Problem with Inspiron 6400 audio

Question

Hello All,   I got a new Inspiron 6400 one month ago, After first week, I found no sound coming from the internal speakers, I checked with my head set it was working fine, I tried un-installing the audio drivers and re-installing that, after this process I am able to listen sounds from the internal speaker. After a week again no sound coming from the speakers, I tried the same process but did not worked this time, I can able to listen to sounds only via external speakers or head set.   Can some one suggest some soluion for this   Thanks in advance   Regards HariKrishna Manne

pribis · Answer

Great, I only have had my 6400 for three days and I am having the same problem.  What gives?  Anyone?

cyruslam · Answer

I got the same problem b4. I plugged a microphone in and after a few days the internal speaker doesnt work. I have also tried to reinstall everything but the internal speakers doesnt work. I have also checked with the diagnostic program that come with the notebook, the speakers and soundcard work fine. And i come up with a conclusion that the Microphone jack got problem.   So i called dell and they changed the Motherboard for me. and now the speakers work fine.   Hope this help

pribis · Answer

Man, that doesn't help at all. I use this computer for a home business and I am a developer. It took me almost three days to get this system set up with all the software I use and to transfere everything from the old machine (which has been reconditioned for the family to use). I simply can't afford to it again or to be without my computer.

This just stinks. I wish I could blame Dell, but the last time I bought a Gateway and had the whole system go south the same day I bought it.

b--

Jim Coates · Answer

b, if decide to send your computer in you ought to be able to take out the hard drive so you won't have to re-install everything.

To confirm it is a hardware defect, run Dell Diagnostics.

To run Diagnostics restart the computer, 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. Alternate between using headphones and listening to speakers in case only one is working.

[If Diagnostics doesn't come up after holding f12, run the Diagnostic from the Drivers and Utilities (Resource) CD if you have one. If you don't, you can download the Diagnostic from your downloads page under 'Diagnostic Utilities'.]

The Diagnostic only reports whether or not you indicated you heard the sounds it played during the test. It can't pinpoint the exact component that has gone bad but that doesn't matter since everything gets replaced with a new motherboard.

If you decide to not send it in and you have to have audio, the workaround is to get a usb soundcard.

Jim

I remember the first computer I had was a HP desktop and trying to use MIDI with it kept crashing the system. Went through the run around with techs for months. Finally went to the store and bought a cheap Soundblaster card and solved the problem. I'm pretty sure it was a poorly written driver at the root.

pribis · Answer

jimco,

Oh, yeah. Now that you mentioned it, I did do a diag and the speakers worked fine. Must be a driver issue. Soon as windows starts up only the headphone jack works, not the speakers. Dell is sending me the disks I need to do a system repair. Maybe this will help. I can't help but think the problem is with the SigmaTel drivers.

Seems like SigmaTel must be storing the data somewhere that switches the speakers off. I wonder where?

Thanks for the advice.

b--

pribis · Answer

Well, here's one for you. When I ran into this problem the first time I tried uninstalling the driver and refreshing the device list (under device manager). This didn't work. Then I tried downloading the drivers from Dell and installing them. Rebooted. Nothing.

This time I uninstalled the drivers and then rebooted. Guess what? It worked! Not only is it working, but I can unplug and plug the earphones and everything does what it is suppose to.

Go figure that? Maybe I DID overwrite something installing my dev software. Can't imagine what. But there you go.

Hope this helps someone out there.

barney232 · Answer

inspiron 6400 well my sound packed up and only worked through the headphones but now that has gone and the sound icon has also disappeared from the taskbar! I am not at all used to messing about with computers, to try and retrieve things when i don't  even know where i would look for them anyway, is my best bet to call dell themselves or is it to do the diagnostic test that one of you was talking about? regards Barney

cyruslam · Answer

o..sorry man, i dont know how`s the warranty work in ur place. but in HK, I ring dell`s number and the technician come to my home the next day with a motherboard. That only take half hour at most for them to change the MB for me, as far as they didnt change any other parts (harddisk etc). Wont Lose any data. That`s y i suggested u to call dell and change the MB, worth to do it , save time~~   :smileyvery-happy:

cyruslam · Answer

Nothing much we can do other than change the MB, I got my 6400 less than a week and got the same problem. I have checked every, reinstalled the windows and the driver 3 times, and also tried different version of sound card drivers. every time when i just finished install the driver, a window pop up and state that the sound card have detected a device plugged in the Microphone jack (but i didnt plug anything at all).   Checked with the Diagnostic program, everythings fine, Tried to use headphone and works fine too. after that i tried to search on the internet and found that it is quite a common problem with the microphone jack (the thing that detect when something plugged in) always stuck.   So i decided to ring Dell and get someone to my home and check. Fast and easy.   If anyone have already tried to reinstall everything and have similar syptoms, then i really suggest u  call Dell and ask someone to check (if the warranty stuff works the same as Hong Kong). Only take half hour for them to change it at ur place, better than spending many 'half hour' urself trying to solve something that u can`t solve it with software. I have now got a new motherboard, which i think is the New version, working fine~   Hope this Help~~:smileywink:     Message Edited by cyruslam on 10-25-2006 11:21 PM

kicko · Answer

what exactly is the audio driver sigmatel?? or i see a legacy one listed, and if i do delete then reboot XP will find a driver, i'm just concerned since i do not have a restore disk

Jim Coates · Answer

Don't worry about not having a driver cd; you can download them all. If you have a 6400 here's the link: XP drivers for 6400/E1505 The Sigmatel is under 'audio'. Jim

thepanzer · Answer

Hi when i bought my laptop (inspiron 6400), on description was: Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy ADVANCED HD Audio- Trial Version But my driver is Sigmatel. What's the meaning of that 'Trial version'?

Jim Coates · Answer

The 'Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio' is software. The software consists of the Audigy drivers and what looks like the same Creative software bundle that comes with most Soundblaster cards. Dell sells this software for $25. Dell sells the 'Creative Audigy2 ZS' pcmcia soundcard for $89, but it won't fit into the Express slot of the newer Inspirons. If you want to upgrade the hardware the solution would have to be an external usb soundcard. The only integrated HARDWARE audio Dell puts on the motherboard of the Inspirons is built around a Sigmatel chip and that is why your driver is Sigmatel 92xx. This is what actually produces the audio whether or not you get the 'Integrated Sound Blaster Audigy Advanced HD Audio', either trial version or if you buy it.

thepanzer · Answer

ty jimco :)

mannehari · Answer

Hello Jimco,   Can you please help me out about this issue,   I tried downloading the sigmatel drivers from Dell website and uninstalledand re-installed still no use, can you please let me know and soluion for this...   More over I am unable to contact the dell support, because I bought my laptop in India, and now I moved o Germany for Long term stay, I need to transfer the warranty, I dont know how, I am some how managing it with external speakers as of now, But I cannot carry my external speakers where ever I go   Looking forward for your reply   Thanks in Advance Manne

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Problem with Inspiron 6400 audio

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