Dell 32-bit Diagnostics would be the tool to use if the audio were to permanently quit, but because it is intermittent it is hard to diagnose. If the audio were to pass the diagnostic you couldn't be sure if the diagnosed itself jogged it back on like re-starting does.
It could be that the only way to determine for sure if it is a hardware failure is to do a system recovery. That would fix any possible software problem so if the audio continued to intermittently quit you would known it is due to hardware failure.
I should mention that a fairly good test is to try the native Windows audio driver. If you have the same problem with that driver then it is probably hardware. This is not a definitive test but is suggestive.
gonna try the windows default audio driver now. i did the uninstall and delete old drivers method and it got me a solid 6 hours of audio with near constant sound from netflix etc. ive tried a system restore but no matter what restore i pick the system restore cannot be completed. the only idea i had after that was to reinstall windows but not only would that be a whole process i feel like a windows update might have caused this and im worried it could just happen again
ok so when i went to uninstall the drivers i was using again to try the windows it actually said idt audio device instead of the generic high definition audio device (which is actually the default windows one)
so somewhere along the lines the windows default was the one that was on throughout this whole time. anyways i tried downloading the idt drivers and no matter which i would download it would give me code 52 that the driver is unsigned and cant be used. so for right now im using the default windows drivers but it seems to be that this is the one ive been using for a while now and thats the one causing the sound to cut out. any way to fix the idt drivers not working and/or being unsigned
ok so ive reinstalled windows, still get the audio cutting out. since i lose audio through the headphone jack as well when it cuts out im guessing the speakers themselves are fine i have a hardware problem somewhere else. any ideas what i should check next?
for the record after i reinstalled windows i tried to use the idt drivers again unsuccessfully so its stuck on the windows high definition audio drivers for whatever reason.
i have a hardware problem somewhere else. any ideas what i should check next?
I can only guess but I would say a failing audio chip. A workaround is to get a usb audio adapter. They are inexpensive and will bypass the internal chip, but have to be used with headphones or external speakers.
this fixed my sound for a few days but its right back to losing sound unless it put it to sleep and wake, or even reboot. but just having the computer wake back up is enough to get the sound going again for a while. been looking into getting the usb audio adapted im just trying to find small enough speakers that i can still use my laptop semi-normally.
but yea, looks like the sound card is some kind of messed up to need to wake to be able to temporariy work, but if anyone still cant get the idt program back i'd suggest downloading the driver from that link
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
April 21st, 2014 21:00
Have you plugged in headphones to see if audio is coming through the jack?
rcrjr321
6 Posts
0
April 21st, 2014 21:00
sorry forgot to include that. with the headphones in i still dont hear anything
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 05:00
Dell 32-bit Diagnostics would be the tool to use if the audio were to permanently quit, but because it is intermittent it is hard to diagnose. If the audio were to pass the diagnostic you couldn't be sure if the diagnosed itself jogged it back on like re-starting does.
It could be that the only way to determine for sure if it is a hardware failure is to do a system recovery. That would fix any possible software problem so if the audio continued to intermittently quit you would known it is due to hardware failure.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 05:00
I should mention that a fairly good test is to try the native Windows audio driver. If you have the same problem with that driver then it is probably hardware. This is not a definitive test but is suggestive.
rcrjr321
6 Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 16:00
gonna try the windows default audio driver now. i did the uninstall and delete old drivers method and it got me a solid 6 hours of audio with near constant sound from netflix etc. ive tried a system restore but no matter what restore i pick the system restore cannot be completed. the only idea i had after that was to reinstall windows but not only would that be a whole process i feel like a windows update might have caused this and im worried it could just happen again
rcrjr321
6 Posts
0
April 22nd, 2014 17:00
ok so when i went to uninstall the drivers i was using again to try the windows it actually said idt audio device instead of the generic high definition audio device (which is actually the default windows one)
so somewhere along the lines the windows default was the one that was on throughout this whole time. anyways i tried downloading the idt drivers and no matter which i would download it would give me code 52 that the driver is unsigned and cant be used. so for right now im using the default windows drivers but it seems to be that this is the one ive been using for a while now and thats the one causing the sound to cut out. any way to fix the idt drivers not working and/or being unsigned
rcrjr321
6 Posts
0
April 25th, 2014 20:00
ok so ive reinstalled windows, still get the audio cutting out. since i lose audio through the headphone jack as well when it cuts out im guessing the speakers themselves are fine i have a hardware problem somewhere else. any ideas what i should check next?
for the record after i reinstalled windows i tried to use the idt drivers again unsuccessfully so its stuck on the windows high definition audio drivers for whatever reason.
Jim Coates
4 Operator
•
13.6K Posts
0
April 25th, 2014 21:00
I can only guess but I would say a failing audio chip. A workaround is to get a usb audio adapter. They are inexpensive and will bypass the internal chip, but have to be used with headphones or external speakers.
rcrjr321
6 Posts
0
May 13th, 2014 17:00
for what its worth i got the computer to finally recognize an idt audio driver and restore the idt control panel application. ive seen alot of people lose that program and not be able to get it back, it came back for me from this link : http://drivers.softpedia.com/progDownload/Dell-Inspiron-1545-Notebook-IDT-92HD71B-Audio-Driver-A03-Download-94326.html
this fixed my sound for a few days but its right back to losing sound unless it put it to sleep and wake, or even reboot. but just having the computer wake back up is enough to get the sound going again for a while. been looking into getting the usb audio adapted im just trying to find small enough speakers that i can still use my laptop semi-normally.
but yea, looks like the sound card is some kind of messed up to need to wake to be able to temporariy work, but if anyone still cant get the idt program back i'd suggest downloading the driver from that link