I think I've gone deaf. Help! - Now sorted.

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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:27 pm

For some reason I've lost the sound on my lappy today. I've rebooted after clearing out the usual crap, and also done a full system scan. I can't play dvds/cds either - using Power Cinema/Musicmatch - using Windows XP. I've checked the volume controls in Control Panel and they appear OK. Please don't tell me my sound card is up the Khyber.

Any advice much appreciated. The silence is deafening.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

You've not had a cat walk across the keyboard and hit the function keys?
Say F2?
It can happen Embarassed

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:34 pm

No cats, just fat fingers.

What does the F2 key do? Is it a bit like those notices that say 'Wet paint, do not touch'?

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:36 pm

Last week I turned down the sound on Real Player, I didn't want Hayley to think I was watching a porno movie or something.

I then spent the next couple of days checking over my system as the whole computer had gone mute.

Windows media player, games, the utility that came with my soundcard, The annoying chime from XP when you log on and off - everything, nada, zip!

When I tested a file on Realplayer again, I noticed the sound was still set to zero. Everything came back again. I'm sure that's not supposed to happen, but worth checking, Tommo.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:45 pm

Hang on Roy. I'll just edit that to say what you meant to write. Smile

Roycropper wrote:

Last week I turned down the sound on Real Player, I didn't want Hayley to know I was watching a porno movie or something.

Tommo. Have you tried fiddling with the specific sound card settings rather than just the master volume controls in Control Panel? Also, go check that your card is working OK in Device Manager.

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

You don't happen to have one of those keyboards with all the 'helpful' buttons on it, do you? My son has hit the mute button more times than I can count; the first time it just drove me absolutley buggers trying to figure out where the hell my sound went.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:57 pm

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

Tommo. Have you tried fiddling with the specific sound card settings rather than jusat the master volume controls in Control Panel? Also, go check that your card is working OK in Device Manager.

Thanks for that.

I wouldn't know where the sound card settings are? Also not sure where to find and what to do in Device Manager.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:58 pm

Tommo,

check if the hardware is still properly installed.

Right-click on 'My Computer', click Properties, Hardware Tab, Device Manager; check if you have anything in the tree structure that has an exclamation mark on it, or if you have anything in the 'Other hardware' section (marked with a yellow question mark). If the driver is installed properly it should be under the section 'Sound, video and game controllers'.
If that is the case, reinstalling the driver may help. The easiest way to do this is if you have the installation cd available. Putting it into the cd drive and clicking next next next ... finish may do the trick. Even if the driver seems to be properly installed this is worth a try.

If you don't have the cd you have to find out what the exact hardware is and get the driver from the manufacturer's (PC's or soundcard's) web site.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 7:58 pm

Slightlyoutofit wrote:

Hang on Roy. I'll just edit that to say what you meant to write. Smile

Those Japanese girls are very noisy...

Do check realplayer though, its not meant to be a master control, but on my PC it acts as one.

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:00 pm

@Tsn

Is the mute button F2, if so how do I nuke it?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

On that laptop the F2 key is up near the top. It acts as the mute. Varies from keyboard to keyboard which one is the mute button
The cat having, 4 paws, managed to hit the Fn key and F2 at the same time.
Took me ages to find out I had to hit the two at the same time to undo it.
Not so bad as the time he put sons laptop into Polish. Luckily son has a pal from Krakow.

Tried a healing crystal ,swearing and threatening.
Thats usually what I do. ( still killed my desktop though )

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

I think Nanny is more familiar with the F2 thingie, Tommo; hopefully it is that or a similar hot key.

If it isn't your card or sound settings, it is probably that- did you try looking at your laptop manufacturer's web page?

Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:20 pm

Thanks for all the advice so far people.

I'm off to bed now and hopefully the sound fairy will sprinkle her magic dust during the night. Failing that my lappy may well be redecorating my wall in the morning. Crying or Very sad

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:52 am

^^ that may work too.

Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:54 am

<br>Thanks for all the advice people.

The sound fairy didn't sprinkle the magic dust overnight, but after some tweaking here and there this morning the sound problem has mysteriously resolved itself without recourse to percussive maintenance. For how long we shall see.

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

There, probably just needed it's aura cleansed.

Glad its going ok now

As you can gather my computer curing skills are nil.
I can put a pretty crystal on it and hope for the best. Usually leave it to hubby or son to do the sweary bits.
My desktop is firing up but not connecting to the internet.
Think we'll transfer any files we need to one of the laptops and scrap the old pedal driven monstrosity.

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