(ei: !,x,?); downloaded newest drivers on Toshiba's site...have installed and reinstalled.

No sound from internal speakers, still. That's why I'm really scratching my head over this one.
:-(

BUT I am really grateful you actually took a moment to help. Lots of reads/views on my post, but you're the only one who actually stopped in to try and help.
I really appreciate it.

-anu

 

Thanks for the compliment. :cool

Since the external sound jack works using headphones or speakers, you do not have a driver issue. If the audio driver was bad or missing you would not get any sound from either the internal or external speakers.

At this point - rather than tear the PC apart again and risking damage - my suggestion is to find a small set of external speakers that are powered either off the USB port or using replacable ("AA" type) batteries. They'll sound at least as good (if not better than) the internal OEM speakers.

Not sure what your budget on this would be, but these have decent reviews and look like they're small enough to carry around in a notebook PC case (or, if you're the only one listening, just use an inexpensive set of headphones):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...cm_re=notebook_speaker-_-36-121-047-_-Product

Good luck on whatever choice you make.

 

I wasn't 100% sure if I understood you there. Can you verify that you have already replaced the internal speakers and connectors? If yes, was that the hot (ie with the computer turned on) install you were refering to?

 

Howdy 94

Thanks for stopping by.

I guess I should've more carefully structured my sentence regarding the 'hot' install option to more clearly relay that I've yet to do that one step--I've done everything else under the sun, I'm thinking, but--to date, no attempt at 'hot' install. The thought of poking around in my laptop's innards while it's running and full of electricity makes me a 'little' concerned about frying the motherboard and everything else--so I'm still holding out on that....

The new internal speakers and connectors were installed... by a non-static laden me... in a very respectful, and cautious manner. Correctly installed, they still sit silently.

I'm holding out on the alternate install method until I've been guided and advised by far more advanced Techy people than myself on possible other approaches or re-approaches with slight variance.
People like you and gman...and anyone else who'd like to have a go at being the source of a happy ending to my audio endpoint bad bad dream...lol

I figure that I've already struggled with this issue for quite some time on my own, so why not just keep going at it, looking for a 'fix'-- but with new and fresh suggestions from people I might learn something from.

When I've heard from as many as are seemingly willing to take a moment to share their wealth of 'puter know-how' with this girl, here...I'm hoping some little step I've overlooked--or, perhaps a huge step I am just merely not educated enough to've seen as part of the process--will come to light. Yes, I'm hoping to get this issue resolved favorably.

Of course, after a passage of time in this forum, and after I've been given 'tips' and suggestions by many awesome and knowledgeable folks....If it appears, at that time, that I am no longer the only one who feels like a little square filled with tiny parts and chips and plastic thingies has got the best of me....Hmmm....AFTER THAT... if I'm still living in close-quarters with a psychotic laptop that seems to want to motivate me to lovingly take other than appropriate pc repair tools (oh...like maybe a hammer or a chainsaw) to its little 14", graphite gray 'fusion finish' convenient mobile processing 386 Intel Pentium dual core CPU containing foldy structure, cackling wildly as I cause its little itty bitty chipset processor to slowly turn to crumpled bits, falling out of contact permanently with its happy little dramm controller....Yes...hmmm...if a solution is never to be, and I'm left with only one option... then...BEFORE the power tools...I will try the 'hot' install.

-anu

 

Hi again, gman.

Yes, that speaker bar is an awesome second option! Thanks for the heads-up.

I think I'll get my order into Amazon soon, so that I'm at least not tangled up in wires and such from the traditional externals I've been using. LOL

BUT...if you come across an idea or you have a 'V-8' moment, and feel like sharing an 'ah-ha' about my stubborn and silent internal speaker issue, I'll still be lurking around these forums.

There are some really wonderful and very bright people wandering about the pages of this site.



Happy holidays!

 

First of all I wouldn't do a hot install. If you are very careful (and it sounds like you have been) then you probably won't damage anything, but there is nothing to gain from doing so. If you have access to a multimeter you could test to see if the connectors feeding the speakers are supplying current, but depending on the size of the connectors, its very easy to cause a short, and again there's not much to learn from the test.

I haven't a Windows 7 computer around to try this on, but could you navigate to the Audio section of the Control Panel (probably something like: Start -> Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio). With the earphones removed hunt around in the options there for the default output and see if it's sending audio to the speakers by default, or to a different socket (eg a digital audio out) instead. You could also revist the options after inserting the earphones to see how things have have changed, as that would indicate what is being toggled on/off when the earphones are removed/connected.

I'd be interested in trying to get the onboard mic to work (if your laptop has one) as they're often connected to the same controller that operates the speakers. I'd also like to know if you could set all your volume controls to maximum, put your ear onto the speaker and if you hear anything at all - very, very quiet sounds, or even a physical sound indicating the speakers are trying to do something.

Do the speakers connect to a board and that board connect to the motherboard, or do your speakers connect directly to the motherboard?

Finally these pinched wires you mentioned. However careful you have been, it is very easy to pinch the wires in the casing - as the manufacturer demonstrated! Could you verify that the new speaker wires haven't been pinched in the same way the old ones were? With the casing that holds the speakers loose from the rest of the case (but with the wires themselves still connected) would you please turn the computer on and verify the speakers still remain silent. If the connectors and wires look to be in good condition, can you find any other wires that the manufacturer may have pinched during assembly? Are there any signs of residue from a spill? Do any of the connectors look corroded or discolored?