M17x R3 clean reinstall, no audio? (using updated drivers)

I reinstalled my M17x R3 (not from respawn, but a clean Windows 7 reinstall) and after few everything works perfectly and don't have any device marked as "not working" or "unidentified" in control panel.

However, even if I installed audio driver from here:

Drivers and Downloads

I don't get sound at all. Windows detects the sound card, I do get the icon and when I do volume up/down, I get the little green indicator of a sound being played, also when I try to play a test sound I do get it, as if the sound was playing but nothing from it.

Any ideas as what is causing this and how could I fix it? Things I have tried so far:

- Making sure the windows sound service is running (in "services").
- Making sure sound is not muted ¬¬

I haven't tried plugging an earphone yet, didn't have any available at the time.

 

Hoping this is not a hardware issue, go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound and in the new windows right click Speakers and select "Set as default device".

Restart the system.

 

Thanks, I will try that.

I don't have my Alienware with me right now, away from home.

I got my motherboard replaced few days ago and did the clean Windows 7 reinstall. Everything seems to be working but the sound.

I too hope it is not a hardware issue, as I spent almost all day yesterday to get everything working :X

 

Did you had sound output before reinstalling Windows?

 

After mother board was changed Windows wouldn't boot at all, that's why I had to reinstall.

But yeah, prior to my old motherboard failing there was sound for sure.

 

It can be a bad connection somewhere.
Did a tech install it for you?

 

Yeah, a tech went home to replace motherboard, but he probably did something wrong as this topic shows:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...therboard-no-more-optimus-good-bad-thing.html

I am willing to open my computer, where should I check if the sound card is connected properly?

Thanks a lot for the help!

 

Sorry for the double post.

I am at home now. I plugged in some earphones and I get sound coming from them! But still not sound in my speakers. Already made sure they were selected as default device and all.

Next step is to open my computer and check the connections, I guess, I just need to know what to look for exactly. Any input, please?

 

I don't own a M17x R3 but you can look in the manual on how to disassemble it.
If you're not comfortable doing it, call Dell and tell them about your problem, you have warranty afterall and it's not your fault.

But as an advice for future tech visits: Don't let the tech go until you test your system first!!

 

Thanks, I'll follow the guide here:

Documentation

About the tech, since Windows wouldn't boot and I had to do a clean reinstall that took a while, there was no way I could test my system without him going away But I'll keep that in mind for future cases!

 

Update to this issue.

I opened the computer, it was quite an adventure to reach the speakers connector part!

Unfortunately, it was well attached to the motherboard. I disconnected it and reconnected, didn't seem loose or anything.

After the reassembling, I tried with a Linux Live CD just to discard Windows drivers problems and it does the same thing: sound plays if you connect earphones but nothing comes from any of the speakers when earphones are disconnected.

Do you think the speakers are damaged then? I guess I'll be calling Dell on Monday

 

Did you do the Control Panel thing as I posted in the first reply?
Also try a power drain but I kinda doubt it will solve your problem

 

Yeah, did the Control Panel checking, speakers are default device, and if you do the "sound test" from there too, still get the green bars showing that there is sound being played, but nothing from speakers.

Mic input works, if that helps at all.

By power drain you mean let my battery run out? Sorry, not familiar with the term.

 

See this thread -

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...g-after-using-optical-external-audio-out.html

Could be tied to this same 'issue' even if it did not start with you plugging in headphones. As long as you have verified you installed the correct audio driver, I think its time to call Dell and have them deal with it.

 

How in the world do they change your mother board without verifying everything is working in its finality?

As bat boy mentioned above, the signs and symptoms you mention clearly mimics the loss of sound out via speakers when optical/external audio out is used.

You can easily test this possibility by removing all traces of IDT sound card drivers and install default Windows or Microsoft drivers which enables the speakers once more in case that involve Optical/external audio issues.

I am wondering why isnt there a massive response from Dell on this matter. This is grounds for a very strong litigation as it does appear to be a problem with all motherboards. However I dont know if its hardware alone or a combination or hardware/software. Maybe they are yet to figure it out.

 

@Batboy:

Thanks, I read all of the thread and it seems it is exactly the problem I am having. I got a new motherboard and no sound at all. I didn't plug any external devices until I was trying to figure out why didn't have sound but yeah...

Also, not a drivers/Windows issue because as I mentioned earlier, I even tried with a Linux Live CD and didn't have sound on speakers, only on earphones.

I will call Dell on Monday, I assume you can lock/move/merge this thread if you think is necessary. Thanks.

@vads24:

Couldn't verify everything was working because, as I said previously, Windows wouldn't boot after mobo was replaced so I had to do a clean reinstall (no respawn backup so, had to do it from scratch).

I'll be looking forward to what Dell has to say about this on Monday, I already had anothe issue with this "new" motherboard (see other thread I linked earlier), it didn't come with the Optimus technology and Intel IGP is not detected, just the NVidia one.

Oh well...

 

This goes back to the headphone jack issue