Making popping/static noises and no sound

Before trying to fix the sound first make sure that the computer's hardware is still working. If it isn't then updating drivers and such won't fix the problem. Use the audio test in Dell Diagnostics. This interactive audio test is designed to narrow down the problem to either the software or hardware.

To run Diagnostics restart the computer and as soon as it starts to boot up hold down f12. Select 'Diagnostic' from the boot menu. The computer will run its pre-boot assessment tests for 3 or 4 minutes before the Dell Diagnostic starts. These pre-boot tests play some beeps and tones through the system speaker but this doesn't test the rest of the audio hardware, so you still need to let Dell Diagnostics run after the pre-boot tests finish. Dell Diagnostics plays an instrumental piece of music complete with drums, so if you only hear some tones then you have only run the pre-boot assessment test.

When Dell Diagnostics opens, select 'custom', then the audio test. This will test your audio system independently of Windows and drivers, meaning it doesn't matter if they are working correctly or not. Alternate between using headphones and listening to speakers in case only one is working.

[If you have ever reformatted your hard drive then the Diagnostics partition might have been wiped off. If the Dell Diagnostics option fails to open, run it from the Drivers and Utilities (Resource) CD if you have one.]

Dell Diagnostics will play some audio and ask you whether you heard it. If you answer 'no' then the test generates an error code that means you indicated you did not hear the sounds it played, but it doesn't and cannot pinpoint the exact component that has gone bad. If you don't hear the music during the test it definitely means there is a hardware failure somewhere in the system. In this case Dell will repair the computer if it is still under warranty.

If you do hear the audio that means the hardware is okay but there is a problem with the software or configuration.

Jim 

Because there are few replaceable parts in the audio system and because Dell Diagnostics cannot pinpoint the exact bad componenet, Dell often repairs audio system by replacing the entire motherboard which costs $500+. You would be better going to a local tech, but it is impossible for me to say whether or not your system is repairable short of a new mb.

Your other option is to use an external sound card or audio device. The 9300 can use either a pcmcia sound card that slides into the PC Cardbus slot, or less expensive usb cards or devices.

A complicating feature is the noises that your computer is making. If you just want to stop those so you can take the computer to class, first try to do so by removing the audio driver. Go to the "Add/Remove Programs" in the Control Panel and remove the current "Sigmatel" if it is there in the list of programs and restart the computer. If Sigmatel is not listed there, go to your hard drive, c:\Dell\Drivers\R...(Sigmatel driver file name) and delete the folder.

If the noises persist then unplug the speaker wire from the motherboard. You can find the service manual for 9300 here, and you can view it online or download it. The manual has all of the steps for partially disassembling the computer until you expose the motherboard where you should be able to see the speaker cable. Look at the 'speaker' section to see a pic of it.

In the course of disassembly keep an eye out for any loose wires that might be the cause of the audio not working. The error codes you got don't mean that the audio system is dead, but that you told the test that you did not hear the audio it played. So it could be a loose wire. The problem with that theory is that if it were just a loose speaker cable you would have at least heard audio through the headphones during the test. This suggests to me that the fault is somewhere between the motherboard and the headphone jack, or in the hp jack which is not a replaceable part.

Jim