Problem : I have suddenly been unable to play any sounds on my Laptop.
Hello. On the face of it, it appears that it is a configuration issue. Bluetooth audio is selected to be the default device. To have audio through your laptop's speakers go to the Sound properties Playback tab, right click on Speakers to open the context menu, then select them to be the default playback device.
Also, I notice that you are using the audio driver that is native to Windows. That one should work fine to give you basic audio functions. However if you notice that some of the hardware does not seem to work exactly right such as the jacks, then install the Conexant audio driver that Dell provides for the Vostro 1088. Conexant is the manufacturer of the audio hardware that Dell put on your motherboard and its driver is tailored specifically for that hardware, whereas the Windows driver is generic.
A lot of the information in your post is about Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless connection technology. Unless you have some external wireless audio device that you are trying to play audio through, you don't need to have the Bluetooth working. To get other drivers for your laptop, go to the Vostro 1088 downloads page. Dell does not support Windows 7 64 bit on your laptop -- only 32 bit -- but some of the individual drivers such as the Conexant do support 64 bit, so you might be able to find what you need.
If you have not previously done so, I suggest that you install the Intel Chipset software for the Vostro 1088. That software makes it easier for Windows to identify the components on the motherboard.
I tried all of the options you mentioned - Conexant Drivers installed, Chipset Installed, Speaker is the default playback device. I still have no sound.
Is there any other checks that I need to do?
(About the Bluetooth Peripheral device, is it differet from Bluetooth Radio Device?)
Have you tried plugging in headphones or external speakers to determine if audio is getting to the output jack?
(About the Bluetooth Peripheral device, is it differet from Bluetooth Radio Device?)
Do you have a Bluetooth Radio? I think that the term "Peripheral device" instead of the exact name of the device indicates some kind of connection problem. For Bluetooth connection problems I suggest putting a post on the Wireless section of the forum.
So when I switched on the laptop today, I could not hear the laptop speaker voice. However, just like you anticipated, I did hear the sound through the earphone! Thanks.. That is definitely a big step!
I will continue to try to get the laptop speaker back working...
I will also post in the Wireless Section, for more options.
If Speakers is selected as the default Playback device (not the default Communication device) and audio is only coming through the headphone jack, there is a possibility of hardware failure.
There are 3 possibilities with the hardware: the speakers connection to the motherboard is loose, the speakers have failed, or the sensor in the headphone jack has failed. The way to test the speakers is this:
1. Re-start the computer. 2. Immediately at the Dell logo screen, starting tapping the key until the One Time Boot menu appears (if the computer boots to Windows turn the computer off and try again). 3. At the One Time Boot menu, press the arrow key to highlight Diagnostics, PSA+ or Enter ePSA, then press to begin the PSA
Look for a "Perform Quick Audio Check" button on the bottom right side of the ePSA main menu screen. Press the button and check if you can hear the beep tones from the speakers.
[If you do not have the "Perform Quick Audio Check" button then do this. Start the PSA tests and when it performs the color test it will ask you if you see the color bars on the screen. Deliberately fail the test by answering no (press the "n" key) instead of yes. When you do that the PSA test will emit a series of beeps. Listen for the beeps.]
If you don't hear the beep tones that means it is definitely a hardware issue. The speakers have become disconnected (reconnect) or have failed (replace). That is covered under your warranty.
If you do hear the tones that means that the speakers are working and are connected. In that case probably the reason that audio is not coming through them is that the sensing circuitry in the headphone jack has failed. When that happens it prevents audio from being switched from the jack to the speakers.That is also covered under the warranty but because there is not a direct test for it, it is a bit harder to pin down.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
December 1st, 2013 04:00
Hello. On the face of it, it appears that it is a configuration issue. Bluetooth audio is selected to be the default device. To have audio through your laptop's speakers go to the Sound properties Playback tab, right click on Speakers to open the context menu, then select them to be the default playback device.
Also, I notice that you are using the audio driver that is native to Windows. That one should work fine to give you basic audio functions. However if you notice that some of the hardware does not seem to work exactly right such as the jacks, then install the Conexant audio driver that Dell provides for the Vostro 1088. Conexant is the manufacturer of the audio hardware that Dell put on your motherboard and its driver is tailored specifically for that hardware, whereas the Windows driver is generic.
A lot of the information in your post is about Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless connection technology. Unless you have some external wireless audio device that you are trying to play audio through, you don't need to have the Bluetooth working. To get other drivers for your laptop, go to the Vostro 1088 downloads page. Dell does not support Windows 7 64 bit on your laptop -- only 32 bit -- but some of the individual drivers such as the Conexant do support 64 bit, so you might be able to find what you need.
If you have not previously done so, I suggest that you install the Intel Chipset software for the Vostro 1088. That software makes it easier for Windows to identify the components on the motherboard.
Antinode
3 Posts
0
December 3rd, 2013 08:00
Appreciate your comments Jim.
I tried all of the options you mentioned - Conexant Drivers installed, Chipset Installed, Speaker is the default playback device. I still have no sound.
Is there any other checks that I need to do?
(About the Bluetooth Peripheral device, is it differet from Bluetooth Radio Device?)
Thanks!
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
December 3rd, 2013 16:00
Have you tried plugging in headphones or external speakers to determine if audio is getting to the output jack?
Do you have a Bluetooth Radio? I think that the term "Peripheral device" instead of the exact name of the device indicates some kind of connection problem. For Bluetooth connection problems I suggest putting a post on the Wireless section of the forum.
Antinode
3 Posts
0
December 5th, 2013 07:00
Hi Jim,
So when I switched on the laptop today, I could not hear the laptop speaker voice. However, just like you anticipated, I did hear the sound through the earphone! Thanks.. That is definitely a big step!
I will continue to try to get the laptop speaker back working...
I will also post in the Wireless Section, for more options.
Thanks again!!
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
December 5th, 2013 20:00
If Speakers is selected as the default Playback device (not the default Communication device) and audio is only coming through the headphone jack, there is a possibility of hardware failure.
There are 3 possibilities with the hardware: the speakers connection to the motherboard is loose, the speakers have failed, or the sensor in the headphone jack has failed. The way to test the speakers is this:
1. Re-start the computer.
2. Immediately at the Dell logo screen, starting tapping the key until the One Time Boot menu appears (if the computer boots to Windows turn the computer off and try again).
3. At the One Time Boot menu, press the arrow key to highlight Diagnostics, PSA+ or Enter ePSA, then press to begin the PSA
Look for a "Perform Quick Audio Check" button on the bottom right side of the ePSA main menu screen. Press the button and check if you can hear the beep tones from the speakers.
[If you do not have the "Perform Quick Audio Check" button then do this. Start the PSA tests and when it performs the color test it will ask you if you see the color bars on the screen. Deliberately fail the test by answering no (press the "n" key) instead of yes. When you do that the PSA test will emit a series of beeps. Listen for the beeps.]
If you don't hear the beep tones that means it is definitely a hardware issue. The speakers have become disconnected (reconnect) or have failed (replace). That is covered under your warranty.
If you do hear the tones that means that the speakers are working and are connected. In that case probably the reason that audio is not coming through them is that the sensing circuitry in the headphone jack has failed. When that happens it prevents audio from being switched from the jack to the speakers.That is also covered under the warranty but because there is not a direct test for it, it is a bit harder to pin down.