No Sound from Speakers

New to Forum. I just installed a new hard drive on my Dell 3100 - Using Windows XP I am now getting no sound from my speakers, no problem with the other hard drive. I saw a thread on looking at bios, Its been a while since doing this, need some Info on How to Access. Side Note, I called dell and they wanted to extort $49 to help me, Hmm, great way to keep customers coming back when that are ready to buy another computer. Thanks in Advance for any help.

As a side note om my problem. Some of the things I have tried: Went into the control panel, looked at sounds and it is grayed Out. Can't make any changes there. I have, since posting, went into Set up - (F2) at start up Went to maintenance and reset to factory settings. I have been to Dell support web site, no luck in resolving this issue Have plugged in a set of Head phones, no sound either Typed services.msc in Run - to access Services - Made sure anything to do with audio was on (automatic) I know I am missing the boat somewhere, but I am at a loss for a solution. Any Ideas are greatly appreciated. Again, Thanks in Advance

Is there a reason that no one has given me any suggestions or Ideas on how to solve this problem? How can we learn if we don't help each other, if I did find an answer I would still post it to help out, in case some one else runs into the same problem.

Is the new HDD the one with the Operating system on? if so, have you installed the driver(s) for your sound card. Look in device Manager By either: 1) Windows Key & Pause 2) Right Click on My Computer on Start Menu and click Properties either method brings you to a screen where you need to click the "Hardware" tab, next click device manger button, if you have a device driver missing, it will be shown by a yellow ! or ? next to the device name. If that is the case then install the driver(s). if it has a symbol of a speaker with a red X on/below it then the device has been disabled. To re-enable, right click the device name and click enable. If the drivers are installed, try a different sound card that you know works (possibly borrow one from a friend etc.) (i would not recommend buying one just to test) and install drivers for it. if this works then your old sound card is faulty. if there is no sound card (an actual card) in your computer but only onboard sound, installing a sound card will temporarily disable the onboard sound until you remove the external card. if your computer has both use the external card only and, i know this is obvious, but make sure your speakers are plugged in the correct socket (usually green) and powered on. I hope this helps, if not, post back and someone will help you out. BTW, i am sorry that no-one has replied sooner (i'm not staff of WTT so i cannot apologse on their behalf) but usually most topics get at least 1 reply the same or following day.

Thanks for the reply. I have tried several things since my Last Post. The only one with the Yellow Exclamation Point is IDT High Definition Audio Codec I Uninstalled then reinstalled using "add Hardware" in control panel - No Luck even though it was installed - I get an error message that it could not be Installed properly ???? I also tried going into System Configuration Utility - Then to Services to make sure everything that should be running, is Also accessed the Services through Services.msc( Using run) - All items related to Audio are Started, running and set to Automatic. But here is something Interesting, I was having trouble installing any drivers, downloading from dell web site - I get an error message relating to ikernal.exe Did some research and found that this has to do with install shield which then has to do with the windows installer file - Guess what , I cannot find it - It must be a hidden file - I am now trying to Figure out how to access it to make sure it is running, not in Services or in Windows Files???? to make sure that the installer is not just read only. From what I can gather from the Dell web site - the sound is integrated. The other hard drive is still usable to a certain degree - I changed it for new one because I got hit with several Trojans and Virus. If I hook it Up I will look at both hard drives and see what I might be Missing. Since both Hard drives are SATA , From what I read as posts on the web, should Be able to hook it up, but I assume I go into Set Up First (F2) to change the settings - New at Hooking up SATA and Not using jumpers as in the older hard drives - Any suggestions or insight? Don't mean to be so long winded, but I thought it might help others in what I learned so Far from resources on the web. Thanks in advance for any Ideas or Suggestions

Hi TomBevin,
I have just come across your thread, so welcome to the WTT forums

Probably the main reason you did not receive a prompt response to your first post was that you replied to your own post 3 hours later……
This gives the impression that you are already being helped, as we look first for topics with Zero responses.
here's some general observations that may help with background to a solution and signpost the way forward:
1 If you have a virus on your computer, then its not normally necessary to buy and fit a new hard drive to effect a cure. There are many trained and expert malware fighters on this forum (and elsewhere) who will freely donate their time, experience and expertise, without any charge, to analyse the innermost workings of your machine, determine exactly what viruses or malicious elements have attacked and determine a strategy for their removal. They will then offer you personalised step by step advice/instructions in how to proceed safely with the "clean up" Only in a few very serious circumstances with particular types of infection will a format of your hard drive and reinstall of your operating system be recommended.
After all the step by step clean up work has been completed applications, (all free of charge) designed to help you keep safe and protected will be recommended together with information for operating your machine in a low risk way.
Further information is available from here:
http://forums.whatthetech.com/you_Infected_t106388.html
2 As you have bought and fitted a new hard drive then we need to move on to setting it all up. The usual steps are outlined here, just as an "aide memoire"
3 Install Hard drive taking all usual personal safety and ESD (anti static ) precautions
4 Initialise and format drive
5 Install Windows XP
6 Set up language, Time Zone, Keyboard options, but if offered the choice do not Activate it yet…that comes later….see item 20
7 Set Windows Firewall to On and Windows updates to "Notify"
8 Do not allow any connection to the Internet at this time, remain physically disconnected from your router/modem
9 Install "old" software first, one item at a time with a reboot and test after each one (if any 16 bit applications are to be used, install these before installing OS Service Packs. Once all old software has been installed (only old software) and tested satisfactorily then:
10 Install Win XP Service Pack 3
11 Connect to the Internet, but limit activity to only visiting the Dell website, and using the Dell Service Tag number attached to your computer's case, download to a folder that you should create on your desktop called Dell Drivers_etc all the relevant drivers and manuals etc that you need. Do nothing else and disconnect from the Internet (pull the plug when you have finished the downloads/installations)
12 Install the drivers for your Dell in the following order:
chipset
video
audio
others as necessary and don't forget to reboot between each install and test for functionality.
13 do not move on if something doesn't work…fix the problem, then move on to the next step.
14 Install the rest of your software, only the necessary stuff at this stage starting with your anti virus. anti spware and 2 way third party firewall…the nice to have's can wait for a while….
15 check that after installing your 2 way firewall the Windows firewall is set to off.
16 Connect to the Internet again and this time visit only the Microsoft Update site and download and install all Critical Updates..there will be at least 30 or 40 of them and they will take some time to download and install.
17 when all Critical Updates have been downloaded and installed reboot one more time
18 Configure your email client (if you use one)
19 Install your Office Suite, Photo Application, Foxit Reader, Flash, Java and other important software, check that everything works OK, with a reboot between each one, but don't update …….Yet! You should install your disc imaging Application now but don't take a disc image yet, just check that it's installed OK and make the boot CD, label it and keep it safe (a spare copy is a good idea……)
20 Activate Windows if necessary
21 Install Printer etc check that everything works OK
22 update your sofware (see 19)
23 Do a disc clean up, remove carefully all unnecessary temp files (but if offered the choice leave the Office Suite installation files alone…. they could be useful in the future)
24 Reboot and defrag your Boot drive using the Windows defragmenter
25 Reboot and then
26 Check that your machine is running fast and sweet with all junk files deleted, and no viruses or malicious elements present
27 Create a System Restore Point…call it new clean, (Windows will automatically add the date to it)
28 Download Erunt from here:
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
29 Install and run the program.
30 Make a disc image and verify that your disc image is correct and has "taken"correctly and keep a copy safe on removable media, a second copy is useful as extra insurance. Acronis and Paragon are good, but for free versions take a look here:
http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/backupandimage.shtml
Some experts may well disagree with the order, or even some of the above….that's fine, but if you follow the directions you should have a fast and well running machine that will be easy to fix in the future…if you ever need to…… finally never forget your back up, keep it up to date always, but separate from your "Pristine Disc Image" ……… this is your ultimate fall back position.
You should find that your sound works fine now, but if not, post back and we will do our best to help.
Regards
paws

Thanks Paws, I added the second post to give more info on my situation, but I see what you are saying. I had to add a new hard drive because even though I finally got rid of the Virus I could not go into windows, it kept going into windows for about 2 seconds then going back into the log in splash screen. 50 / 50 hindsight on my part was after I had got rid of the virus I should have set my restore to a previous time before I had been Hit. and not restarted my computer as the anti virus software was requesting. I did use the Dell disk that came with the the computer to reinstall windows, and did do the updates as you suggested. I assumed that it would install the driver sets in the right order, but I am not sure. From what I gather, from the internet and what you are saying, the order is critical. Couple of questions, * Should I uninstall all the drivers you have mentioned and reinstall in that order? * For SATA hard drives, since there are no jumpers, I assume after you install the 2nd hard drive you go into Setup ( F2)? When I do this is there anything else I should Know * Cannot find my windows / installer file - Is this a hidden file? - How do I access it. Thanks in Advance

Duey… Good recommendations. Plus, I appreciate your respectful manner. Paws… Nice comprehensive protocol, should help many folks TomBevin … Sorry it took so long to get a reply to you. We're all volunteers but usually can stay fairly current with threads. Thanks for your patience. Following the above recommendations will likely get your machine's sound functionality back up and running. But in this case, the "sound" was like the "tip of the iceberg" alerting you that it is necessary to install Chipset and Drivers for the machine when performing a fresh operating system installation. Best Regards

Quoting Tom

Couple of questions,
* Should I uninstall all the drivers you have mentioned and reinstall in that order?
* For SATA hard drives, since there are no jumpers, I assume after you install the 2nd hard drive you go into Setup ( F2)?
When I do this is there anything else I should Know
* Cannot find my windows / installer file - Is this a hidden file? - How do I access it.
Thanks in Advance

SATA Hard Drives and connectors are more versatile than ATA IDE Hard Drives and ribbon connections.
Your SATA Hard Drive will probably be recogonized without need to enter Setup vis F2.
If not, you can go into Setup (BIOS/CMOS) to have a look and adjust settings if necessary.

Yes, the windows installer file is a system file and left "hidden" by default.
During the course of following the critical update and patch updating routine recommended by Paws, that file will actually be updated to Window's most current utility.

It is not really necessary to dig down to "see" the file most the time, but you can.

But you can:
Open an instance of My Computer - Windows Explorer - Select - Tools - Properties - View(tab) and make selections as you prefer.
Here's an example that would allow viewing of Hidden and protected Operating System files:
[external image: Posted Image]

Thanks for all the input. At this point what would be my best course of action to get my sound back? I did use the disk that came with my computer, Does it install the Drivers in the correct order, or do I Need to do this? Should I uninstall all the drivers and then reinstall in the order recommended? Side Note, I have done the windows updates to service Pack 3 Again, Thanks in advance.

You can get a beginning idea of what Devices and Drivers your machine has via the native Device Manager.
Right-click on My Computer - Properties - Hardware(tab) - Device manager(button)

But Device Manager doesn't report devices that haven't been installed yet (which might include your specific audio device)

Instead, Device Manager may display "Unknown Device" and give you no information about it.
________________

D-A-L Hardware scan to the rescue (hopefully)
Go here, allow the ActiveX, and run D-A-L Hardware Scan
http://www.d-a-l.com/hardwarescan/

(here's an example of the kind of information that will be generated for your machine)
http://www.d-a-l.com/hardware-scanner/app/…4778d540e9e9374

Now with Hardware Scan results, you will be able to precisely identify your Sound Device.
_________________-

Next browse to the Dell.com site
Select Downloads and Support
Enter your machine's Service Tag # from the outside of the machine's case.

Select Drivers
You will see the "original" drivers offered for your machine, and a few updates in certain cases.

Between Device Manager, D-A-L Hardware Scan, and the Dell site, you should be able to identify and download needed drivers.

If you have trouble or additional questions, you can post the link to your D-A-L Hardware Scanner results, plus you can safely post your Service Tag #.

Our Techs will then be better informed with specifics to assist you.

Best Regards

I have my Sound Back. The reason that I could not download and install drivers is that the firewall was on. I turned off the firewall, downloaded and installed the driver with no problems. I want to thank everyone's Input. The other question I have is on SATA Hard drives, since you cannot set on as slave and the other as master. If I set up my old Hard Drive which also has Windows XP how does the computer know which one to Choose? Thanks in Advance

Connect your master SATA HDD to SATA port 0 or 1 (i can't remember which number they start at)(it should be indicated on your MoBo) and your slave to any other. Go into BIOS and check that the master is set to boot first (in HDD priority) ans the slave second. If your master fails, it will then load the slave but if the master is working correctly, it will always boot that one first. That should tell your BIOS to boot your master and let XP (when booted from Master HDD) see the slave HDD and access it. Hope this helps Duey