It's probably a defective headphone jack. The 9100 is unique among the Inspirons because you can buy and replace the part containing the jack. The part is the F2 fan assembly, item # M1306 and it costs $14.95 . You have to contact Dell to get it. Here are some threads about various 9100 jack issues:
Inspiron 9100 thread with pics of the f2 fan assembly:
"Dell Online Help said they were broken and that is that and I need to buy new ones"
Does the 'they' refer to the built-in speakers. If so their diagnosis is likely wrong. Speakers rarely 'break', and not both at the same time and at the same time the headphone jack goes bad.
The audio signal has to pass through the jack on its way to the speakers. A bad jack, common in the 9100, will affect the headphones, internal speakers, or both.
My sound went out when I was in the process of converting audio format from analog (cassette) to digital (MP3). I connected a walkman to my 9100 using male-to-male audio jack (walkman's headset plug to 9100's headphone plug). When I was playing back the recording, I unplugged the jack on my 9100 and suddenly the sound went out.
I tried every step there is to try & fix it (from simple troubleshooting, uninstall/reinstall audio driver, restoring the system to previous state (using System Restore), running system diagnostics, replacing the F2 fan, even reinstalling Windows), but to no success.
In fact, after I reinstalled Windows, not only that my sound is still out; but my Bluetooth, infrared, and Wi-Fi don't work also!
With the headphone jack problem, usually there is some warning that it is going bad. Run the audio test part of the Dell Diagnostic again using headphones and see if you hear anything. If absolutely all sound ceased all at once then it could be a different problem. If you wiped the Dell Diagnostic partition when you did the OS re-install you can run Diagnostics from the Utilities cd-rom or download it.
Next you should make sure you did the OS re-install correctly. After you have performed an OS reinstallation, you should then install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), then Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset). After these are installed then install the audio and other drivers. Find all of these on your downloads page. You might be able to install the NSS & chipset now and reinstall drivers, or you might have to redo the entire OS installation if you didn't install the NSS.
After you are sure the OS reinstall is correct, then if the devices still aren't working check in the Device Manager for a "PCI Device" with a yellow question mark next to it, under the "System Devices" grouping. Hit 'update driver' on that one, and it should find a driver.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
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13.6K Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 01:00
Inspiron 9100 thread with pics of the f2 fan assembly:
9100 jack thread
Another 9100 thread with a tip about fixing a bad jack without replacing it:
another 9100 thread
And
yet another 9100 thread
Jim
theblackadept
2 Posts
0
August 23rd, 2006 01:00
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 11:00
Does the 'they' refer to the built-in speakers. If so their diagnosis is likely wrong. Speakers rarely 'break', and not both at the same time and at the same time the headphone jack goes bad.
The audio signal has to pass through the jack on its way to the speakers. A bad jack, common in the 9100, will affect the headphones, internal speakers, or both.
Jim
s1x6x1s
3 Posts
0
August 28th, 2006 02:00
My sound went out when I was in the process of converting audio format from analog (cassette) to digital (MP3). I connected a walkman to my 9100 using male-to-male audio jack (walkman's headset plug to 9100's headphone plug). When I was playing back the recording, I unplugged the jack on my 9100 and suddenly the sound went out.
I tried every step there is to try & fix it (from simple troubleshooting, uninstall/reinstall audio driver, restoring the system to previous state (using System Restore), running system diagnostics, replacing the F2 fan, even reinstalling Windows), but to no success.
In fact, after I reinstalled Windows, not only that my sound is still out; but my Bluetooth, infrared, and Wi-Fi don't work also!
Any suggestions?
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
August 28th, 2006 10:00
Next you should make sure you did the OS re-install correctly. After you have performed an OS reinstallation, you should then install Dell Notebook System Software (find it under System & Configuration Utilities), then Intel Mobile Chipset (find under Chipset). After these are installed then install the audio and other drivers. Find all of these on your downloads page. You might be able to install the NSS & chipset now and reinstall drivers, or you might have to redo the entire OS installation if you didn't install the NSS.
After you are sure the OS reinstall is correct, then if the devices still aren't working check in the Device Manager for a "PCI Device" with a yellow question mark next to it, under the "System Devices" grouping. Hit 'update driver' on that one, and it should find a driver.
Jim