Distorted sound

[Cuddly Duddly]

I have a new Dell Dimension 3000 with a Celeron 2.4, 256 Mbs RAM and a 20 G
HD. I have installed a Sony DVD/CD burner which I removed from another
computer and which was working perfectly, but the sound produced, when
trying to play pre-recorded DVD, is faint, distorted and fragmented. The
sound from the included CD player is perfect, as is the ound from a CD
played in the DVD machine. The picture is also perfect when playing a Video
DVD in the DVD player. It appears there is some specific fault happening to
the sound only when trying to play video DVDs. Is there some soprt of
opverlaod happening, do I need more RAM or what?

If any guru can explain in words of one sylabel to this computer ignorant
user, what is happening and what I need to do to correct the fault, I
shall be most grateful. Thank you in advance.

 

[Guest]

Click on "Start" -> "Control Panel" -> "System" -> click on the "Hardware"
tab and then click on "Device Manager". Find "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers" and
expand it. Right click on "Primary IDE Channel" and select "Properties". From
there click on the "Advanced" tab and on both "Transfer mode" drop down
lists, make sure that "DMA if available" is selected instead of "PIO Only".
If that doesn't work, check Secondary IDE Channel for the same "DMA if
available" setting.

 

[NotMe]

Some players don't do very well with the digital output mode either.
From my computer, rt click the drive>properties
pick it again from the hardware list and select properties
at the bottom, tick or untick the enable digital...
see if it makes a difference.

 

[Cuddly Duddly]

Thank you for your suggestions. I followed the directions carefully and
found that "DMA if available" was selected in both Primary and Secondary
Channels. In desperation I tried running the Sony DVD containing various
programmes which came originally with the DVD player and was interested to
hear various sounds such as chimes and "audio exclamation marks" emanating
from the DVD that were extremely loud and clear, much louder than any other
audio source. I had hoped that might have solved the problem but, sadly it
hasn't.

Any further help or suggestions from anyone will be gratefully received.

 

[Cuddly Duddly]

Thank you, NotMe for your suggestions. Unfortunately, I can't quite follow
your suggestions to pick it again. Could you be more explicit, please? I
am not able to find the "enable digital" box. Thank you.

 

[NotMe]

when you right click the CD deck in My Computer and select properties it
brings up a window.
click the hardware tab.
select the CD drive from the list in that screen, then click properties,
then click the properties tab
at the bottom is a checkbox that says "enable digital cd audio"

 

[Cuddly Duddly]

Thank you, NotMe for the clarification. I now found the boxes you were
referring to and have tried running the discs both with and without digital
sound checked. Unfortunately, there is still no difference. This is to me,
a total mystery the more so because CDs play perfectly well in either the
DVD burner or the CD player. I am now at the point that if I can't get it
to work properly I'll just write it off but I REALLY do want to knw why,
even if it can't be fixed. I think I'll try a direct talk wih Dell and see
what they can come up with. Thank you for your help. Anyone else have any
suggestions?

 

[Darrell S]

I have a new Dell Dimension 3000 with a Celeron 2.4, 256 Mbs RAM and
a 20 G HD. I have installed a Sony DVD/CD burner which I removed from
another computer and which was working perfectly, but the sound
produced, when trying to play pre-recorded DVD, is faint, distorted
and fragmented. The sound from the included CD player is perfect, as
is the ound from a CD played in the DVD machine. The picture is also
perfect when playing a Video DVD in the DVD player. It appears there
is some specific fault happening to the sound only when trying to
play video DVDs. Is there some soprt of opverlaod happening, do I
need more RAM or what?
If any guru can explain in words of one sylabel to this computer
ignorant user, what is happening and what I need to do to correct
the fault, I shall be most grateful. Thank you in advance.

I had a similar problem. Everything played well previously, then, I had
problems with PowerPoint audio animation sounds and a aircraft systems
program sound. I finally went to Sound Blaster site (my sound card) and
found a driver update. Installing the driver update cured my audio problem.
I suspect one of the Windows updates effected my sound system slightly.