NO SOUND!!!

Here is my troubleshooting checklist in no particular order, based on posts from other forum members (start with #3 ... Diagnostics):

1. Check the volume. Open Audio Properties (right click on the volume icon on the taskbar, or go through the Control Panel/Sounds & Audio Devices). Select the Audio tab. Click on 'Volume' under 'Sound Playback'. Also check the volume control of the audio apps or players you use.

2. Try System Restore. Go to Start/Help & Support/System Restore and tick 'Restore my computer to an earlier time'.

3. Run Dell Diagnostics audio test. If that fails then it is a hardware problem which would need to be fixed by Dell, or you could get an external soundcard. To run Diagnostics restart, and as soon as it starts to boot up hold down f12. Select 'diagnostic' from the boot menu. It will run some tests for a couple of minutes before the diagnostic comes up. When it does select 'custom', then the audio test. This will test your audio system independently of windows and drivers. If this test fails then forget about all the other stuff. Alternate between using headphones and listening to speakers in case only one is working.

If Diagnostics doesn't come up after holding f12, place the Drivers and Utilities CD in your computer and run the Diagnostic from that. (Tip from Yves Jean: "if you don't have the diagnostics partition and if its really a hardware problem you can confirm it by running the PSA diagnostics.On the part that says "were color bars displayed?" intentionally fail it by pressing No, If you hear sound from the internal speakers then the sound is definitely working.")

4. The audio drivers might be corrupted. There is no way to tell if the drivers are corrupted except by uninstalling and reinstalling them and then trying to use your audio again. Go to Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager. Find the audio driver under Sound Controllers and right click on the driver and then click Uninstall. Shut down the computer then restart. Windows should automatically detect your device and display a wizard that helps you reinstall the drivers for it. If this wizard does not appear, reinstall a new driver manually.

5. Re-install drivers manually. If you do not have the 'Drivers and Utilities' cd then

> Look above in the blue bar and hoover mouse on 'Notebooks', then click on 'Inspiron' and then on 'Drivers & Downloads'.

> Enter your Service Tag number and click on the arrow next to the number. (If you don't know your Service Tag number then leave that box blank and instead select your Product model from the 2 dropdown boxes.) Click on the arrow.

> On the next page select your operating system and system language. Click 'Find downloads'.

> The next page will have a list of all of the drivers and applications that Dell has provided for the model and operating system you selected. Click on 'Audio Drivers'.

6. Try installing an older version of the driver. The newest drivers sometimes have bugs or are in some way incompatible.

7. If the driver won't install, remove the modem and again try installing the driver. This tip comes from AussieChris, a regular on the Audio board and a technician, who discovered that on some models with a bad modem the drivers won't install. Chris says, "The symptoms range from saying no audio hardware present, to running with no sound. Typical is the audio icon goes away, and the settings are greyed out." If you are able to install the driver after removing the modem then you might need to replace the modem.

8. In Services (Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Services) check that Windows Audio is enabled, set to automatic, and running. Audio won't work without this Service.

9. In Device Manager (Start/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/System Tools/Device Manager/System Devices) check that 'Plug and Play Software Device Enumerator' is installed and running. It will be listed alphabetically if there. If not , then you need to reinstall it.

10. Go to Start/Run and type in sndvol32.exe to make sure the system mixer is installed and running. The audio drivers won't stay installed without this application being installed and running correctly.

11. Try the generic Intel AC97 driver. These instructions are if you have the SigmaTel driver in the first place. If this doesn't apply to you, just find your driver properties and 'rollback driver.' That might install the AC'97.

> Go to Start/Control Panel/System/ Hardware tab, then click on Device Manager. Go down to Sound, Video, and Game controllers and right click on SigmaTel. Choose properties.
> Go to the Driver tab and click on Update Driver.
> Answer "No" to the Windows Update question.
> Choose "Install From List or specific location".
> Hit next and then choose "Don't Search, I will choose driver I want to install".
> You will get a list of Sigmatel drivers. Uncheck the box that says "show compatible hardware".
> Select Intel, and then select "Intel AC 97 Audio Controller". XP replaces the SigmaTel driver with the Intel AC97.
> To reinstall the SigmaTel just select "Rollback Driver".

12. If you have performed an OS reinstallation, install Notebook System Software, Intel Chipset, Video, Audio, Touchpad, then the other drivers in that order. If you did it differently you might have to redo the installation. Complete instructions are given in the links above. Look in the blue bar and hoover mouse on 'Notebooks'.

Jim

And if none of the above works?

I have no active mixing devices available when I try to run "sndvol32.exe". I have no idea how to install mixing devices. "sndvol32.exe" is on my PC but what good does it do me if I have no sound?!?!?!?!?!?! My laptop came with NO disc that I can put in. Ive tried EVERYTHING from uninstalling/reinstalling, updating drivers, rolling back drivers, downloading new drivers and shipsets, repair wizard, add hardware wizard....EVERYTHING.

Why cant anyone figure out how to fix my sound? Nobody. Techs, geeks, dorks....NOBODY at dell or microsoft can figure it out?

Im about to office space this laptop and buy a friggin mac.

' And if none of the above works?'

Some of them are for diagnostic purposes. You didn't say what result from running Dell Diagnostics audio test.

'"sndvol32.exe" is on my PC ' Did you do a search for sndvol32? It should show up in a couple of places on the hard drive. The one you need to confirm is there is in the system32 folder.


'I have no active mixing devices available when I try to run "sndvol32.exe". '

You might need to re-install sndvol32 but you would need an installation disk for that. On some of the newer models there is a Dell restore function (not Windows System Restore) that allows you to restore the computer to its original configuration. If you have that you could give it a try. You'll have to back up all of your data but if you get a mac you'd have to do that anyway.

If you don't have that function then you can contact Dell and get an installation cdrom from them.

Jim

I had this "no sound" problem, along with "no touch pad" and "no stick". Turned out to be a loose palmrest connector. Removed the keyboard, pressed the plamrest cable snugly into the mobo socket, and everything popped back into life!