Tech: Speakers won't speak

23 Jan 13 - 10:46 PM (#3470635)
Subject: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Nevermind why but I unplugged the spaekers from two PCs and switched them. Now, I got nothin on both PCs.

???

That's all I did. On bith PCs, device manager... control panel sound... say everything is fine. Volumes show crankin. But... not a peep!

I really wanted to hear some Bluegrass at a decent volume but now I got nothin! Grrrrrrr! Even tried an old pair of speakers.

HELP!

PS.... I am heading to bed VERY soon as I just can't take any more aggravation today. So, if I don't post again tonight I am either asleep or have suffered a stroke from my elevated blood preesure. Ooooooooo me nerves!

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23 Jan 13 - 10:52 PM (#3470636)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: GUEST,999

Put them back the way they were.

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23 Jan 13 - 11:11 PM (#3470640)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Bill D

volume setting in control panel?

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23 Jan 13 - 11:50 PM (#3470644)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: JohnInKansas

It sounds like when the speakers were being swapped a connection was left open and all the smoke came out. Old timers know that when you let the smoke out, electronic devices quite working. Some newer stuff has such small quantities of smoke in them that it's easy to miss seeing it when it gets loose and goes away, so youngsters may not be familiar with the rule. Older stuff had enough smoke in it that it was usually obvious.

(In other words, I think we need a little more info. gnu may be able to give us some more clues in the morning after a good night's rest, if the hangover isn't too bad at wakeup time.)

John

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24 Jan 13 - 02:40 AM (#3470661)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Richard Bridge

Not all PC sound cards (or integrated sound) have colour coded outputs. It is very easy to plug the little jack plug for the speakers into the mic in or line in, rather than the out. Try the other holes before assuming it isn't ever going to work (sort of an analogy for personal relations, too).

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24 Jan 13 - 08:30 AM (#3470726)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: GUEST,999

"Try the other holes before assuming it isn't ever going to work (sort of an analogy for personal relations, too)."


I don't know what to say . . .

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24 Jan 13 - 09:03 AM (#3470730)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Snuffy

Well, if you knows a better 'ole, go to it.

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24 Jan 13 - 09:21 AM (#3470736)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Put them back the way they were. Did it last night.

volume setting in control panel? Checked last night. also preformed audio test... nothin. Also checked device in devive manager. Working properly.

all the smoke came out. I searched Future Shop .ca just after reading this and got 36 products but none of them match the product you suggest. Yes, I actually did it because I got a laff out of your post. Thanks... I needed that.

I think we need a little more info. There IS one thing I failed to mention... when I plug the speakers in, I get a "click" from the speakers, both PCs..

Turn off...all units,... Turn on again ....beginning with speakers.
Did that last night but did not turn off speakers and then reboot.

It is very easy to plug the little jack plug for the speakers into the mic in or line in, rather than the out. I get em the right holes every time.

What REALLY escapes me is that this has happened to both PCs (immediately after I switched speakers between the PCs) and have done all of the above... which is why aI asked for help... and I trulay appreciate your posts.

I tried the troubleshooter directions, again (so to speak as I did all that last night without using the troubleshooter as they are "obvious".

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24 Jan 13 - 09:26 AM (#3470741)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

I can explain "trulay" but it's not necessary.

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24 Jan 13 - 09:32 AM (#3470743)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Richard Bridge

If you unplug the wires to the speakers from the PCs and fiddle with the ends, you you get hum? If so the speakers are doing something.

That means the fault is in the PCs.

Have you headphones with which you can double check?

Or an i-pod or something so you can see if the speakers amplify that?

If the fault is in the PCs, have they separate sound cards or on-board sound? If they have separate sound cards have you been for a rummage in the bios to see if the onboard sound has been disabled?

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24 Jan 13 - 09:34 AM (#3470745)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

Have you tried re-installing the drivers?

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24 Jan 13 - 10:13 AM (#3470760)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

If you unplug the wires to the speakers from the PCs and fiddle with the ends, you you get hum? If so the speakers are doing something.

No hum, just a click.

Have you headphones with which you can double check? Good idea! Back when I get a chance.

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24 Jan 13 - 10:24 AM (#3470768)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Stilly River Sage

Have you confused the audio jack colors?

Lots to work with.
Audio jacks.

SRS

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24 Jan 13 - 10:26 AM (#3470769)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Stilly River Sage

Also, you can go look at the system hardware and see where the system has active ports. I have audio jacks and RCA plugs on the front and back of my current computer and I had to tell it to use the ones on back when I set it up.

SRS

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24 Jan 13 - 10:32 AM (#3470773)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

If your computer has a sound card try restoring defaults in it's software. This has worked for me in the past and also to a couple of other Mudcatters who had also lost sound.

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24 Jan 13 - 10:36 AM (#3470774)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: GUEST

1) check your speakers are plugged in properly - usually it's the green input jack if they are colour coded.

2) if you have a speaker icon, right click on it and choose "playback devices". It may help if you have something "playing" at the time even if you can hear it. (The virtual vu meters give clues as to what is actually going on.)Your computer may have decided when the speakers weren't attached to send output somewhere else. You should see the devices it might use and which one it currently is using - you can switch to the one you actually want here. (Don't ignore the possibility that volume levels have been set to 0 somewhere.)

3) as with 2) but go to "recording devices" - this is effectively the input source. Again, it's possible this could have got accidently switched. Playing MP3's from your hard drive is different to sending a signal from a MP3 player (for example) plugged into the mic or line input jack.

You can do 2 and 3 through the control panel, on the playback and recording tabs in "audio devices". I suspect you're more likely to find a solution here than the volume control.

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24 Jan 13 - 10:41 AM (#3470776)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Stanron

On my old asthmatic XP PC (preferred) I can unplug and replug speakers, headphones and mics at will and without problems turned on or turned off. On my newer Windows 7 machine if I turn it on without the speakers in, it assumes I want to use headphones so the speakers won't work even when I plug them in. I have to turn it off, plug in and turn it on again. Also there's a speaker socket at the back and another at the front and it throws hissy fits if I try and swop them round. It's obviously more sophisticated but not necessarily better. I hate to think what Windows 8 is like.

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24 Jan 13 - 10:55 AM (#3470778)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

It would also help to know the operating system ie. XP, Win7 etc. and whether your sound card is integrated or stand alone.

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24 Jan 13 - 10:57 AM (#3470779)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: GUEST,leeneia

1. My speakers have a volume dial on the front. Sometimes I listen to a YouTube video with sound so irritating that I turn that dial down to zero. Later I've forgotten I did that, and I can't understand why "my speakers aren't working." Check for dials like that.

2. Here's something a serviceman once taught me. When an electronic device isn't working right and the owner has been hitting every button and clicking every option, static electricity builds up on its circuits and paralyzes it. Sometimes you can 'cure' it by removing all power and letting it sit for a while so that static discharges.

I have seen his suggestion. Turn off all power to the puters, (unplug from wall or hit big red switch), go shopping or go to bed, reboot later and the problem may be fixed.

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24 Jan 13 - 11:00 AM (#3470780)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Pete Jennings

Great idea isn't it, colour coding the jack sockets. I'm colour-blind...and aren't those little symbols, well, little!

(Our local council did the same with the bin collection rota: general rubbish bin one week, recycling stuff next week, every other week with the garden rubbish, all carefully colour-coded for the year ahead. I hadn't got a clue. Seemed they cottoned on - now they use different B&W symbols).

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24 Jan 13 - 11:46 AM (#3470800)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: JohnInKansas

In Windows, there should be a "speaker" icon at the right on the bottom toolbar.

When you click on it, it usually will flip up a volume control, that shows a single "slider" to control overall volume, and a speaker icon you can click to "mute" or unmute. If you right click on it, it may show a "sounds" menu with some choices. The menu that comes up with a normal left click may also have a button, or the word "mixer" or something similar at the bottom.

If you click on "mixer" (or whatever else you see) you may get a more complete view that has sliders for separate adjustment of other things like "system sounds," midi/synthesizer or other components you may have installed.

With these more complete menus, you can turn the speakers on/off independent of the other functions, as you might want to do if you're recording to a device with its own speakers, etc.

Since these are "spot adjusters" the settings may not all be reflected in control panel or device manager information, and a zero volume setting in one "channel" or another can sometimes turn something off. I've had systems that showed nothing, but others with as many as seven or eight separate slider adjustments; and most of those were for pretty basic soundcards.

What you find here, or whether there's anything at all, will depend on what kind of sound card you have installed, but a rogue setting can shut down all the noise.

This may be a long shot, but should be an easy thing to check.

John

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24 Jan 13 - 12:06 PM (#3470806)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

No hum when I pinch the jacks with my fingers.

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24 Jan 13 - 12:13 PM (#3470808)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Vista Home Premium.

John... been to the mixer.

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24 Jan 13 - 12:14 PM (#3470809)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

SRS... got the plugs in the right holes.

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24 Jan 13 - 12:22 PM (#3470812)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

I don't understand the sound card stuff. I vae done everything suggested and more (even stuff that I figure hasn't got a snowball's chance).

I can't see TWO PCs messing up like that... gotta be the cheap Logitech.... hey, just thoughta sumpin else....

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24 Jan 13 - 12:26 PM (#3470815)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Another snowball, but I threw it anyway... the speakers have headphone jacks.

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24 Jan 13 - 12:27 PM (#3470816)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Gonna search for the card stuff. I will be back.

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24 Jan 13 - 12:31 PM (#3470817)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

That'll take years. System retsore?

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24 Jan 13 - 01:17 PM (#3470822)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

That may do it if it's a setting change.

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24 Jan 13 - 01:25 PM (#3470827)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

This site may be of use:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00820207&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en

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24 Jan 13 - 01:28 PM (#3470830)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Beer

I guess you can blame me Gnu. All because of the g-mail phoning thing eh!
Adrien

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24 Jan 13 - 01:42 PM (#3470832)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Crap! I was hoping you'd say "good idea" but, all the settings are correct, all devices are working properly, the driver is up to date, it shows the speakers as working, I went through help re troubleshooting.

Warning... the following has nothing to do with this thread and may be boring, even "offensive" to some because of the waste of your time for a poor joke... YMMV.

I think I might know what it is... in the past week, I took back two brand new PVRs (one locking up on a channel - the other would not power up), Rogers added a second outlet charge and took away my 20% discount because I installed one PVR and it took a dog's age on the phone to get them to correct it AND my present balance has not been corrected (they expect me to pay it and receive a credit next month), after a week waiting on a new stove burner switch (the one I use most often), the wrong one was ordered, I dropped a glove (REAL nice gloves) at the appliance shop and I assume the howling wind blew it into the North Atlantic, my truck (yes, it was plugged in), being BUILT FORD TOUGH, would not start on remote start (one turn of the starter and apparently it said, "Fuck you. It's too cold to go anywhere.") and now shows my fuel consumption at 42l/100km, I woke up to a serious flare up of arthritis, my speakers won't speak and I have turned in to a cranky, whiney, miserable... wait... that last one didn't happen just this past week, it has just spiked, if that is possible.

Told ya.

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24 Jan 13 - 01:50 PM (#3470835)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Same warning as above except for the joke.

Beer... that one was definitely my fault as far as the mic was concerned first time around. As for how the setup with the first account was different from the second one, I didn't add that to my rant as it would have taken too long to include but, THAT was a bitch!Screwed around with that for quite a while before taking your advice re giving up and starting over. And, I didn't mention the Jumbo Remote control from CNIB... gotta ship it back because it won't control the recording function on a Motorola PVR.

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24 Jan 13 - 04:22 PM (#3470881)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: EBarnacle

Plug a headset or another set of speakers into the speaker jack. If it gives you sound, you have determined where the problem lies. If it does not, the problem is in the sound board.

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24 Jan 13 - 04:39 PM (#3470889)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Headphone jack... like i said, the snowball melted.

Soooo... decided to ask my supergeek nephew. Well, yer not suppose to unplug yer speakers and plug them back in without turning them off before you plug them back in on accounta that can blow yer speakers... go get new speakers and READ THE DIRECTIONS and it might work.

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24 Jan 13 - 04:52 PM (#3470895)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: bobad

"yer not suppose to unplug yer speakers and plug them back in without turning them off before you plug them back in"

Do you mean unplug from the jack on the computer because I do that several times a day switching from desktop speakers to my sound system speakers - been doing that for many years without a problem.

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24 Jan 13 - 05:48 PM (#3470918)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

bobad... stop that immediately. Power down your speakers before you plug them back in. I understand you have done it many times and maybe it is safe with your setup but nephew says it is not wise and should not be done- standard procedure. He consults on geek stuff for large companies and gets paid handsomely to know of which he speaks. In any case, *I* won't do it again.

I will report back when I install new speakers.

BTW, the old speakers not powered separately from the PC will not work with new PCs so that issue is a non-starter according to my geek.

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25 Jan 13 - 12:11 PM (#3471275)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Stilly River Sage

After a few more system disconnects or failures maybe you'll decide to upgrade the computer and get a Win7 system (before the Win8 is all that is available).

I've never heard of powering down the speakers before moving them, but there is an off switch, so I'll keep that in mind.

SRS

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25 Jan 13 - 02:11 PM (#3471335)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

I have 30 days to take the new speakers back. I tried to reinstall the card driver... 75 minutes later, my PC is working and my security suite has been fixed by remote access by my ISP provider.

I am lost.

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25 Jan 13 - 02:16 PM (#3471341)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

SRS... I gotta solve this because it has happened to two PCs simply by switching speakers. Time to ask HP.

Thanks for all the help... I REALLY appreciate it.

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25 Jan 13 - 05:25 PM (#3471415)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

WELL!

I tried to reinstall the Realtek driver... POOF! Black screen upon restart. Reboot and system restore. Reinstallation of the driver had failed. And, my ISP security was firewall only and I couldn't fix it. Went to Livechat and an ISP geek took control of my PC and restored my security suite.

I browsed for new PCs. Cheapest was close to $400 for a new one. Called my nephew and asked him if he had any buddies with an el cheapo. No. At that very minute, I thought... I wonder if, after everything that happened today, it MIGHT work? What the heck... throw my LAST snowball. Nothin ta lose, eh? I got off the phone and tried to play a song.

The SOB works! AND, I got VOLUME like I NEVER had before! That is why I switched speakers in the first place... I could never get any volume before.

15 hours of my time and high blood pressure and taking up the time of all the posters herein (GREATLY appreciated)... sorry about that.

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25 Jan 13 - 06:00 PM (#3471423)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Connected the old PC to the internet. ISP security wan't working because it hasn't been connected to the net for 5 years. Livechat. Buddy fixed it by remote control. Speakers are working.

BTW... forgot to mention... when I restarted for the driver reinstall and got the blank screen, I had to shut down and cold boot and do a diagnostic and fix which led to the system restore. It was all by prompt. Good thing on accounta I would have not known what to do therwise except use my credit card.

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25 Jan 13 - 09:17 PM (#3471478)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: JohnInKansas

So the original problem is that it was broken, but it wasn't broken bad enough for it to fix itself.

Then you hit it with a bigger hammer to break it enough to turn on the built in fixers.

Sounds like a plan we should remember.

Congrats, and glad you've got some noise.

(I'd laugh out loud if I could stop giggling, but glad you're up and makin' music.)

John

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25 Jan 13 - 10:42 PM (#3471505)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Yup... and I been crankin The Cleverlys on You Tube ever since... amazing Bluegrass, comedy and showmanship... I can't say enough about their tallent... best talent I have found in years. If Bluegrass ain't yer cup of tea, no matter, these guys are beyond anything I have ever seen or heard. Anyone who doesn't check em out loses out. You'll understand after ya watch a few vids.

Thanks once more to all who posted in my hourssss of need. Yer a great bunch.

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26 Jan 13 - 01:43 AM (#3471528)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Stilly River Sage

That's a good end to an otherwise rather fraught evening (here - long story). And great volume! Well done!

SRS

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26 Jan 13 - 04:38 PM (#3471788)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Oh... yeah... one last post. I still don't have sound on the old PC (bought in 2005) but NO WAY I am doin the same thing. I never connect it to the net on accounta it can do things with old engineering design and draughting software that would cost me thousands of dollars to upgrade to for the new machine so it will remain without sound. It must remain in working order at all costs even tho I have a brand new duplicate. Hehehee! Only out of the box once to ensure it worked as advertised. Although it did crash for the first time ever (restarted on it's own) on me during this trouble while I was messin with the new one.

I still scratch my head over all of this but I am gonna stop because I am likely gonna find out it was something stunned as me arse that I did. It might be nice to know that but it wouldn't prevent me from doin it again on accounta my memory is like a steel trap... rusted open.

Thanks again. Yer a good bunch.

WELL! Just now... a knock on the door. Me buddy's daughter just dropped of a D-Link Wireless N300 Router. Last time we talked, he asked me if I wanted his old one after he upgraded his whole system. I can't wait to take it out of the box, take it to the garage and smack it with my 20 pound maul.

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26 Jan 13 - 06:46 PM (#3471834)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

Sooo... I was talkin ta supergeek about what happened (he said, "Things like that happen often... they just do.") and mentioned the router and told him my "joke". He said, "Don't waste time and effort. Just dump that piece a shit in tha garbage. That router is ten times more trouble than you just had or ever will have." ??? I mean, I figger he knows his stuff but anyone got any comments? Mind you, I doubt if anyone could change my mind about file 13 after that. Jusss wonderin.

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01 Feb 13 - 10:16 PM (#3474720)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

SOB died.

Got a new laptop*. HP. WIN8. IE10.

6 hours of WTF? I don't CARE if IE10 is great... it ain't shit if I can't SEE IT!

Still don't really know how I got here and sure as hell dunno how to get back if I shut this rig down.

*Long story but I need a laptop.

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01 Feb 13 - 10:20 PM (#3474721)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: Beer

Have a beer gnu... Sounds like your having fun.
ad.

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01 Feb 13 - 11:55 PM (#3474746)
Subject: RE: Tech: Speakers won't speak
From: gnu

I just found the touch pad! I just hooked up my speakers and my old monitor... 20". Man... a year from now... this puppy is gonna YAP!

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