Pc Sound Problems & Resolutions

Most pc sound problems are directly connected to a sound card problem, generally software based like most Windows issues.

Volume Level
Basics first, It may sound odd advising checking the sound volume level but I’ve known experienced IT support staff to miss this.
Many computers have more than one way of increasing the volume level, these can include a hardware control such as keyboard buttons as well we the usual Software based Sounds and Audio Devices within Control Panels.

Many of these options should work together, for example change the sound level with one and all should change together, but don’t count on this.

Sound Card Setup
To check that there is not a sound card problem, Right Click on My Computer > Select Properties > Hardware Tab > Device Manager > Find Sound, video and game controllers > make sure you can see your sound card here > Double click on it > Now you should see the properties of your sound card > view the details in the Device Status box > It should say This device is working properly

If you could not find your sound card from Device Manager look for the Other Devices section it will be here, in this case and will need the drivers installed > Downloaded the drivers from your computer or hardware manufacturers website.

If the device all appears to be working ok and you’ve checked the volume control, make sure there is no headphone jack plugged into the computer or this will mute the speaker sound.

The next step is to download the latest version of the sound card drivers.

If possible try another set of speakers or headphones, if you can hear sound through headphones, but not through speakers this would point to a problem with the speakers of there cable.

If there is still no sound this could be a hardware issue with the card. A hardware sound problem is rare, but when you’ve checked everything else ..

Microphone Problems
With the increase in voice chatting over the web there is a huge increase in the amount of people using Microphones and as we’ve found out there are many people having issued purely with Microphones.

The most common microphone pc sound problem once again is the volume level, go back to Control Panels > Sounds and Audio Devices > Select the Voice tab > Voice recording > select Volume > make sure the volume is not set to zero or the bottom.

Check the sound card by selecting > Test Hardware > you may be asked to Unblock this once or twice if you are using the Microsoft Firewall > once you’ve done this you will see the Microphone Test Page > Speaking now the Microphone bar will rise and fall with your voice, follow the onscreen prompts to test.
If this fails make sure your computer has a microphone, many simply do not, and don’t take it for granted your webcam has one built in, otherwise check with a different one.
 

Other causes and fixes to pc sound problems

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