Asus c90 Sound problem

So my sound just stopped working on my c90, and since I use my laptop for all my entertainment (TV, Movies, games, etc) and work needs I'm pretty desperate. I've had such a great experience on these forums before, I was hoping somebody might be able to help.

Previously: sound worked fine w/ both laptop speakers and headphones

Current situation:
With both headphones and laptop speakers I get almost no sound, except when I turn it up all the way I get a slight scratching sound (to the beat of whatever is playing) . THis true for all my sound playing software from itunes, to VLC, to media player, Vista sounds, etc.

Between then and now:
I installed an update to itunes (or maybe the ipod software, I wasn't really paying attention, it said to install something and I did).

I was in the middle of watching a TV show video in media player when I stopped to re-sync my ipod for my wife to use and take a call, probably 20 min later when I got back to the video, my audio was in it's current state.

When it stopped working I installed the realtek HD audio driver 2.15 (there was a 2.16 on the realtek web page, but it was downloading ridiculously slowly, so I got a 2.15 from another source). But nothing seemed to change (it might have gotten a little better, but that's probably my imagination).

As further background my computer has long had an issue where occasionally when I put the computer down and paused a video while it was playing, that the audio wouldn't start back up again, but if I shut down all my running programs and restarted them (but not necessarily the computer) it would work again. I have no idea if this is related.

Besides the driver I just installed, I have the stock stuff for both speakers and drivers: speakers: "realtek HD audio" Driver: "realtek Digital output: realtek HD audio"

If anyone is able to help I would be eternally grateful. If there is any other info that would be helpful, I'll be standing by. Thank you.

 

First a bit of troubleshooting. If you download a Live Linux distro such as Knoppix, and boot it, does the sound work properly?

If yes, then it's most likely a software problem. In which case you can try rolling back to an earlier state with Windows Restore, uninstalling any applications that might be the cause of the problem (e.g., iTunes as you mention), and in the worst case, a complete Windows reinstallation.

If it's not working in Linux, either it's hardware or Linux does not support it.

Another way to test is whether the POST sound is playing properly when enabled from the BIOS.

 

I'm not sure if that's what did it for you, but this would definitely not be the first time that I've heard/seen iTunes hose a system.

Does this happen from all apps? I found this little bit:

You might try completely removing your audio drivers and rebooting, then reinstalling them fresh if that doesn't do the trick.

 

Thank you E.B.E., I'm downloading Knoppix, but is that going to work on Vista, I don't have Linux installed (nor have I ever used it to any significant extent)?

 

Thanks AllurGroceries, it was worth a try, but sadly the miracle fix didn't work. This is much worse than what I would call "distorted playback." I get a little bit of incredibly scratchy noise when I play something at full volume, but nothing vaguely resembling normal sound. And it happens on all apps that I've tried.

 

Live Linux is an ISO from which you burn a CD/DVD. Then you boot from that disk; it is completely independent from your main OS and won't affect it (unless you start deleting stuff from Linux, of course ).

How about the BIOS sound? That would be an easier way of checking.

 

Could I bug you for more detailed instructions on how to do that? While I like to think of myself as moderately tech savvy, I realize just how little I know when something goes wrong.

 

Hit ESC and then DEL right when you turn the computer on (at the POST screen), and then navigate with the arrow keys to probably the 'Advanced' section or something similar and there might be an option for 'Play startup sound' or 'Play POST sound'. There is actually a BIOS bug on my G50V where if you have the sound disabled the volume is as you describe in windows, and the workaround is to leave the startup sound set to on but to change the volume setting for the startup sound to 0 in the BIOS.

E.B.E's suggestion of trying Linux (a live CD like knoppix) is good because it'll rule out hardware failure, and the BIOS startup sound will do the same but is probably a bit easier. Most ASUS notebooks that I've come in contact with have a startup sound but I'm sure there are some that don't, so it might not be an option in your BIOS.

Edit: It might be F2 actually instead of DEL at startup, I forget exactly, I haven't touched my BIOS in weeks...

Edit #2: YES, it's F2.. sorry

 

Ok, thank you both, it's really increadible that I can get quality help like this on this forum. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll have to get back to this tomorrow, but at least I have a place to start now. You guys are saints to answer questions like this.

 

So after going through all the BIOS menus I concluded that I must not have a startup sound (would of the fact that it doesn't make a sound a boot up before the windows sound have been a clue?), so I used Knoppix (and in the process determined I have something wrong with my CD burner also, woe is me), and tried playing some audio files and a video file using the default program. No sound with either speakers or headphones.

I did notice that both in Linnux and Windows that if while playing an audio file if I remove the headphones the sound works for about a 1/4 of a second (I woke my wife up in the middle of the night to confirm that this was actually happening, and I hadn't just driven myself crazy).

I assume this means I have a hardware problem, and I need to take it to some sort of professional to have it fixed? I'll check my warrenty date, but I believe it expired.

 

Ouch, it sounds like the headphone jack is loose. That will definitely short out the audio. If you're out of warranty, you could try soldering it back on or replacing the jack, but that's not an easy fix.

Edit: Have you tried resetting the BIOS to factory defaults? Just one last idea for software solutions...

 

Yeah, I tried that, but the good news is I was wrong about the warranty, I have a couple of months left, I guess I was more prudent when I bought it than I recalled. Thanks again, at least I know what the deal is now.