Okay, all of a sudden yesterday my computer started acting a little screwy. I go to play a song and I can only hear it for the first few seconds- if even that- and only out of only one speaker. It does this on Windows Media player and itunes.

I've already checked the back of the computer and everything is plugged in correctly. Anyone ever have this happen to them before?

It's happened to me, and I've had to re-install my sound drivers.

To find out what type of sound driver you have, do the following:

Start > Control Panel > Sounds etc > Sounds and Audio Devices

Now a window of sound Properties will open up. By default you should be able to see something at the top of the Volume box (eg. Mine says Realtek AC97 audio). If you see nothing, then go to the Audio tab and check out the Audio Device.

If nothing is in Audio Device, swear. Fuck/Shit, whichever.

But if something is in there, Google "(device name) driver" eg mine would be "Realtek AC97 Driver"

Download a driver, there should be plenty of audio driver sites, the majority are pretty good, no viruses. If you're weary on viruses your computers website (mine Compaq, so HP.com) should have drivers for your computer model.

So anyway, download and install and restart and see if it works. If it doesn't work, then your soundcard might be stuffed, but that's something to worry about after trying to re-install the driver. I know this solves my audio problems that I get every so often strangely.

Cool, thanks legend_killer1- I'll try this

Update: I downloaded something that called Driver Detective and it said that my sound drive is out of date, but it wanted me to sign up for their service to correct the problem. Are there any free downloads out there?

I have a SoundMax Digital Audio Driver


Thanks again!

Driver Detective is a brilliant program for updating drivers, it's a real costly program to buy though I believe.

I just did a search for you, and any of the sites on the first page will be virus free.

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q ... arch&meta=

thanks, didn't work, so I guess the next step would be to get a new soundcard. Thanks again

Ah bugger. Well let us know how you go, best of luck with it mate!

try ear candling.

Would this slow my computer down though? This is the only thing that I don't understand

It shouldn't slow your computer down. Before buying a new sound card, maybe you should try someone elses speakers or another set of speakers, just to make sure it's definitely the sound card.

very good point- thanks!

tried new set of speakers, that wasn't it

Son of a... beep. Well by the sounds of it, it may be the sound card, so hopefully that's your problem and it doesn't go onto the motherboard or anything more serious. So perhaps try a new soundcard, I think they're about $20-$40 for a decent quality card. But then again, that's Australian pricing.

thanks, that's not too bad. I have a friend coming over with his SC on Tuesday, so I'm hoping it works

My buddy got me a sound card for like $15 and it works! Thanks again legend_killer1 for all of your help!

That's great to hear! I knew it'd be something like that! Have a good one.

i thought eddie posted this in the PJ forum