What is wrong with the sound on my laptop?

Question

Okay, so this question has been asked a hundred times before but I haven't found a proper answer. Basically, my laptop is one of those small netbooks (Is that what they're called?) without a CD Drive. It's an Acer Laptop and has Windows 7 Starter. Now, the sound has been working perfectly for a little over a year now until a few days ago. For a short while now, I've noticed that the sound crackles ever so slightly at certain parts. It also makes this grating, dragged out beep noise and freezes up for a minute while playing a song or video or something.

Don't know how to describe it but that has been going on for a few months now. So a few days ago, the sound started getting real quiet while playing videos on the Internet and even YouTube for example. It's fairly normal on the laptop itself but also pretty quiet sometimes. I tried updating my sound drivers but it said that the best one was installed, etc. Is there anywhere to download an update and install it manually? What file should I download? Do I need to take my laptop to the Acer place and get it updated there? What should I do?

Answer 1

If the sound is coming but quitely (not loud enough), then you dont have fault with the drivers and even the sound cards should be intact. Chances are that either some settings (like volume, balance, stereo levels, bass, treble etc) are screwed up Or the speakers are on their way to go Or have some sort of loose contact or poorly fit.

You can test one thing.... just connect a set of PC speakers and observe how the sound is coming out. Is it normal and loud or inadewuate with that too. If "good" then the Laptop speakers are culprit. Or if the problem persists, check the settings (take it to Acer service) and get the sound card tested.

Thanks.

Answer 2

the difficulty is with the headphones or the plug for them on the laptop has a short. attempt yet another set of headphones. if same problem that's the plug. additionally replace the sound driving force.

Answer 3

Check the motherboard for cracks due to dropping the machine, and replace the sound card. In my opinion you might just need to pull the sound card out and gently clean the dirt off the contacts.

Answer 4

Maybe its got something to do with your memory then. Next time it happens, open task manager and see what processes are running. If cpu usage is really high and/or physicial memory is high then thats your prob, and you will have to find the cause of it to sort it.



Hope that helps - if not soz and good luck sorting it :)