No sounds from laptop after 7 upgrade
October 12, 2009 8:51 AM Subscribe
Laptop upgraded from vista to 7, now having sound issues.
Dell Vostro upgraded from Vista to 7. No sound from speakers, even after installing the dell supplied sigmatel driver. When I uninstall the Dell driver, Windows installs some driver itself and it gives me sound from my headphone jack, but not my speakers.
Dell Vostro 1400
Windows vista 32bit upgraded to Windows 7 32bit
4gigs ram
160hd
2.0 dual core
I am stumped. I hate wasting an askme on this, but I want to throw this thing out the window.
Dell Vostro upgraded from Vista to 7. No sound from speakers, even after installing the dell supplied sigmatel driver. When I uninstall the Dell driver, Windows installs some driver itself and it gives me sound from my headphone jack, but not my speakers.
Dell Vostro 1400
Windows vista 32bit upgraded to Windows 7 32bit
4gigs ram
160hd
2.0 dual core
I am stumped. I hate wasting an askme on this, but I want to throw this thing out the window.
Is there any kind of driver software package in addition to the base drivers themselves? I've seen OEM audio drivers default to some very strange, counterintuitive things when the software wasn't around. If there isn't any software...I'm not sure what might be causing the issue, but I've definitely run into this before with new XP and Vista installs on laptops so I don't think it's a 7 problem specifically.
However, a forum suggests this:
"...
c. Install the other drivers including the Sigmatel audio driver (expand the Audio category).
-Get these from the Vostro l400 driver downloads page. When you get on the page use the dropdown box to select your Operating System.
-Note, when you get to step c, before you install the Sigmatel driver go to your Device Manager and look for an unknown PCI device. If there remove it and then proceed with the Sigmatel driver installation."
You may have to clear the device out of the device manager before you perform the OEM driver install. Have you tried this yet?
posted by Phyltre at 9:01 AM on October 12, 2009
However, a forum suggests this:
"...
c. Install the other drivers including the Sigmatel audio driver (expand the Audio category).
-Get these from the Vostro l400 driver downloads page. When you get on the page use the dropdown box to select your Operating System.
-Note, when you get to step c, before you install the Sigmatel driver go to your Device Manager and look for an unknown PCI device. If there remove it and then proceed with the Sigmatel driver installation."
You may have to clear the device out of the device manager before you perform the OEM driver install. Have you tried this yet?
posted by Phyltre at 9:01 AM on October 12, 2009
Dell only seems to be making available drivers for XP and Vista 32bit on their website at this time.
Try right-clicking on the driver installer and go to Properties. Go to the Compatibility tab. Check the box that says "Run this program in compatability mode for:" and change it to Vista. Click ok, then try to install it.
I had to do that for a couple of drivers back in the 7 beta. I'm honestly not sure if this will fix your issue but it's worth a shot.
posted by Liver at 9:14 AM on October 12, 2009
Try right-clicking on the driver installer and go to Properties. Go to the Compatibility tab. Check the box that says "Run this program in compatability mode for:" and change it to Vista. Click ok, then try to install it.
I had to do that for a couple of drivers back in the 7 beta. I'm honestly not sure if this will fix your issue but it's worth a shot.
posted by Liver at 9:14 AM on October 12, 2009
Response by poster: Majortom- before installing the dell drivers, I tried the windows update ones. No luck. Fresh install, no upgrade.
Phyltre- I tried to wipe out any previous drivers for the audio device, then installed the dell one. Everything shows as if they are fine, but no sound.
Liver- No Luck.
Its strange, when I use the windows driver, I atleast get headphone sound, albeit only on one of the headphone jacks (I have two). But no sound from the speakers. But with the dell one I get nothing.
posted by wile e at 10:55 AM on October 12, 2009
Phyltre- I tried to wipe out any previous drivers for the audio device, then installed the dell one. Everything shows as if they are fine, but no sound.
Liver- No Luck.
Its strange, when I use the windows driver, I atleast get headphone sound, albeit only on one of the headphone jacks (I have two). But no sound from the speakers. But with the dell one I get nothing.
posted by wile e at 10:55 AM on October 12, 2009
Response by poster: I haven't installed all of the dell drivers, should I? I've only installed the ones that I felt seemed needed, but perhaps there is one that might be affecting this problem?
posted by wile e at 10:59 AM on October 12, 2009
posted by wile e at 10:59 AM on October 12, 2009
I had a similar problem that went away after I installed the drivers from the soundcard manufacturer.
The solution until then was to switch the default sound output from speakers to headphones (and then back if you want headphones again). I don't have it in front of me, but I think you can get there by right clicking on the volume icon in the taskbar and choosing "playback devices" or something similar
posted by chndrcks at 11:31 AM on October 12, 2009
The solution until then was to switch the default sound output from speakers to headphones (and then back if you want headphones again). I don't have it in front of me, but I think you can get there by right clicking on the volume icon in the taskbar and choosing "playback devices" or something similar
posted by chndrcks at 11:31 AM on October 12, 2009
Response by poster: Ok, here's a weirder fact. I installed the Dell driver as illustrated above. Didn't work. Also seemed to screw up video playback. So I uninstall the driver, BUT I do not reboot. The sound works! But when I reboot...back to not working. I am truly stumped now.
posted by wile e at 11:36 AM on October 12, 2009
posted by wile e at 11:36 AM on October 12, 2009
With the windows update drivers did you right click on the speaker in the bottom right corner, click playback devices and make sure that speakers is set to default?
posted by majortom1981 at 11:44 AM on October 12, 2009
posted by majortom1981 at 11:44 AM on October 12, 2009
Response by poster: majortom- Yes, it is set to default. Has been with each different install.
posted by wile e at 3:05 AM on October 13, 2009
posted by wile e at 3:05 AM on October 13, 2009
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PS is this a fresh install or an upgrade install. Also have you tried the vista driver? O nwindows 7 the vista driver will work also.
posted by majortom1981 at 9:00 AM on October 12, 2009