3 year old dell inspiron e1505 has no sound.

[swickwake]

my computer lost all its sound around 6 months ago. i've just lived with it since then. but during that time i have also trying to figure out whats going on with it. right now im fully over not having sound and with school restarting in a few weeks i need it back.


i have tried almost every thing i can think of and what have found on the web.

all help and new idea's would be really helpful.


my computers os is vista

 

[swickwake]

also i have installed fall out 3 on to my wife's windows 7 computer. due to my computer not having sound. this is the worst part of the thing. with the game i can't even start the game. for those who have played, i cant get past the part where i'm being born (white screen with red spots) then it freezes/crashes hard. i have to control, alt, delete, to get to the desktop.

 

[snomaker321]

Have you tried it with external speakers? Sounds like the sound card is toast

 

[AaronC47]

Sound

Probably the easiest thing to try is to go to Device manager and delete anything under the sound and then shut down and reboot, when it searches for the drivers, if you cant find them go to Dell and first off read the install instructions, just to make sure theres no little trick for getting it installed. It can take a bit of searching to get there.

I found this page for drivers, but you didnt say if its desktop or laptop,, But this page http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=dhs&c=us&l=en&cs=19&k=inspiron+e1505&cat=sup&ref=ac That should be a good start, If you still have trouble getting them to install, stand up take a deep breath and back away for a bit,,,

 

[AllanD]

Probably the easiest thing to try is to go to Device manager and delete anything under the sound and then shut down and reboot, when it searches for the drivers, if you cant find them go to Dell and first off read the install instructions, just to make sure theres no little trick for getting it installed. It can take a bit of searching to get there.

I found this page for drivers, but you didnt say if its desktop or laptop,, But this page http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=dhs&c=us&l=en&cs=19&k=inspiron+e1505&cat=sup&ref=ac That should be a good start, If you still have trouble getting them to install, stand up take a deep breath and back away for a bit,,,

There are no "tricks" to downloading dell drivers, other than to clich the "download driver" button then choosing to download with your browser (downoading each driver individually) rather than "Add them to your download list" which I've never been able to make work properly....

the only time I "Save" a driver to do an install is when reinstalling the OS on a computer after a HDD failure and then I usually only do this for the video driver, chipset driver and network driver, then I can use the computer being worked on to download & install the rest of the necissary drivers.

Dell drivers are really easy to download and taking a deep breath?
I know better than to tell you to take a deep breath.....

It's really easy

But before you start with the drivers check for a mechanical problem stick a 3.5mm mini plug into the headphone/external speaker jack several times to make sure there isn't a point corrosion problem with the jack itself.
part of a headphone jack is actually a machanical switch that disconnects the internal speakers,

do external speakers work?



(I'd never know if I had this problem with my notebook, I use Logitech USB speakers)

To get the proper drivers:
Go to Dell support & Downloads (WITH THE LAPTOP) and enter your service tag number... (typically on the bottom of your laptop)

Dell will give you a list of drivers for that computer (as-originally-built).

Download & install them with your browser starting with the chipset driver update then the Bios and ONLY THEN the sound driver.
(the problem might resolve itself before you get that far)

when the downoad block pops up choose the "RUN" option and the drivers will be automatically installed after downloading.
(it'll ask permission several times but always choose "run" instead of "Save")

check for sound function after each single install.

Frankly when I'm working on a laptop I "run the list" of available
updated drivers from the manufacturer.

But all things considered even though my personal primary laptop
is a Dell (a 1525, Core2Duo 2.0GHz) I greatly prefer the way HP helps you choose proper drivers, they autodetect your computer and that allows for
any hardware changes that have been made since your computer left the factory... downoading drivers for my nc6220 Notebooks (yes plural, I have two, one running Vista buisness the other running XP) or for my current desktop, an HP dc7600 (Pentium Dual-Core 3.4GHz) is really easy.


BTW, if you've "upgraded" your 1505's OS to Windows 7 in some misguided belief that it's "better" than XP(or Vista) remove it and reinstall XP.

There is a known issue with some older 15xx series laptops having compatibility problems with windows 7 these are typically exibited as
non functioning audio, because there are no exsisting audio drivers to make those computers work with Win7.

to get Win7 working on any 15xx Dell earlier than say... a 1520... requires
either writing your own driver or divine intervention.

I've read of many problems upgrading some 1525's to Win7 (there were all originally built with various vista editions but there was a factory upgrade available) I know my 1525 worked with Win7, but I've got vista buisness on it now... because I don't have a working CoA to go along with my Dell Win7 reinstall disc.

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[swickwake]

these are some screen shots of my pc. hope these can help. i can take other screen shots if needed.

i will re-download the drivers given.

look for the red squares

let me know what you all think.

 

[swickwake]

some other screen shots.

 

[AllanD]

Try the drivers I suggested in the list I specified

Chipset, bios and then the audio driver.

Failing those to resolve the problem I usually use a sledge hammer approach...

I extract all the recoverable data from the computer
all my image files, music and video files and then start trying to grab settings for various games and other programs...

Then I reach for a system re-installation disc.

Even windows files get corrupted for various reasons and "repair installations" don't always work any better.

 

[HareRazor]

It looks like C:\windows\system32\audiosrv.dll could be an issue. Some people on the internet are saying that they take the dll file from a working computer and paste it on their and it starts working. I would check to see if it is there atleast. You might try an sfc /scannow to see if it helps.

 

[swickwake]

i really think you guys for the help out but as of now non of the drivers worked. i really do not want to re install everything just yet. i will try finding a good .dll file.

where can i find this file and how what will i need to copy.? could i please get a screen shot? what is this sfc /scannow?

 

[swickwake]

ok im not really having luck with finding a computer that match mine.

i did find this at best buy today. will this completely bypass the internal sound card and driver and restore sound to my computer. well not the computer i think i would have to use head phones or external speakers to receive sound.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Creativ...Card/9149977.p?id=1218037433764&skuId=9149977

 

[AllanD]

Have you tried the chipset driver AND the Bios update?

Unless I'm mistaken the latest Bios for your computer is "A17" you should see it on the screen (low in the center under the Dell emblem) breifly at startup

If you have an A16 or A15 Bios update it.

Failing that you may need to reinstall the entire OS

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