Sigma Tel sound car in M 35 issue update

I'm still trying to figure out whether I have a hardware issue with my SigmaTel sound card in my M35 or not. Using the SigmaTel sound drivers, I can hear an electric popping noise after any windows sound is played. Changing the power management settings of the sound card (in control panel) did not make a difference. Someone suggested that I tried Realtek generic sound drivers and after installing them, the popping is gone. However, I would like to be ablea to use Sigmatel drivers since that is the sound card in the M35. I escalated the issue to level 3 of Toshiba support. I need the help of all m35 users. Can you guys please let me know how many of you can hear any electric popping noise (however faint it may be) in either positions of the Power Management of the sound card (enabled or disabled)? Would you please use headsets to check this out? If you help me, Toshiba will take me seriously and release an updated driver that will take care of the issue soon.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Best regards,
Jordi

 

Dear SigmaTel card users,

I really need your help. Toshiba level 3 support swears that the Toshiba computers with the SigmaTel sound card, such as the m35 do not make the electric popping noise. They suggested that I ship the computer to them so that they can replace the system board. I am not convinced that this issue is a hardware issue, since replacing the SigmaTel drivers by the Realtek drivers solved this popping sound. Can you guys, users of m35 laptops or any other Toshiba with this sound card let me know if you hear this popping noise? Even if you do not hear it, I would appreciate it if you let me know. I need to determine if this is a specific issue to my computer or not.

Any suggestions on what to do or where else to post will be most welcomed.

Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Jordi

 

Jordi,

You posted in your last thread, a link on a Dell forum reporting this problem and a replacement driver was released to fix it. I was wondering if you have tried this Dell driver for your Toshiba? I know it's not designed for the Toshiba, but if it uses the SigmaTel drivers as well, it might be compatible.

Here's the link you posted.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=insp_audio&message.id=16666

Your best bet may be to try sending the unit to Toshiba and have their engineers work on your system. I had to do the same with my HP NX7000 when I heard a buzzing/squeeling noise coming from the unit. But I had them send a replacement unit to me first so I could transfer my data over. After they got my unit, they later found a workaround for the issue. So, you may want to try asking them for a replacement unit before you send the old unit back. This way, you will be able to transfer your files over and will also be able to test the status of the replacement unit. It's worth a try.

Good Luck!

-Vb-

 

Venombite,

Thank you for your post. I did try the Dell drivers. They won't install in my Toshiba. Before sending the unit to Toshiba, I would like to ask other m35 owners whether they do or do not hear this electric popping noise after any windows sound. I still think that it may happen in all the m35s and even in all computers carrying a SigmaTel sound card, to some degree, since installing some Realtek drivers fixed the issue. Therefore it would be pointless to send my computer for repair. I don't understand why no other m35 owners or SigmaTel card users reply to my posts. I need evidence either way so that I know what route to take. Do you know where else I can post?

Thank you very much for your suggestions.

Best regards,
Jordi

 

<blockquote id='quote'> quote:<hr height='1' noshade id='quote'>Originally posted by jordi32

 

I have the same problem.... tic-tic-tic tic.... I will try the driver you suggested.

 

Cdeeck1, what do you mean by Tic-tic. Can you be more specific?

Thank you.

Best regards,

Jordi

 

Its not the driver,sound distortions are very common and are not necessarily a hardware fault.

Is it ONLY when the machine starts up?

If it is otherwise fine then its not hardware,it could be something as simple as a program conflicting with a driver,or a regestry problem.

If you have something like a first aid that fixes winxp registry you may find thats all it is,
i have to admit these things are hard to nail down.

It could even be a virus.

There is one way to confirm 100% if its hardware or software and that is to use the recovery discs to totally wipe your system clean and reinstall everything just like how it left the factory LOL but you might not wanna do that.

 

Another thing:
that sound system has equilizer settings,if they have been turned right up high it might cause it,i notice i have to bring the "wave" down a bit even though volume is set high along with equilizer.

 

Doom, the popping happens after any windows sound is played. Installing the Realtek driver solved the issue. Therefore I believe it's the SigmaTel driver fault. I did restore the system to factory settings to no avail. Do you own an m35 or any computer with a SigmaTel sound card?

Thank you.

Jordi

 

Yeah ive got the M30 and that uses the same thing.

Does sound odd,does the m35 have a volume control at the front?

If so that volume control is actually an amplifier control,have you tried turning it down and just using windows to control the sound?

How well does the sound play when you insert a cd and play it without booting?
using the mode button when the power is off you can play cd's but the thing is all that uses is drive,amplifier,speakers and power,if it plays ok you know there is nothing wrong with the amp,cd or speakers.

This all sounds like obvious stuff,but its all part of trouble shooting,
when you troubleshoot you find out what does work first.

Failing all that it would be my guess that the sound drivers appear to conflict with something youre putting on your computer.

have you done a bios update?

not saying you should or shouldnt but a bios update can cause a problem or solve a problem.

And a bios update is fixed to your computer even if you wipe the hard drive,its a major thing.

After doing a clean install back to the factory default have you added things,updated before the problem re-occurs or does it occur straight away?

 

Doom, all the Toshiba computers with the SigmaTel sound card I tried at local stores had the electric popping noise before and after any windows sound is played, not during the sound play. Are you sure you do not have this electric popping sound? It is most noticeable when heard through headsets. Could I send you a sound file with the noise I am talking about so that you can compare with your machine? I am pretty sure you also have the noise but you may have not noticed.

I would appreciate your help.

Best regards,
Jordi

 

Well i have to say ive not noticed the problem,either its very subtle and im not noticing it,or its because my bios is updated and ive updated my computer to service pack 2,or maybe its an issue that fails to show up on computers sold in the UK which is where i am.

I find it highly unlikely toshiba has made a large batch of faulty machines.

I kept trying to listen out for your problem,with speakers and headphones,and to me all the sound's that play sound like high,rich fidelity without any distortion.

I went to sound propertys and listened to various windows sounds.

If you send me the sound file i can host the file on my personal webspace and upload it so everyone on this site can listen to it.

email: [email protected]

 

Doom,

Thank you for your post. I e mailed you a sound file to the e mail address you mentioned. I would appreciate your making it available for everyone on this forum to hear.

Thank you again, Doom.

Best regards,

Jordi

 

We all have problems lately,since i got my new computer ive been trying to transfer loads of stuff,before i wiped my old computer,unfortunatly ive lost my user name/pass for the service where i can upload stuff,so ive now gotta contact them.

Anyway i listened to the audio file and i can hear what you describe a a pop/tick at low level directly after a sound,it only does that low audio tick/pop after a sound played.

Id consider this a mystery,i can assure you that if everyone else heard it here they might ignore it cos i turned my volume up and my ear was right on the speaker,it was noticable but not a huge deal.

However my computer doesnt do it.

This is my driver version,is it the same as yours?

its dated 17/07/2003

Try using older drivers.

The fact that you can use a different driver and not get the problem tells me its a software based problem.

Is it really that serious?,as i say i can hear what youre talking about but only when i listen for it,if you had not pointed this problem out i probably wouldnt have noticed it in that mp3 you sent me,i mean its tiny its a pop/tick sound for about 1 nanosecond after a sound event at low volume.

 

Doom,

Thank you very much for listening to my sound file. I also think that the issue must be software related. Could you please tell me what your driver version number is? I will check and see if it's the same as mine. Also, could you upload the sound file to your web site so that people can listen to it? Do you have the power management of the SigmaTel sound card enabled or disabled? Does it make a difference in terms of the popping sound?

I hope you solve your problems too.

Thank you, Doom.

Best regards,

Jordi

 

Well no,thats what im saying...cos of my problems i cannot upload the sound file LOL for everyone else to hear.

But anyway this is my driver version

sigmatel c-major

6.14.1.3835

date 17/07/2003

and i have power management turned on,all that is is for when your sound isnt been used or idle for awhile.

Just look for the sigmatel driver dated the same as mine,obviously it may read this way round for you 07/17/2003.

 

Doom, I checked the driver version and it's the same as I have installed in my system. How do you explain that you do not get this electric popping noise after any windows sound but I do? You don't get the noise at all?? Weird, isn't it? Any other ideas will be appreciated.

Thank you, Doom.

Best regards,

Jordi