Vaio z VPCZ1 Speakers and MIC not working

Previously i broke the keyboard ribbon cable (FPC 199) that is responsible for powering up the vaio, screen, webcam, speakers etc. I have now installed a genuine replacement cable and everything works except the speakers. What's more weird is now my internal/external MIC doesn't work now. I'm trying to diagnose what could be the problem, the cable or the ANL-96 soundboard card that holds the headphone/mic jack. I'm not sure if this same card is the sound card that delivers sound to the vaio speakers so i'm hoping someone might now how the audio works with the vaio hardware wise. What exactly is the other smaller card connected to the ANL-96 board connected via the blue cable as seen in this pic ( http://nsa27.casimages.com/img/2011/12/01/111201114934237519.jpg). Howcome there's "NVIDIA High audio definition" in device manager? Does that mean the soundcard is actually integrated with the video card?


Here is what works/doesn't work under the following conditions:
Standalone Normal:
- Vaio internal speakers NOT WORKING (worked prior to broken ribbon cable)
- Vaio headphone jack - NOT WORKING (broken previously so never worked)
- Vaio internal mic NOT WORKING (worked prior to broken ribbon cable) - no external mic needed. Where is the internal mic located?
- Vaio external mic > connected to the MIC port NOT WORKING(worked prior to broken ribbon cable)
- Although playing an mp3 reveals the system sound bar levels is recognising audio even though sound not present the above 3 scenarios


VAIO-> HDMI OUT> HDTV:

- SOUND WORKS from the tv speakers.


USB Stereo Audio adapter: ( Newegg.com - SYBA SD-CM-UAUD USB Stereo Audio Adapter)
This would install generic drivers and thus i could use headphones with this adapter. However vaio speakers would not work.

- SOUND WORKS (from external stereo speakers)! plugged in the right side (the anl-96 board side).


Why would the BIOS bootup beep not work anymore? I think my memory serves me that this did happen with the vaio z's (can anyone confirm?)

Anyone have a clue what the source of the problem is? I don't think it is the ANL-96 board if the usb adapter is operating from it. At the same time HDMI sound suggests that the o/s drivers is working properly since i don't think it uses separate of drivers for the tv. My guess is that the keyboard ribbon is the culprit but how is that possible if everything is working except sound/mic? No signs of pin damage on any of the connectors on cable/board.

 

When you are using HMDI-out the Nvidia card is rendering the sound through to the TV, so that isn't a factor, take it out of the equation.

You say the heaphone jack was broken before, so don't expect that to work, take it out as well.

This seems to me like a pure hardware problem: the cable connecting the MB to speakers is shot, hence no sound of the internal speakers. Again I stress that this is what i deduce from your post: in truth, the only symptom is internal speakers not working.

The fact that a USB sound card makes it work is perfectly normal, and it is normal that the sound card cannot help repairing your internal speakers.

The mikes are really what stumps me. I'm not exactly sure but I don't think the front audio board is connect through that ribbon cable...they should work. Anyone else wanna take a stab at this?

Finally, for the BIOS beep. (I'm just guessing here). In desktop computer, the Motherboard has a piezoelectric speaker for BIOS beeps. In a laptop, I'm guessing they don't have the space for that so the piezoelectric signals are just sent to the speakers (speakers directly, not sound card). Therefore, the BIOS beeps cannot come out of anything but your speakers, which are broken ==> hence, no BIOS beeps. Just my 2c.

Hope I helped. Cheers.

 

Just to clarify - USB Sound card works (when you plug external speakers) so the internal speakers don't work with it, or any other method actually.

You said the cable connecting the MB to speakers is shot. Which one? The blue one? I've inspected that and it is firmly connected to that small square card which seems to be soldered onto the MB.

Yea the mic thing is puzzling since it worked perfectly before. But now it comes out with brief bzzzzzzzzzzz garbled computer/binary glitch type noise which indicates something is shorted (this was from hearing with skype with another person).

Thanks for taking time to help out and narrow the problem further down. But yea the only NEW problems that occurred after reassembling with my new keyboard ribbon cable was internal speakers + MIC no longer working.

 

IIRC (been a while since I opened my Z, so correct me if I'm wrong) but the top panel consists of:

-keyboard
-trackpad
-Power button
-Light sensor/CAPS LEDS/ASSIST VAIO EJECT Buttons
-Speed/Stamina switch
-speakers

With all of that connected on one ribbon cable. Hence since the only thing from that part assembly that isn't working is the speakers I'd say you've narrowed your defect to one of three options:

a) Your new ribbon cable is faulty, in which case you need to get it replaced
b) The socket for said ribbon cable (on either side) is damaged...not much you can do
c) the speakers are broken, in which case you can replace them, but have no way to test them.

As for the mic, my instincts say it's another problem altogether but probability theorists would argue that the two problems popping up independantly at the same time is highly improbable...