Hi scotjudy333,

I am sorry about the situation, please connect a headphone and check if the issue persists? Also let me know the exact problem which you’re facing with the audio?

It would also be helpful if you would share the full model name of your laptop and the name of your operating system.

This may make me look dumb, but where do I find the model number you are referring to?  Sorry to be so much trouble.

The dvds I am trying to play are movies and tv shows (commericial, *not* home-made). 

I sure hope you can help me pin down what is causing the problem.

Oops -- forgot to include that my laptop's OS is Windows 7/64-bit.  Is there anything else you need to know?

Thanks for sharing that information. It might not even be necessary but often is.

The name Inspiron 17R is a generic name that Dell uses for marketing. The actual models under that name are Inspiron 5721, 5720, 5737, N7110, SE 7720.

What is the content of the dvd's? Are they movies or something else like a data disc full of music files?

DELL-Senthil S, sorry for intruding -- I was just curious as to the basic facts. I will leave the diagnosis to you.

It is a good question. You would think the model name would be prominently displayed on the case but it isn't on most models. On mine, it is on a black sticker on the bottom of the laptop, in very small print. Also, when you start or re-start the computer, there is a brief "Dell" screen with the model name displayed.

The parts-people (supplier of Dell parts) has a utility that displays the model name and service tag on the screen. Or you can enter your service tag number (on the bottom of the laptop) into a field on a Dell page such as this one.

While waiting for a reply from DELL-Senthil S, I'll make a couple of suggestions. Have you tried an audio cd in the optical drive? Or a data cd with audio files on it? If you can play and hear audio files from the drive then that would rule out a hardware problem. Then it might be a issue of just needing a certain codec for the dvd's..

Most Dell laptops have Cyberlink Power DVD player pre-installed, so look for that program (Start>All Programs) and use it to play a dvd. See if the results are any better.

Use the Dell PC Diagnostics utility to run a test on both your audio and the optical drive. Select the Hardware category.

Okay, I think I have found the model number on a sticker on the bottom of the laptop -- 7010-1046.  Does that look right?

I put a disc from an audio-book on, and it played normally with audio.  Is this suitable for the test you suggested (While waiting for a reply from DELL-Senthil S, I'll make a couple of suggestions.  Have you tried an audio cd in the optical drive?  Or a data cd with audio files on it?  If you can play and hear audio files from the drive then that would rule out a hardware problem.  Then it might be a issue of just needing a certain codec for the dvd's....)  How do I find out what codec I need for playing dvd's?  Please keep in mind that my knowledge regarding computer matters is somewhat limited.

So, what do I do now?

Oh, there's something that I forgot to mention before that might be significant to this problem.  When I play video files, I used to go to File/Open File in my media player (I use Media Player Classic), but recently I started not getting audio when I did that.  So now I play the video files by right-clicking on the file, and it plays normally with video.  Does this shed any light on the problem?

7010-1046.  Does that look right?

No, an Inspiron 17R would be an Inspiron 5720, 5721, 5737, N7110, or SE 7720. Did you see your Service Tag number on a white sticker? Just put that number into the Service Tag field on this page then click on Submit and you will go to your model's page.

Or use the parts-people utility and it will show you both your model name and the Service Tag number.

I put a disc from an audio-book on, and it played normally with audio.  Is this suitable for the test you suggested

Yes.

How do I find out what codec I need for playing dvd's?

Usually all of the codecs one needs are included with the player programs. If a codec is missing there is no way (that I know of) to know what it is, so people install generic codec "packs" that have a lot of codecs in them. Before doing that please try using the Cyberlink Power DVD player (Start>All Programs) and see if the results are any better.

Please keep in mind that my knowledge regarding computer matters is somewhat limited.

Well, just in case you are unfamiliar with forums, any words in blue letters are links that you can click on.

When I used your first suggestion, what came up was N7010.  Is that what you needed to know? 

What should I do next?

Okay, I will try downloading the VLC media player and get back to you about whether the audio works or not.

In the meantine, there is a question I have been thinking to ask you -- is it possible that an audio driver might be the problem?  If so, what do I do?

Because you have been able to play audio from the dvd player then I doubt that the driver is at fault. It is probably some problem with WMP which is why I wanted you to try a different player just to see if it works.

However you can re-install your audio driver by going to the Inspiron N7010 downloads page, select your operating system in the drop down box, then expand the Audio category and download the Realtek audio driver to your desktop. Here are the installation instructions:

1.Double-click the new icon on the desktop labeled R272187.exe.
2.The Self-Extracting window appears and prompts you to extract or 
unzip to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R272187. 
3.The Self-Extractor window appears.
4.Click OK.
5.After completing the file extraction, if the Self-Extractor 
window is still open, close it.
6.Click the Start button and then click Run.
7.Type C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R272187 in the Open textbox and then click OK.
8.Follow the on-screen installation instructions.            

You said:

Please try using the Cyberlink Power DVD player (Start>All Programs) and see if it plays the audio in a dvd movie.

Me:

I don't see Cyberlink Power DVD player in the Start menu in All Programs.  It's possible that I might have deleted it.  I'm sorry.  :emotion-10:

When I used your first suggestion, what came up was N7010.  Is that what you needed to know?

N7010 is  an Inspiron 17 model, not an Inspiron 17R, so your model is an Inspiron 17 N7010.

What should I do next?

Please try using the Cyberlink Power DVD player (Start>All Programs) and see if it plays the audio in a dvd movie.