The solution worked. I already had the audio driver on my computer and did an exe comaptibility to the windows 7 option which I believed would be closest to Windows 8. Re-installed the file, reboot, and now the sound system works fine.
Inspiron 1420 is offered with Windows XP/Vista operating system and accordingly the drivers are updated on our support website. I am afraid the Windows 8 audio drivers are currently not available for this model.
I have provided a link below to run Microsoft Fix it for Audio issues on the computer.
Thanks for your quick response. I ran the "pre-boot self assessment" and the internal speakers worked. However, I noticed the sound card was labeled for analog sound. Still not working on the re-boot. Will Dell update the audio driver soon? That will solve the problem.
No. The Inspiron 1420 model had Sigmatel HD audio hardware. The Sigmatel company has long been out of business, since before 7. The last drivers from it were in 2008 and there will not be anymore. Dell does not support 8 on the 1420 anyway, as Rajesh said, so it is a moot issue (about the company being out of business).
I am surprised that your audio does not work through the speakers because even though there is no Sigmatel 8 driver, still Vista, 7 and 8 all contain a native (basic) HD audio driver that should get installed in the absence of a Sigmatel driver, and should allow the speakers to work. Are speakers selected as the default playback device in the Sound properties?
You could try installing the Sigmatel Vista driver into 8. The way you would do that is to download the Sigmatel R171786 HD audio driver, Follow the instructions to the point where you unzip the driver package to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R171786, but do not continue -- do not run the installer and if the driver starts to install automatically "cancel" the process.
Next, go to the folder on the hard drive to which you unpacked the driver files [c:\Dell\Drivers\R171786]. Find the setup.exe file and right click on it. Select the Properties. Find the compatibility tab and select Vista.
It will install if it can, however, I don't think it will be able to because the driver is for a 32bit operating system and 8 is 64bit, so you will probably just get an error message.
I would like to suggest the possibility of a hardware problem. I understand that the speakers worked in Vista but coincidences can happen. See the 1st section of the Headphone Jack FAQ for the kind of hardware problem that will allow audio in the headphones but not speakers, and yet allow the speakers to pass a diagnostic test.
Nick211
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November 28th, 2012 12:00
The solution worked. I already had the audio driver on my computer and did an exe comaptibility to the windows 7 option which I believed would be closest to Windows 8. Re-installed the file, reboot, and now the sound system works fine.
Thanks,
Nick
Dell-Rajesh R
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November 26th, 2012 13:00
Hi Nick,
Inspiron 1420 is offered with Windows XP/Vista operating system and accordingly the drivers are updated on our support website. I am afraid the Windows 8 audio drivers are currently not available for this model.
I have provided a link below to run Microsoft Fix it for Audio issues on the computer.
http://dell.to/JHUZC9
If the issue still persists run a Computer Diagnostic. Run Preboot self-assessment on the computer to isolate the issue.
Awaiting your response!
Nick211
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3 Posts
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November 27th, 2012 12:00
Thanks for your quick response. I ran the "pre-boot self assessment" and the internal speakers worked. However, I noticed the sound card was labeled for analog sound. Still not working on the re-boot. Will Dell update the audio driver soon? That will solve the problem.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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November 27th, 2012 15:00
No. The Inspiron 1420 model had Sigmatel HD audio hardware. The Sigmatel company has long been out of business, since before 7. The last drivers from it were in 2008 and there will not be anymore. Dell does not support 8 on the 1420 anyway, as Rajesh said, so it is a moot issue (about the company being out of business).
I am surprised that your audio does not work through the speakers because even though there is no Sigmatel 8 driver, still Vista, 7 and 8 all contain a native (basic) HD audio driver that should get installed in the absence of a Sigmatel driver, and should allow the speakers to work. Are speakers selected as the default playback device in the Sound properties?
You could try installing the Sigmatel Vista driver into 8. The way you would do that is to download the Sigmatel R171786 HD audio driver, Follow the instructions to the point where you unzip the driver package to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R171786, but do not continue -- do not run the installer and if the driver starts to install automatically "cancel" the process.
Next, go to the folder on the hard drive to which you unpacked the driver files [c:\Dell\Drivers\R171786]. Find the setup.exe file and right click on it. Select the Properties. Find the compatibility tab and select Vista.
It will install if it can, however, I don't think it will be able to because the driver is for a 32bit operating system and 8 is 64bit, so you will probably just get an error message.
I would like to suggest the possibility of a hardware problem. I understand that the speakers worked in Vista but coincidences can happen. See the 1st section of the Headphone Jack FAQ for the kind of hardware problem that will allow audio in the headphones but not speakers, and yet allow the speakers to pass a diagnostic test.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
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November 28th, 2012 13:00
Thanks for the feedback, Nick. Knowing what works adds to to my understanding, and to that of others who will see this thread.