Keep losing my sound

[Sheryl]

I bought a new Dell Dimension E521 computer about 2 weeks ago with Vista
Home Premium on it.
The sound card is on board and is a Sigma Tel High Definition Audio Codec.
(Well that's what it says on my speaker icon.)
A few days after using the computer, I noticed I lost my sound so I called
Dell tech and I don't think they found anything wrong. After being on the
phone with them for quite some time, he told me to reboot my computer. In
doing this, I had my sound back so I figured all was fine.
A few days later, I lost my sound again but didn't call Dell. I just
rebooted and got my sound back. After the second time I lost sound, I did
receive a message that there were new sound drivers so I installed them and
hoped this would stop this no sound from happening again but it didn't.
I've lost sound two more times. I'm not sure what I'm doing or what I've
done when the sound goes. I don't always realize it when it first happens
since not everything you do on the computer gives you a sound but each time
I lose the sound, all I have to do is reboot and it's back.
This is not normal and I don't know if it's a Vista problem, or a problem
with my Dell computer.
Before I try calling Dell, I thought I'd see if anyone here has any ideas.
And one more thing. This happened this morning when I first turned on my
computer, before I did anything on the computer.
I booted it up and walked away to do something. When I came back I had an
error saying my slide show screen saver couldn't start. I then clicked on my
mail and realized there was no bell when my e-mails came in which meant I
had no sound so I rebooted, and got the sound back.
Could the slideshow screen saver be causing this? That's the only connection
to the problem I know about.
Sheryl

 

[Michael Solomon]

I bought a new Dell Dimension E521 computer about 2 weeks ago with
Vista Home Premium on it.
The sound card is on board and is a Sigma Tel High Definition Audio
Codec. (Well that's what it says on my speaker icon.)
A few days after using the computer, I noticed I lost my sound so I
called Dell tech and I don't think they found anything wrong. After
being on the phone with them for quite some time, he told me to
reboot my computer. In doing this, I had my sound back so I figured
all was fine. A few days later, I lost my sound again but didn't call
Dell. I just
rebooted and got my sound back. After the second time I lost sound, I
did receive a message that there were new sound drivers so I
installed them and hoped this would stop this no sound from happening
again but it didn't. I've lost sound two more times. I'm
not sure what I'm doing or what I've done when the sound goes. I
don't always realize it when it first happens since not everything
you do on the computer gives you a sound but each time I lose the
sound, all I have to do is reboot and it's back. This is not normal and I
don't know if it's a Vista problem, or a
problem with my Dell computer.
Before I try calling Dell, I thought I'd see if anyone here has any
ideas. And one more thing. This happened this morning when I first
turned on my computer, before I did anything on the computer.
I booted it up and walked away to do something. When I came back I
had an error saying my slide show screen saver couldn't start. I then
clicked on my mail and realized there was no bell when my e-mails
came in which meant I had no sound so I rebooted, and got the sound
back. Could the slideshow screen saver be causing this? That's the only
connection to the problem I know about.
Sheryl

There's almost no other way to deal with this than trial and error. Boot
the system, be sure the sound is working, then go through your normal
routine, checking the sound after each thing you do and that includes simply
opening and closing applications. You might start with the following, think
about anything you've added to the system, anything you've installed on the
laptop since you got it, any applications, open or run them, check the
sound, close them, check the sound and see if you anything triggers it. If
yes, reboot and try again with the same application to see if it repeats, if
yes, you've likely found the culprit. After you find it, you may still want
to check other things to be sure they aren't at issue as well.

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Return your computer for repair or replacement. A two week old system
should not require this kind of user intervention.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Sheryl]

Thanks for the suggestions Michael. BTW, it's a desktop, and your name
sounds so familiar.
I use to use the newsgroups quite a bit when I first got a computer over 7
years ago but then got away from them when MSN set up groups.
I think you may have helped me with some problems many years ago. Probably
back when I had either win95 or 98. Were you using the newsgroups back in
those days?
Sheryl

 

[Sheryl]

Yes, it does seem as if a 2 week old computer shouldn't have this problem
but if I installed something that's causing the problem, I wonder if it's my
problem to figure out and not Dell's.
I haven't really installed too much since some of my programs don't work
with Vista.
Sheryl

Return your computer for repair or replacement. A two week old system
should not require this kind of user intervention.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* NEW! Catch my blog ... http://msmvps.com/blogs/rgharper/
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* The Website - http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

I bought a new Dell Dimension E521 computer about 2 weeks ago with Vista
Home Premium on it.
The sound card is on board and is a Sigma Tel High Definition Audio
Codec. (Well that's what it says on my speaker icon.)
A few days after using the computer, I noticed I lost my sound so I
called Dell tech and I don't think they found anything wrong. After being
on the phone with them for quite some time, he told me to reboot my
computer. In doing this, I had my sound back so I figured all was fine.
A few days later, I lost my sound again but didn't call Dell. I just
rebooted and got my sound back. After the second time I lost sound, I did
receive a message that there were new sound drivers so I installed them
and hoped this would stop this no sound from happening again but it
didn't.
I've lost sound two more times. I'm not sure what I'm doing or what I've
done when the sound goes. I don't always realize it when it first happens
since not everything you do on the computer gives you a sound but each
time I lose the sound, all I have to do is reboot and it's back.
This is not normal and I don't know if it's a Vista problem, or a problem
with my Dell computer.
Before I try calling Dell, I thought I'd see if anyone here has any
ideas.
And one more thing. This happened this morning when I first turned on my
computer, before I did anything on the computer.
I booted it up and walked away to do something. When I came back I had an
error saying my slide show screen saver couldn't start. I then clicked on
my mail and realized there was no bell when my e-mails came in which
meant I had no sound so I rebooted, and got the sound back.
Could the slideshow screen saver be causing this? That's the only
connection to the problem I know about.
Sheryl

 

[Michael Solomon]

Thanks for the suggestions Michael. BTW, it's a desktop, and your name
sounds so familiar.
I use to use the newsgroups quite a bit when I first got a computer
over 7 years ago but then got away from them when MSN set up groups.
I think you may have helped me with some problems many years ago.
Probably back when I had either win95 or 98. Were you using the
newsgroups back in those days?
Sheryl

You're welcome, Sheryl and your time frame and memory are correct. I used
to spend a lot of time on a couple of the old MSN newsgroups, later I was in
the MSN Members Helping Members program, then Assistant Forum Manager in the
IE and Safe Computing forums and for several years I was an MS-MVP in the
Shell/User group.

While Richard is certainly correct that you shouldn't have this problem on a
2 week old computer your instincts about it possibly being related to
something you have installed are good. While you apparantly haven't
installed much, you might still run the test I suggested with what you have
installed. Remove an application, then test and see if you have the problem
and continue to test on whatever other applications you've installed until
you've either resolved the issue or removed all such additional apps.

I make this suggestion because if it is something you've installed and you
install it again on a replacement PC, you might once again trigger the
issue.

 

[Sheryl]

Thanks again Michael.
And it's nice to see you again. I do remember you being very helpful in the
past.
There were a lot of helpful people from those old newsgroups that taught me
an awful lot about computers.
One person even taught me how to reformat my computer. I think about her a
lot and wonder if she's still around.
Her name was Dorothy. Ring any bells?
I'm finding out there's still a lot of helpful people around, but they're
mostly strangers to me.
I do appreciate the help everyone gives to people like me who don't always
know what they're doing or why their computer isn't working right.
Thanks again.
Sheryl

 

[Michael Solomon]

Thanks again Michael.
And it's nice to see you again. I do remember you being very helpful
in the past.
There were a lot of helpful people from those old newsgroups that
taught me an awful lot about computers.
One person even taught me how to reformat my computer. I think about
her a lot and wonder if she's still around.
Her name was Dorothy. Ring any bells?
I'm finding out there's still a lot of helpful people around, but
they're mostly strangers to me.
I do appreciate the help everyone gives to people like me who don't
always know what they're doing or why their computer isn't working
right. Thanks again.
Sheryl

Well, you've certainly brought back some memories and yes, I remember
Dorothy. The newsgroup was MSN Memberservices and while I was able to find
references to it in a Google search, upon clicking the link, the archive
came up empty. I guess it was just too long ago!

I do from time to time, still run into some of those people and some others
still get together in a private group.

You're welcome, Sheryl, nice to see you again as well.

Glad I could help.

 

[Sheryl]

I guess that was a lifetime ago.
I miss some of those helpful people.
Sheryl

 

[Don]

Yes, it does seem as if a 2 week old computer shouldn't have this
problem but if I installed something that's causing the problem, I
wonder if it's my problem to figure out and not Dell's...

Well, both Dell and MS would like their customers to think that way.
If you don't make a fuss now you may lose your chance to return the
machine later on, and no one at Dell or MS will be motivated to find
or fix bugs.

Keep the pressure on, I say.