Problem with sound system on computer

[Rob Z]

JC

We have been having problems with the speakers that we bought with our Gateway. Sound, no sound, static, etc.

They have been plugged in correctly. That's all I know how to do. I can't get Christina interested in trouble shooting for me. She doesn't think it's as important as I do to be able to play The Doors really loud while I'm online.

Does this computer have some self diagnostic feature I can use to figger out why I can't get no rock n roll? There's gotta be something in all that crap on the desktop that has something to do with this.

Rob

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[cx]

I have a sound question too. Maybe we can comingle?

First I had (still got it, actually) a laptop. When you dial online, you can hear the dial tone and all the beeps and buzzes and static and such and I got used to it and could tell if it was doing right or no. This was especially important when I spent MUCHO time making it work so's I could use the computer through my cell phone whilst working out in the wilderness.

Got a desktop 6 or 8 months ago and only last week hooked up the speakers that came with it. Now it will make some sounds (mostly stuff I don't need to hear) but it doesn't make sound on dial up like the laptop.

I can find the place where you change sounds and tell it to shut up on most of the functions, but I can't find anything anywhere to make it give me dial tone and such.

I know it's gotta be something simple, but........

[Rob Z]

JC?

You got TWO paying customers here now...

I'm going to bed now if you don't show up.

Z

[Jim H.]

Hi guys.

I'm in the midst of planning a tiling project and lurk here frequently. I saw this new forum and the questions and thought, hey, I can start trying to repay these guys for all the info & advice they've been providing me...

Anyway, cx, the dial tone and associated noises you heard on your laptop were actually coming from your modem; not your system speakers. Modems, whether they be internal or external, come with their own speakers. To hear your modem connection noises on your desktop, you just need to switch your modem speaker on. This is typically done through your operating system (though it can be done through commands directly to your modem as well). If you're running Windows 98, go to the "My Computer" icon, then to "Modems", then to "Properties" and adjust the "Speaker Volume" bar up from zero, which is the default if I remember right. That should do the trick.

Rob, I don't know what to tell you for sure. It sounds like a plain old bad connection to me. I'd unplug the speakers and blow in the hole they were plugged into real hard or even try to get out any fuzzies lodged up in there with the crevice tool of a vacuum cleaner. If that doesn't work, I'd go to a store with a "No Questions Asked" return policy and pick up a new pair of speakers suitable for Doors listening and hook them up. If you still get "snap, crackle, pop", take 'em back--your sound card is screwy. If your Gateway is under warranty, proceed accordingly. If not, well, we'll need to remove the old sound card (or disable it if it's integrated into the motherboard) and get a new one in there.

cx, hate to deprive you of the first reply in your own forum (really rude now that I think about it!). I feel indebted to all of you and would hate to miss an opportunity to be of service.

Jim

[cx]

Jim H:
Not to be confused. This is JC's Forum, he "Da Computer Whiz".

CX is the guy they wrote all them books for. You know This for Dummies, That for Dummies.

As for my sound problem, I didn't know modems made their own noises, but that's still not helping. My modem volume is turned all the way up.

It's a "Rockwell HCF 56K Speakerphone PCI Modem" if that tells us anything.

CX

[JC]

Thx Jim H.

Rob lets check out your setting first.

Hit start menu,programs,accesories,entertainment and then sound controls.

(or the other way: control+esc,p,enter,e, and then v

Ok now here it gets foggy coz there are so many differant sound cards and I am not sure what yours might say.

But basically make sure the volume is not set on mute and everything you need is checked off, make sure to look it over good and go into the advanced options also.

If that all checks out we'll go into the next step.

[John Bridge]

Hey Jim H. Checked your profile -- "investigator." We'll find a use for you -- maybe hunting down bogus tile installers. Computer tips are appreciated, too.

J.C.

Want me to move those computer related posts over here, or will you do it?

[JC]

John your gonna have to because I am just a moderator in this forum and not in the others and as such I can't move stuff from the other forums only stuff in mine.
Unless I am missing something that is. I beleive that is an admin job.

[John Bridge]

I know you can move 'em out of here. Just thought it worked the other way around. Don't know. Anyway . . .

[JC]

Hey Rob did you check the settings yet? Whenever you get to it im ready.

[Rob Z]

Jim and JC

I'm gonna try this in a minute. We'll see what happens.

Z

[Rob Z]

OK I checked that and the volume, etc was not on "zero".

I took apart all the wires to the two small speakers and the bass unit, rehooked, and presto: SOUND!

Elation was short lived though, cos the sound still comes and goes.

Now, it's playing just fine.

It's almost like it's got a short or something.

Rob

[JC]

Cool, are they the little cheapo $10.00 speakers? Might be time to upgrade to a 5.1 surround system. You know you can get really great quality sound from a PC Rob and with all the free music downloads and cd burners and midi software, DVD-roms out there it might be a nice Christmas gift to your self since your a music lover.

[Rob Z]

JC

I don't think they are cheap. The name on the bass unit is: BOSTON BA735.

Are these mastic over greenboard grade, or premium thinset over mud bed grade speakers?

I can handle the truth. Lemme know.

Z

[cx]

So here I sit, one of the first ones who said, "that JC is just a hell of a guy to help us out here", and all, right?

So big Rob axes a sound question and JC jumps right in there.

CX axes a sound question and ol' JC is what? Silent.

Is this fair? Is this just?

But that's OK. I'll just sit over here and whine quietly.

Don't worry about it.

Really.

[JC]

oops sorry cx but I was under the impression that Jim H. took care of your question. Did you try his suggestion?
If your still having problems let me know.

Rob not exactly sure on that but you can look here at http://www.pricewatch.com to get an idea.
nevermind I looked there and did not find BA735 however I did find BA635 for $45.00w/shipping and a BA790.

Doesn't sound like a cheapo to me, must be your connections (like Jim H.said)or perhaps a sound card problem

[Edited by JC on 09-09-2001 at 11:50 PM]

[Rob Z]

JC

I couldn't find the exact model number, but by comparison of other stuff, it looks like this set is less than $100 new.

How does that compare to the good stuff?

(Don't forget to ask my friend Kelly to come out and play.)

Z

[JC]

Thats pretty good actually , upper middle grade I would say.
Do you have three speakers or five or six?

[JC]

no wonder we could'nt find it . it is OEM issue and only availiable for Gateway. Read all about it.

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/Series.asp?CategoryID=3

[Rob Z]

2 little'uns and one big'un.

[JC]

What kinda soundcard they give you?

[JC]

Hey lookie what I found.

http://www.bostonacoustics.com/FAQPage.asp?FAQID=4&SECTION=Multimedia

[cx]

Well, geeez, would I still be whining if it got fix-ed?

I 'splained that my modem volume is alla way up (I had already tried that) and tole what kind it was.

But I'll tell again: Izza Rockwell HCF 56K Speakerphone PCI Modem.

That tell us anything?

[Rob Z]

How can I determine the info you need about the sound card?

[JC]

Rob,right click 'my computer' on your desktop and goto 'properties' and the hit the 'device manager' tab.

CX, lets make sure you have a speaker on your new puter. Open up the case and see if there is a tiny speaker in there first.Should be in the front of the case. What kinda system do you have?

[Rob Z]

OK JC It says:

creative sound blaster audio PCl 128 D

and

sound blaster audio PCl 128 D

It gives me the option to "refresh". What's that for?

[JC]

CX, http://forum56.com/forum.asp?forum_id=2&forum_title=HCF+%26+Soft56

and

http://www.flowgo.com/


Does this stuff mean anything to you?

Old firmware,bugs,a special connector that goes from your speakerphone modem into your sound card? who built your PC?...did I mention you should get a cable modem anyways?



It can be kinda hard to trouble shoot some stuff unless I am actually on your computer.

But read this stuff and maybe post a question to these guys they sound like they know all about your particular modem.

Make sure to list make of sound card,operating system,name and version of your drivers.(to find these goto the same place Rob is going 'device manager' and look into properties.

If you don't see anything there give me all the data and i'll find it.

[cx]

Damn, didn't think of that. I couldn't testify in court, but I'm thinking I saw one when I was in there doing my own warranty work on behalf of the computer merchant. Guess I'll hafta pop it open again, but not tonight. Doesn't just sit out where it's easy to work on.

It doesn't have a recognizable brand name, JC, it's just whatever they cobbled together and put their sticker on. I have a list of what's inside, I think. If not, they will be happy to give said info. They're a pretty nice group, I'm just beginning to think they ain't necessarily the best and the brightest as I learn more about the things.

It has an nice place in front for the speaker to be behind, though. They wouldn't make a computer an not pewt in a speaker! Surely not. But now that I think about it, it ain't never made a sound until I plugged in the dinky little pair of external speakers that came with it.

I'll let you know.

[JC]

Oh ok you have a SB that a very common sound card and pretty good also.
I am not sure Rob did you say you are still having problems? And there not connection problems?

[JC]

Hey it sounds like you have a clone, CX, you did good brother. I think I read where your modem needs to be connected to the sound card to work since it is a speaker modem......read the links above first though when you get time.

[cx]

Actually, tech at my ISP mentioned once that I had a "speaker modem" when we were trying to dumb it down so it would connect through my less-than-wonderful telephone lines. I had/have no idea what that means.

That's (dumbing down the modem) another subject I want to explore with you another time.

I'll look at your links and check for a speaker and call back.

Thanks.

[Jim H.]

Oh man, did I put my foot in it or what!

cx, those "For Dummies" books were always a little too complicated for me (but, yeah, I am the same guy who advises vacuuming your PC). They're making modems without 50 cent speakers these days? Jeez.

Rob, still seems like a loose connection somewhere. Gotta figure out whether it's in the speakers or in the soundcard. I'd assumed we were talking about some piddly little boxes you'd want to get rid of anyway, but it sounds like they're fairly substantial. I'd still try to borrow, beg, or steal some other speakers to see if they work okay to isolate the problem.

JC, you are indeed da man. The water's going above my head, so I think I'll stay by the sidelines soaking up tile technique and leave these matters in your more capable hands.

Jim

[JC]

Nah, Jim H. feel free to chime in anytime you want. Two heads are better than one.

[Rob Z]

Just tried to use the CD player...no sound, and I can't even get the cd player icon to go away off the screen.

I think I'll reboot the damn thing.

Z

[Manny M]

<font face="Ariston" size="4" color="#FF6600"><b>hola
Hi Rob about your speakers
I don't know if you have fixed the problem
but if in case you didn't do it yet
go to my computer ,control panel, than to add new hardware
click yes on next
this will make a self test and it will try to find any hardware that you migth have if you are not having problems with your computer try not to install anything but a sound device

a think that the purpose of this test will be to find out
if you have your sound card installed ,,, maybe is not install with the proper software</b></font>


to check if you have a sound divice go to
my computer,control panel,system,device manager
now check if you have any sound, video and sound controlers
if you have a list of devices means that you have a sound card installed

[manny]

try to run dxdiag.exe
go to start
click on run
than tipe dxdiag.exe
here you can test your video and sound
and see if at least you have some audio
maybe you can play pc music and no cd music
with this you are trying to pinpoint the problem

another thing that causes that problem is a high volume setting in your pc PLUS a high volume setting in your amplified speakers if this is the case lower your pc's volume

if you have pc sound and no cd sound maybe you have a bad conecxion from your cd player to the sound card

[manny]

maybe you already tryed this go to
my computer, dial up networking
now rigth click on the conection you use
now go to properties left click
in general go to connect using (find your modem) than click configure
you will see the window set your volume

some times to make changes you have to set your modem properties two times in two diferent places you can try with your modem software and with your dial up conection
properties

now that you are here set your sped to 115200
but leave the check box clear
this is the fastest speed that your modem can connect
but you can not limit it to the highest
this 0nly for dial-up connection

[John Bridge]

Hi Manny M,

You've noticed that I've disallowed HTML in the text. There is a board code, though, that can be used. Find it at: http://johnbridge.com/vbulletin/index.php?action=bbcode

[cx]

Manny:
I are the one with the silent modem.

All the settings you refer to are set to max volume.

I must admit I haven't yet opened the damn thin up to see if there is a speaker installed in the unit like JC done tole me to do.

I will, though. Oh, yeah, I really will.

Thanks for the help though.

[Jim H.]

cx:
I think what you'd want to look for when you open your computer is a speaker on the modem; not your PC speaker. It's not clear to me at this point whether your modem is truly lacking an on-board speaker. Modem speakers are typically about the size of a nickel or so (albeit a thick one). The little holes are a dead giveaway.

If you see a speaker on the modem, we'll just need to figure out how to switch it on. If your modem is indeed lacking such a speaker, it sounds as though you may need to connect it up to your soundcard using a special-purpose cable (me, I'd just get another modem). Manny is onto something here: I should have advised you to adjust the speaker volume through the Network control panel icon rather than the modem icon. Please do try it that way if you haven't.

Rob:
I believe Manny may also be onto something regarding your sound problem. If you are experiencing sound problems only when playing CD's, the cable running from your CD drive to your soundcard has likely come loose.

[Rob Z]

Hello everyone

Just checked in over here and saw all the recent postings. The sound is sporadic on both CD's and the regular sounds that you hear : dial up sounds, "you've got mail" etc.

I'll go try the thing that Manny described and check back in.

Next step: 28 oz framing hammer on soundcard.

Z