5920g and loss of sound

When at home I use my laptop (Vista Home Premium) connected to external Labtec speakers and an Acer port replicator, which in turn is connected to an LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Normally all is well.

I quite often use my laptop during my travels and sometimes when I return home (and it is only sometimes) I get no sound from the speakers in the laptop or from the external speakers. The muting is right across the board, internet, music, DVDs etc.

I have checked everywhere I can think, such a laptop sound control, screen icons and Control panel, and everything seems to be set for sound.

I can get round this by re-installing the sound drivers but this is a bit of an overkill.

Can anyone offer me any help?

For a start where should I check to ensure that the sound is not muted and what is the likely cause of the muting?

 

It can be many things so I am not quite sure which ones you've checked.
So try reinstalling the drivers (what do you mean overkill?). Try the latest from realtek.
It will reset many of your settings.

 

Fixed the title of the thread.
Let's think of this by process of elimination.
Have you noticed any triggers at all that you do on your laptop during your travels that could cause the sound to mute?

I personally would check your Speakers settings (right-click on Volume icon, click Playback devices, then select your Speakers and hit Configure).
Also, is it possible that your default playback device gets changed away from Speakers?

 

It's seems a bit over the top to have to reinstall drivers everytime I want to turn off muting.

 

Many thanks to both of you. I really would be hopelessly lost without the help of forums such as this one. It's great that there are so many people around prepared to help out the less knowledgeable members.

I did a right click on the speaker icon and followed instructions above and now the sound works.

I will remember this in future (well I hope I will)

 

Well, that's why you bookmark the NBR Forums and this thread.
In any case, DJ, I'm glad we were able to solve your problem. Be sure to stick around, read up on the scads of info we've got here, and contribute back to the community when you feel ready!

 

Anytime, mate. Glad you sorted out your problem.