OK, enough is enought

Question

For the last 2 weeks, I've been listening to my 5.1 speakers pop and crackle.  No matter if it's a DVD, music from my HD, or a game....or just sitting here with them on, they tend to sound like a geiger counter.  I've tried to reinstall the audigy 2 zs sound card, no luck.  I've tried to disable the audigy sound card and use my integrated sound card.  No sound.  Dell don't know, Creative (and it's their stupid product) don't know, so anyone out there have any ideas?  I need to test to see if it's the sound card or speakers.  Let me know how I can enable and USE my integrated audio.

tommyo1954 · Answer

I've never had to enable mine, but my guess would be to go into the bios and enable it..... it should be disabled because of your Creative one being the default one used.  So I'd guess that you would need to enable the integrated one....   Also...  I think I read a (very) long thread about cracklin' sounds; I think it was on the Creative Labs user forum....  Seems to be a common problem.  Luckily, I don't have any troubles here, and I have Audigy 2 ZS installed in both my E-510, and 4700 too.... no difficulties at all..

vorcha57 · Answer

I've already tried that, when I brought up my media player, it told me that there was a problem with my sound device.  That would lead me to believe that there is something missing to make the onboard work.  Ideas??

kellinjar · Answer

That's interesting. I have an Audigy 2 ZS that just started crackling on me too. You might need drivers for the onboard audio. Try the support and downloads section, you should find them there.

[edit] Actually solved mine. Seems to have been a bad connection between center speaker and subwoofer. I took it out, blew it out and put it back it *seems* to have stopped. I did however switch it to my integrated audio to check, and thats all I needed to do. Enable in bios, disabled my audigy and installed the drivers from the downloads area.

Message Edited by kellinjar on 01-13-200708:46 PM

kellinjar · Answer

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R94481&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=2430&devlib=0&typecnt=1&vercnt=3&formatcnt=1&libid=3&fileid=122481
This one if the link works.
Otherwise its this file: R94481.EXE
Analog Devices ADI 198x Integrated Audio
Driver
Release Title: Audio: Analog Devices ADI 198x Integrated Audio, Driver, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Multi Language, Multi System, v.5.12.01.5246, A22
Release Date: 4/15/2005
Criticality: Optional
Description: ADI Onboard Sound Driver

Just goto technical support, drivers and downloads, search for the dimension 8400, and look at the audio drivers. There are only two choices, integrated and the Audigy 2 ZS

vorcha57 · Answer

So, what driver did you find that would work, the only driver I found was m3wua10a.exe and that wasn't it.

kellinjar · Answer

Well the driver is also likely on some of the resource CDs you got with your PC if you look around (and kept them). Dell just never installed it because you purchased the machine with a sound card, and they disabled it.

vorcha57 · Answer

Success!!! or in Klingon Qa'pla! Anyway found that pesky 94481.exe file and it kicks!  Never so glad to have something working right....thanks for the info it would be nice if the manufacturer of PC's could tell you what you need without going through so many hoops

tommyo1954 · Answer

Good news; glad you solved it....   Wow, I never would have imagined that installing the integrated audio driver would improve the audio quality of your Audigy soundcard........ first time I've ever heard of it...  Guess there's always something new to learn every day, lol...:smileywink:

kellinjar · Answer

and the crackling has stopped? Is there anyway you could try the soundcard in another computer? If its stopped, and you're still under warranty I'd get a hold of them for a replacement.

vorcha57 · Answer

Didn't want to cause any misunderstanding....I've completely disabled the Creative sound card and all of it's relevent software.  I'm now running solely with my onboard sound

tommyo1954 · Answer

Oh man, I feel like an idiot, lol..:smileyvery-happy:   Now I understand what you did....   I thought you were still using Audigy SoundBlaster, lol.   Yes, I'd definitely try and get a replacement if there's any possible way. That Creative soundcard is an awesome quality one; or so I've read anyways..  I love mine here....  I wish I could understand all it can do though.   Anyways, glad your sound is o.k. now...    Take care guys...   Tommy

kellinjar · Answer

Well I guess I'm a liar. I decided to turn my Audigy back on and as soon as I did and plugged my speakers in, the crackling is back. *sigh* I really am not looking forward to trying to get a replacement from them, I know its going to involve reinstall this, reinstall that, etc

vorcha57 · Answer

Yeah, the crackling stopped.  I had Dell support online with me last night for about an hour, gave him remote control over my pc, and he did all things that I had previously done.  Tried to tell him, but you know how some people are...anyway I finally just said 'how about this, tell me how to reinitialize my onboard sound'.  He gave me the steps to do this, again, same things I had done before.  I am so glad that I found this forum.  Everyday users seem to know more than these 'tech' wizards.  Anyway because my front headphone jack is connected to my SB card, I was getting the crackle through headphones as well.  As soon as I was able to get my onboard working, bypassing the SB no more crackle.  Logic would dictate captain, that the SB is on it's way out.  I appreciate the advice about getting Dell to give me a new one, however, I'd rather shoot myself.  I've asked Dell about upgrading memory in my wife's system and was told that I couldn't.  As soon as I crack her case, hide and watch what I can do.  And I know that if I have any problems, this forum exists.  Later guys.

vorcha57 · Answer

Since your SB card may be going up, you can probably install it yourself.  The new sound card should come with all you need to replace it.  I'm actually going to look into upgrading mine at some point.  Once it's installed, I'll just go into my bios and disable the onboard sound again.  Shouldn't be too much hassle. (hope, hope hope)

kellinjar · Answer

I'm fairly sure its a speaker issue for me. I've done some additional testing and it makes the crackling in the center speaker even when unplugged, and I paid attention and it did while plugged into the integrated one as well.
I've been on with them since my last post, I'm just now getting my dispatch number. But I tell you, wow what an experience. Even though I repeatedly explained "My speaker cables are on the floor, they are not plugged into the machine and its still doing it" she insisted on changing my drivers, and doing other completely unrelated things (like trying to install a patch which changed the optical drives from PIO to DMA). I'm glad this time its done in one call though and didn't take over a month.

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