Audio Hardware - Troubleshooting Sound Card Problems
(Page 14 of 17 )
To operate, an audio adapter needs hardware resources, such as IRQ numbers, a base I/O address, and DMA channels that don't conflict with other devices. Most adapters come preconfigured to use the standard Sound Blaster resources that have come to be associated with audio adapters. However, problems occasionally arise even with Plug and Play adapters. Troubleshooting might mean that you have to change the settings used by your system BIOS for PnP devices, move the sound card to another slot, or even reconfigure the other devices in your computer. No one said life was fair.
Hardware (Resource) Conflicts The most common problem for audio adapters (particularly if you still use ISA cards) is that they might conflict with other devices installed in your PC. You might notice that your audio adapter simply doesn't work (no sound effects or music), repeats the same sounds over and over, or causes your PC to freeze. This situation is called a device, or hardware, conflict. What are they fighting over? Mainly the same bus signal lines or channels (called resources) used for talking to your PC. The sources of conflict in audio adapter installations are generally threefold:
Interrupt Requests (IRQs). Hardware devices use IRQs to "interrupt" your PC's CPU and get its attention. PCI cards can share IRQs, but ISA cards and onboard legacy ports such as serial, parallel, and PS/2 mouse ports can't.
Direct Memory Access (DMA) channels. DMA channels move information directly to your PC's memory, bypassing the system processor. DMA channels enable sound to play while your PC is doing other work. ISA sound cards and PCI sound cards emulating the Sound Blaster standard require DMA settings; PCI sound cards running in native mode don't use DMA channels.
Input/output (I/O) port addresses. Your PC uses I/O port addresses to channel information between the hardware devices on your audio adapter and PC. The addresses usually mentioned in a sound card manual are the starting or base addresses. An audio adapter has several devices on it, and each one uses a range of addresses starting with a particular base address.
PCI-based sound cards and PCI-based onboard audio can share IRQs, don't use DMA channels (except when emulating a Sound Blaster card), and can use a wide variety of I/O port addresses. Consequently, resource conflicts involving PCI-based audio are extremely rare today, in part because systems no longer use ISA slots or ISA cards (ISA devices cannot share IRQs). However, if you still work with ISA sound cards or ISA or PCI cards that use game ports, you might encounter resource conflicts.
See Chapter 20 of Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 12th Edition on the disc accompanying this book for details on resolving conflicts involving ISA sound cards and game ports.
 | This chapter is from Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 16th edition,by Scott Mueller. (Que Books, 2004, ISBN: 0789731738). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today. Buy this book now! |
{mospagebreak title=Other Sound Card and Onboard Audio Problems}
Like the common cold, audio adapter problems have common symptoms. Use the following sections to diagnose your problem.
No Sound If you don't hear anything from your audio adapter, consider these solutions:
Make sure the audio adapter is set to use all default resources and that all other devices using these resources have been either reconfigured or removed if they cause a conflict. Use the Device Manager to determine this information.
Are the speakers connected? Check that the speakers are plugged into the sound card's stereo line-out or speaker jack (not the line-in or microphone jack).
Are the speakers receiving power? Check that the power "brick" or power cord is plugged in securely and that the speakers are turned on.
Are the speakers stereo? Check that the plug inserted into the jack is a stereo plug, not mono.
Are the mixer settings correct? Many audio adapters include a sound mixer application. The mixer controls the volume settings for various sound devices, such as the microphone or the CD player. There might be separate controls for both recording and playback. Increase the master volume or speaker volume when you are in the play mode.
If the Mute option is selected in your sound mixer software, you won't hear anything. Depending on the speaker type and sound source type, you might need to switch from analog to digital sound for some types of sound output. Make sure that the correct digital audio volume controls are enabled in your audio device's mixer control.
Use your audio adapter's setup or diagnostic software to test and adjust the volume of the adapter. Such software usually includes sample sounds used to test the adapter.
Turn off your computer for 1 minute and then turn it back on. A hard reset (as opposed to pressing the Reset button or pressing Ctrl+Alt+Delete) might clear the problem.
If your computer game lacks sound, check that it is designed to work with your audio adapter. For example, some legacy (DOS-based) and early Windows games might require the exact settings of IRQ 7 (or IRQ 5), DMA 1, and I/O address 220 to be Sound Blaster compatible. You also might need to load DOS drivers to enable some recent sound cards to work with DOS games.
If you're using motherboard-integrated audio, make sure the onboard audio is enabled (check the BIOS setup program) and that the proper drivers and player program have been installed (check the Windows Control Panel). With some motherboards, you might need to run a setup program on the motherboard driver CD to enable onboard sound.
If you're using motherboard-integrated audio that uses a removable header cable (such as with many SDPIF optical or 4/6-channel analog speaker configurations), make sure the header cable is properly connected to the motherboard.
One-Sided Sound If you hear sound coming from only one speaker, check out these possible causes:
Are you using a mono plug in the stereo jack? A common mistake is to use a mono plug in the sound card's speaker or stereo-out jacks. Seen from the side, a stereo connector has two darker stripes. A mono connector has only one stripe.
If you're using amplified speakers, are they powered on? Check the strength of the batteries or the AC adapter's connection to the electrical outlet. If each speaker is powered separately, be sure that both have working batteries.
Are the speakers wired correctly? When possible, use keyed and color-coded connectors to avoid mistakes.
Is the audio adapter driver loaded? Some sound cards provide only left-channel sound if the driver is not loaded correctly. Rerun your adapter's setup software or reinstall it in the operating system.
Are both speakers set to the same volume? Some speakers use separate volume controls on each speaker. Balance them for best results. Separate speaker volume controls can be an advantage if one speaker must be farther away from the user than the other.
Is the speaker jack loose? If you find that plugging your speaker into the jack properly doesn't produce sound but pulling the plug half-way out or "jimmying" it around in its hole can temporarily correct the problem, you're on the road to a speaker jack failure. There's no easy solution; buy a new adapter or whip out your soldering iron and spend a lot more time on the test bench than most audio adapters are worth. To avoid damage to the speaker jack, be sure you insert the plug straight in, not at an angle.
Volume Is Low If you can barely hear your sound card, try these solutions:
Are the speakers plugged into the proper jack? Speakers require a higher level of drive signal than headphones. Again, adjust the volume level in your mixer application.
Are the mixer settings too low? Again, adjust the volume level in your mixer application. If your mixer lets you choose between speakers and headphones, be sure to select the correct speaker configuration.
Is the initial volume too low? If your audio adapter has an external thumbwheel volume control located on the card bracket, check to ensure that it is not turned down too low. Check the speakers' own volume controls as well.
Are the speakers too weak? Some speakers might need more power than your audio adapter can produce. Try other speakers or put a stereo amplifier between your sound card and speakers.
| This chapter is from Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 16th edition,by Scott Mueller. (Que Books, 2004, ISBN: 0789731738). Check it out at your favorite bookstore today. Buy this book now! |
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