Alienware m17x is accumulating more and more sound problems! Help?

Ok, I've had my Alienware for about 2 and a bit years now, and had this problem ever since I got it. Pretty much, my sound drivers go missing every now and then, saying there's no device installed, most often when I wake it from sleep mode(Which I now avoid). I contacted Dell, and they sent someone to replace my whole motherboard and speakers, but surprise surprise, they still had the same problem. Now I usually sort it out by just resetting and they work fine.

Just today, my drivers went missing, so I reset, but now my headphone jack isn't picking up my headphones at all. I reset three times and looked for them under devices, but for some reason it plays the audio through my speakers. It detects the headphones when I put them in the port, but no sound.

Also, would anyone know why my mic drivers go missing sometimes?

Thanks

 

What is the M17x model? R1, R2,R3,R4?

Are you using skype?

 

R4. and any program I need to use my mic for, really. Skype, Steam voice chat, audacity.

 

Ok don't know about the R4, but I've noticed that skype often F*cks up the inputs/outputs on M17x R2 it think it has something to do the way it acceses the soundcard.
The microphone stops working and the only port that headphones work in is the last one next to the mic... nothing except restarting PC helps.
I've solved the problem by plugging the headphones in the port next to the microphone and keep microphone always plugged in. The issue haven't repeated in over two months now.

 

Yup it's the creative recon3d chipset crap.. You'll need a new motherboard to fix it or just tolerate it.. Thank god my R4 had a motherboard replacement just before warranty got over.. Do you have any left? Get it replaced ASAP if you do..

 

Thanks alot, I'll try it out

Sadly, the warranty has run out, and we had them replace my motherboard once already. Thanks anyways, you guys are a great help!