Solving Audio Problems

If the computer has audio features and you encounter audio problems, see the common causes and solutions listed in the following table.

Table 2-7Solving Audio Problems

Sound cuts in and out.

Cause

Solution

 

 

Processor resources are being used by other open

Shut down all open processor-intensive applications.

applications.

 

 

 

 

Direct sound latency, common in many media player

In Windows XP:

applications.

1.

From the Control Panel, select Sounds and Audio

 

 

 

Devices.

 

2.

On the Audio tab, select a device from the Sound

 

 

Playback list.

 

3.

Click the Advanced button and select the Performance

 

 

tab.

 

4.

Set the Hardware acceleration slider to None and the

 

 

Sample rate conversion quality slider to Good and

 

 

retest the audio.

 

5.

Set the Hardware acceleration slider to Full and the

 

 

Sample rate conversion quality slider to Best and

 

 

retest the audio.

 

 

 

Sound does not come out of the speaker or headphones.

Cause

Solution

 

 

Software volume control is turned down.

Double-click the Speaker icon on the taskbar, then make sure that Mute is not selected and use the volume slider to adjust the volume.

Audio is hidden in Computer Setup.

Enable the audio in Computer Setup: Security >

 

Device Security > Audio.

 

 

The external speakers are not turned on.

Turn on the external speakers.

 

 

The audio device may be connected to the wrong jack on the

Ensure that the device is connected to the correct jack on the

rear of the computer or the jack has been retasked to perform

rear of the computer. If the correct jack is being used and the

a different function.

problem persists, the jack may have been retasked to perform

 

a function that is different from the default function. Open the

 

Realtek control panel by clicking the Realtek HD Audio

 

Manager icon in the task tray or the Realtek entry in the

 

operating system's Control Panel and set the jack to the

 

desired function.

 

 

External speakers plugged into the wrong audio jack on a

See the sound card documentation for proper speaker

recently installed sound card.

connection.

 

 

Digital CD audio is not enabled.

Enable digital CD audio:

 

1.

From the Control Panel, select System.

 

2.

On the Hardware tab, click the Device Manager button.

 

 

 

26 Chapter 2 Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics

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