X61 speaker popping issues!!!

I just got this X61 this past week AFTER a long delay, and now I think it's broken. Every time the speaker plays a sound a "pop" noise is played right after the sound (almost as if the speaker is turning power off and on). This even happens also when simply loading a webpage and just random popping noises occur (without any other sounds being played, just random popping from the speaker).

The popping noise also occurs when using the navigation buttons (back and forward) in various windows menus. The sounds do not occur when I have windows sounds turned off, but still those noises shouldn't be there to begin with (i don't think popping noises are part of windows sounds), it's annoying and sounds like something is wrong.

Anyone please?

BTW the popping noises eminate from the lower left corner.

Also, the popping noise is totally silent if I press the speaker mute button.

 

Sounds like you busted the speaker sir. Listening to them rap music...j/k

 

No music was played at all on the system... I just noticed it today with casually browsing online.

Anyone have any constructive help here?

 

I can't help you but I know that many threads exist on the forum about similar problems.

 

I searched and could only find one topic..

 

I think I solved the problem!!! There was a new SOUNDMAX driver listed on the Lenovo site from 6/2007. The driver installed was from 3/2007 and was older. Installed new driver and restarted and now the popping noise is gone!!

YAY

hope this is a long lasting fix

 

Is lenovo supposed to keep all drive updated before shipping out the unit?

 

can you post the link to the driver? I think I have the same problem.

Thanks!

 

I have XP Pro.. this is the XP driver:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67816

Vista driver:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?lndocid=MIGR-67821

 

one would think so, but in my case they did not. the driver is already 6 months old and it still wasn't updated onto my install when it left the factory.

 

I just got my x61 in the mail and it didn't update my audio driver until I ran the system utility. So no, they didn't update it, but no worries I got it done myself.

 

system utility?

 

System Update, pardon my quick recall lol.

 

heard about horrible stories of updating bios. what is your experience? using thinkpad's system update or do it manually?

 

I always update the BIOS via ThinkVantage System Update and have not had any issues thus far. But I can understand that some people get anxiousness if updating via System Update. The BIOS is a sensitive thing.

 

wow i'm surprised that a crappy driver caused the speaker to pop...try "breaking in" the speakers at a low volume for around 20 hours or so and then crank it up and see if it still pops.

 

theend, I've been in the same shipping boat as you so I understand your pain when something isn't right with your Thinkpad. I actually haven't updated my audio driver but don't have your problem. Not a computer expert by any means, but it could just be a bad speaker. I have a hunch it may be the actual speaker because I doubt that a quality speaker is very high on the priority list on an ultraportable. I've noticed a huge jump in quality from the x61 speaker and the speakers on the base.

 

thanks for the sympathy, but it was fixed with a driver update!

 

so out of the blue, my speakers have started to do the popping thing. I still need to update the driver. see if this works....