Agh! M51VA Sound Disasters

Hi all,

Bought a new Asus M51VA last november and up until about 2 months ago, things were ticking over rather smoothly. Windows Vista Ultimate was installed.

Then, out of the blue, the external speakers stopped working, and a week later the 3.5mm external jack stopped putting a signal out as well.

Initial thoughts were that its hardware causing a ruckus. Every time I switch the laptop on however, the startup Asus sound plays through the external speakers without fail, loud and clear - it is only when windows is active, I am unable to get any signal out at all.

My attention then turned to drivers - all were updated, then uninstalled and reinstalled, then disabled, and reinstalled with the latest software.

Having exhausted my enthusiasm for driver swapping, i backed up my files and reset the system with the CDs that came with the laptop, resetting the machine to factory settings.

That too didn't work... I have just installed a new version of Windows Vista x64 and the problem persists. As a last resort I threatened the laptop with a hammer, got no response and am now turning to help to the wise Asus-owning community.

Now, its Saturday, Asus Tech Support is closed and I would rather have the problem fixed today/tomorrow -Do any of you have suggestions on what else might need doing. I will be hovering about the computer today giving it the evils, so if you require additional info to ascertain the problem, i will promptly reply.

Regards

 

Judging from what you've talked about above, it seems that you have hardware problems. It seems you've done your part which was reinstalling drivers. In addition, you've reinstalled the windows which would've fixed the problem if it was software related.

-Leonid

 

I have a feeling it is ur headphone jack causing you grief, plug in a headset and tell me if it works.
If it does then more likely the switch inside the headset jack has broken in the plugged in mode.
The start-up sound asus has plays on the laptop speakers whether or not a headset is plugged in.

Jack or not you should send it back for an RMA.

 

Thanks Leonid for the prompt reply!

If it was a hardware issue, I gather it would have to do with the actual speakers not working or the internal wiring disengaging. Then, no sound at all would play during startup. As I do get a signal and a sound, outside of windows, it causes me to think that the fault is elsewhere.

Cheers

 

Aha! Thats what it was! Thanks Very much. Now that being the case, it is a hardware problem of course - Is it a job for Asus techies or is there a way to sort it out relatively simply at home without voiding the warranty? I mean; is it a common problem and if so, is there a common solution to it?

Thanks again mk1freak

 

Not sure about ur model, but seeing as the piece is soldered onto the mainboard, asus support will in all likelihood swap it out for a new mainboard.
Doing it urself will mean having to void your warranty,
and some soldering work ;p
There's a post somewhere in one of my threads I'll find which helps u to overide the switch settings until you can send it in(just make sure to change the settings back prior to sending it in for RMA

 

courtesy of Rezigrene, hope this will tide you over for now .....don't forget to re-enable it before you send back for service

 

Thanking you dearly