Audio problem alienware m17xr4

Hi RamonCampos,

Appreciate your expertise in trying most of the steps. Request you to run Alien Autopsy by following the below steps:

(1) Launch Alien Autopsy from “All programs” which is pre-installed in the computer.

(2) Click on “PC checkup” option on the right side of the screen and then select “run PC checkup”.

(3) On the right side we can find various tests available. Click on “run test” mentioned next to the sound card option.

(4) Make a note of the test results.

Also let me know if you have connected any external sound device, do check if the same issue happens if you connect a headphone to the computer.

Do reply with your findings.

Hello Kiran

Thanks for your answer. As i said in my previous post, sometimes restarting fix the issue, so, after all night off, when i restarted it in the morning, everything was working perfectly...the problem is, it s not the first time and i know it will happen again, maybe in 2 days, maybe in 2 hours, maybe in 2 months....but it will.

Answering to your questions, now that the problem is fixed, i guess running the alien autopsy is useless.

Anyway, i had done it sometimes when the issue was still "active", and everything in the checkup was PASSED (in green letters), and i did it for all system, not only for the audio, just in case it was something else triggering the issue.

I did the test only for the audio a couple of times, and always it was PASSED

Furthermore i have done the full checkup just when the system has become to normal (after restarting and having the sound back) and everything was PASSED too.

Once again thank you for your answer and help.

Ramon Campos

Hello Kiran

anyway, i wonder if you know about any other solution possible....because my guarantee ends in august and i would like to solve this problem...it happens to me quite often...

Thank you for your patience

Hi RamonCampos,

We have tried doing a few troubleshooting steps, unfortunately nothing helped. Request you to refer the below links to do a PC restore depending on the type of Operating system you have which might help:

http://dell.to/Wj1rZe Windows 7

http://dell.to/19hFxLQ  Windows 8 (Restore option)

Note: Please backup the data before attempting this.

If you have further questions do reply to the same thread.

Hello RamonCampos.I have been following this thread and I also do not have any real answers. The next time it happens you might check to see if Windows Audio Service has stopped. If so, that could indicate a problem with Windows itself. 

[Go to Start>Run and type "services.msc" (without quotes) then hit the 'Enter' key (or click 'ok'). The Services window will appear. Scroll down until you find "Windows Audio" towards the bottom of the list.]

If that is not the problem. then there might be failing hardware that is the cause of your intermittent symptoms. If you restore your laptop to the original factory configuration as advised by Kiran K and the problem persists BEFORE you make any configuration changes at all -- in other words don't let any updates from the internet happen -- then that means a hardware failure.

Lastly, you might not be aware but we have a section for Alienware owners, the Alienware Club, that specializes in Alienware problems. If you happen to have a known issue they would know about it there.

I have been following this post with interest as well. Because the same thing happens to my computer often. I did find a few patterns. First, if I close the late of the computer and it shuts down or goes to sleep rather I often lose the audio. It happens most often if I partially shut the lid and then reopen it. It also often happens if I shut the lid well there is somebody is going on. I can usually get it back, by turning the computer off removing the battery pack unplugging it and leaving it set for several hours. However, That is terribly inconvenient. Otherwise, when the audio is working, it's great! Over all, I like my Dell Alienware computer. However, this is annoying. And, for me, it is very difficult, because I use my computer to do things like edit video, for what you need audio.

I have been following this post with interest as well.

Hello. Is your laptop an Alienware?

In my reply to RamonCampos, I told him that the Alienware Club board would know of any known issues. As it happens this is a known issue and they have an article about it in their Alienware FAQs section. The article basically says that if the problem persists after updating BIOS and audio driver, then the "system needs to be serviced". I hope that RamonCampos saw that before his warranty expired.

Alienware M14x R2, M17x R4 & M18x R2: Intermittent sound, sound card not detected

EDIT: Dell has removed the article that explained the problem. Unfortunately, I did not save a copy of the article, which is a shame because it was a very rare instance of Dell officially acknowledging an audio problem.

I just had the exact same problem as yours!

I found a solution. Not perfect, but it works most of the time. I reinstall the sound driver, but then when the computer restarts, I turn it off and remove the battery pack for about two hours or more. That seems to reset it. It only happens when the computer shuts down unexpectedly or if I close the lid. 

Hey Ive been having the same problem with my Alienware M17x R4 But for me it happens randomly Like at anytime It doesnt matter if i close the lid or anything the audio works fine it's just at random times it happens and aswell to fix it restarting the laptop works... But ive had 3 problems with my laptop 

1: The Audio Problem

2: The Alienware FX Key (Like the button you press above the Numpad to open the Alienware FX Editer) That doesnt work for me I dont really mind it since i can just open the program on my desktop but still Eh.

3: Around the first few months my laptop screen has gone black randomly First time it was kinda my fault cause i was playing minecraft with the shaders mod And i kept screwing around with the graphic settings and all of a sudden the screen froze and went black... and i couldnt turn my laptop off so i had to wait untill my battery died Dx The second time was when i exited out of a game and clicked steam and the screen froze. But this happend months ago and never happend since.

An older post, I know.  But never found a workable solutions so... I just experienced this on my m17x r4 after a factory reset. The sound card or mobo is not bad, it is not hardware, it is software.  My issues were caused by a RegCleaner I used to clean things up after the install.  I am able to duplicate and repair.  I am not sure what caused yours but here is the process I used to get it going. One other key thing, I have an Nvidia 680m in mine.

My Process:

PreDownload Driver/Software package from Alienware Support site. Package should be 'Creative Labs CT9570 Audio Driver' I did find it myself.

Uninstall all Creative software. Reboot

Run Drive Sweeper after reboot and again reboot (careful here, only select Creative Sound)

After reboot, run Drive Sweeper again.  Choose Analyze. It should be empty.

Shutdown computer for a couple minutes. Reboot.

Your Nvidia Digital Sound stuff should be re-detected and reinstalled. Once install complete for them, Run 'Creative Labs CT9570 Audio Driver'

Reboot when prompted.

After reboot, it should work and all Software should be installed.  Just to be safe, right click speaker and select playback devices. Your Soundcard should be checked.

Goodluck!

I have a solution:

throw your alienware laptop out the window. and go buy asus.

Telling Dell wont change anything, because its a known problem, and they dont give 2 .

PS: yes i have the same problem on my alienware 13. fixed it by buying asus,

I have to agree with gorillaluce. After paying over 2k for my M17x r4 and being told there will be no drivers for Win 10 and now multiple problems including this one. Considering selling this one to some unsuspecting fool that still thinks Alienware makes quality products and supports them. I really enjoyed my laptop, but the frustration has robbed my of that.  

I solved my problem by plugging in headphones before I start up the computer every time and after it starts up just unplug the headphones and the sound should keep working (works every time for me at least... maybe it will help anyone else still having this issue?)