How to Fix a Computer Audio Problem
As advanced as personal computers have become, hardware issues remain common place. Fixing the source of the problem is often the best way to overcome frustrations with unreliable computer components. Audio hardware allows you to listen to CDs and media sources streamed from the Internet. Fixing the lack of sound from a computer can be as simple as reviewing user settings or is an indication of more serious hardware failure.
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Instructions
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Confirm speakers are plugged in. If the computer speakers require a power source to operate, check they have power. Confirm the operating system volume controls are not muted and the volume is turned up. If you use hardware buttons to control audio from your laptop or keyboard, make sure these buttons are functioning correctly by comparing them with the volume levels shown in the operating system.
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Confirm nothing is plugged into the headphone jack. If another user left headphones plugged in, the sound to the computer speakers will be muted.
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Reinstall the driver to the sound card or audio device. Drivers are software programs designed to control the functions of hardware components on your computer system. Occasionally, the files for these programs become corrupt. Use your operating system device control settings to locate the driver for your audio hardware and uninstall the driver. Rebooting the computer will reinstall the original driver files and possibly correct the problem.
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Upgrade the audio device driver by downloading the latest version from the manufacturer's website. Changes in software or other hardware on your computer can sometimes cause conflicts with your audio device driver. As a result, manufacturers frequently update the software to resolve conflicts or fix other bugs discovered by users of the hardware. Updating the driver will ensure you have the latest version that has resolved known operational issues with the device.
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Make sure the headphone jack doesn't have a problem. Laptops and other mobile computers frequently suffer from damaged headphones jacks due to frequent use or stress on the cable when it is plugged into the jack. When these jacks fail, the audio from the headphone jack may become distorted or fail completely. Depending on your laptop, you may be able to replace a small circuit board that contains the audio jacks. If these connections are not made on a separate circuit board, you will have to replace the entire main board of your laptop. Jack failures on desktop models will require replacing the sound card. If the audio on your desktop computer is integrated with the main board, use an expansion slot to add another sound card, and disable the integrated sound device that is no longer functioning.
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Tips & Warnings
Audio hardware failures in laptops can be resolved by adding a USB sound card and disabling the original sound device using your operating system hardware settings. External audio devices will have their own audio jacks that replace those found on your laptop.
