Annoying sound issues

Dadya_Vasya · 09-26-2006, 04:11 AM

I bought a Dell laptop about two weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, it's great (system specs: Intel Core Duo processor (2.16 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, Radeon x1400, and an Itegrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ HD Software Edition, etc...), but it has had an extremely annoying problem with the sound for what I remember is as long as I've had it (about 2 weeks). There are constant hiccups, and many times, the picture/movie/game hiccups along with it. It is extremely bothersome and hiccups whenever I'm listening to music, watching a movie, giving a presentation, and while I'm playing a game (especially during the cinematics). I already talked to Dell tech support, and they were of no help, just making me uninstall/reinstall all kinds of driver and crap that I already had. Can someone please help me? I'm quite pissed off at Dell tech support (or lack thereof) already

and have no clue where else to turn.

PLEASE HELP!!!

chauffeur2 · 09-26-2006, 04:28 AM

Hi Dadya_Vasya, and Welcome to TSF!
If the Dell™ laptop was brand new when you bought it, I'd be more inclined to take it back for a RMA.

The reason for saying this is; if you tamper with it you will more than likely void your warranty.

I know its not much consellation, but remember that you 'invested' good money for it, and the manufacturers are responsible for rectifying hassles under warranty.

**Terrister** · 09-26-2006, 06:58 AM

Push Dell to send a tech to fix it or RMA it. Ask to speak to the Dell phone techs boss if they start the loading drivers thing again. You have to get past the 1st levels of techs to get anything done with them.

Dadya_Vasya · 09-26-2006, 12:57 PM

They just suggested that I put the computer back to its factory setting (wiping memory and all that) using Dell PC Restore. This is what they told me: "I would request you to run PC Restore on your computer and restore the computer back to factory settings.

Dell PC Restore is a method of restoring a system?s primary partition to the original factory image of operating system, drivers, and factory-installed applications. Dell PC Restore uses an image stored on a separate partition of the hard drive, accessed by a keystroke combination during system boot. Please follow the steps below to restore your computer to the original factory settings:... If the image is no longer available, you will need to reinstall the operating system using the original CDs that shipped with your system.

If issue persists then please get back to me."

Should I do that, or what you guys suggested?

chauffeur2 · 09-26-2006, 08:14 PM

Hi Dadya_Vasya,

I reiterate what I said previously....RMA it!
"terrister" agrees.
Don't muck around with it or you'll void your warranty....just do as "terrister" says too!

Its a mind game with Dell™...if they tell you to do something, and it don't work; then, "you're up the creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle", because I'm willing to bet that Dell™ will say its your fault...so don't give them the chance...RMA it!

Dadya_Vasya · 09-27-2006, 07:15 PM

Ok, now I'm convinced that there's a freakin' ghost or something in my laptop. I was messing with some minor settings, and happened upon the "Speaker type" option under sound. It was set on desktop stereo speakers... I changed it to laptop stereo speakers, and, well, I think the problem was fixed... For a while. The next time I turned the laptop on, the problem came back. So I messed with the "Speaker type" option for a while in the evening, before giving up and going to bed. Earlier today, I turned on the laptop and didn't hear the log on theme hiccup. Not believing what had happened, I played a music file (Battery by Metallica!!!) and the whole thing played through without a hiccup. I then started up a game and went to a cinematic with a lot of speaking and music alternating, again, no hiccup. I'm scared of messing with the sound options any more in case the problem comes back, but I know my speaker setup is set on laptop stereo. Does anyone know why it didn't have worked the first time, but the second time it did?

**Terrister** · 09-27-2006, 08:21 PM

A brand new laptop should not be giving this much trouble.
If it was out of warranty, we would not quit until we helped you fix this.
Sounds like you got a bad laptop. As soon as you get passed this 1st tech, Dell will make this right. Since it showed up with problems, I would demand they replace it.

chauffeur2 · 09-27-2006, 08:30 PM

I second Terrister's motion!!
Don't let 'em get away with it!

**TheMatt** · 09-29-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terrister

A brand new laptop should not be giving this much trouble.

Thats the key right there. Normaly, you can fix these things with a restore like the tech said, but the fact that it was happening from the beginning leads me to believe that this will happen again... I think you should take it back.

Dadya_Vasya · 10-02-2006, 02:29 AM

I took your advice and got the dip***** to send a tech over. He's gonna be here on Tuesday most likely. Thanks everyone.

09-26-2006, 04:11 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dadya_Vasya Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP Pro	Annoying sound issues I bought a Dell laptop about two weeks ago. Don't get me wrong, it's great (system specs: Intel Core Duo processor (2.16 GHz, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, Radeon x1400, and an Itegrated Sound Blaster® Audigy™ HD Software Edition, etc...), but it has had an extremely annoying problem with the sound for what I remember is as long as I've had it (about 2 weeks). There are constant hiccups, and many times, the picture/movie/game hiccups along with it. It is extremely bothersome and hiccups whenever I'm listening to music, watching a movie, giving a presentation, and while I'm playing a game (especially during the cinematics). I already talked to Dell tech support, and they were of no help, just making me uninstall/reinstall all kinds of driver and crap that I already had. Can someone please help me? I'm quite pissed off at Dell tech support (or lack thereof) already and have no clue where else to turn. PLEASE HELP!!! Last edited by Dadya_Vasya; 09-26-2006 at 04:17 AM.

09-26-2006, 04:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Hi Dadya_Vasya, and Welcome to TSF! If the Dell™ laptop was brand new when you bought it, I'd be more inclined to take it back for a RMA. The reason for saying this is; if you tamper with it you will more than likely void your warranty. I know its not much consellation, but remember that you 'invested' good money for it, and the manufacturers are responsible for rectifying hassles under warranty. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

09-26-2006, 06:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Push Dell to send a tech to fix it or RMA it. Ask to speak to the Dell phone techs boss if they start the loading drivers thing again. You have to get past the 1st levels of techs to get anything done with them. __________________

09-26-2006, 08:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Hi Dadya_Vasya, I reiterate what I said previously....RMA it! "terrister" agrees. Don't muck around with it or you'll void your warranty....just do as "terrister" says too! Its a mind game with Dell™...if they tell you to do something, and it don't work; then, "you're up the creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle", because I'm willing to bet that Dell™ will say its your fault...so don't give them the chance...RMA it! __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

09-27-2006, 08:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	A brand new laptop should not be giving this much trouble. If it was out of warranty, we would not quit until we helped you fix this. Sounds like you got a bad laptop. As soon as you get passed this 1st tech, Dell will make this right. Since it showed up with problems, I would demand they replace it. __________________

09-26-2006, 12:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dadya_Vasya Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP Pro	They just suggested that I put the computer back to its factory setting (wiping memory and all that) using Dell PC Restore. This is what they told me: "I would request you to run PC Restore on your computer and restore the computer back to factory settings. Dell PC Restore is a method of restoring a system?s primary partition to the original factory image of operating system, drivers, and factory-installed applications. Dell PC Restore uses an image stored on a separate partition of the hard drive, accessed by a keystroke combination during system boot. Please follow the steps below to restore your computer to the original factory settings:... If the image is no longer available, you will need to reinstall the operating system using the original CDs that shipped with your system. If issue persists then please get back to me." Should I do that, or what you guys suggested?

09-27-2006, 07:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dadya_Vasya Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP Pro	Ok, now I'm convinced that there's a freakin' ghost or something in my laptop. I was messing with some minor settings, and happened upon the "Speaker type" option under sound. It was set on desktop stereo speakers... I changed it to laptop stereo speakers, and, well, I think the problem was fixed... For a while. The next time I turned the laptop on, the problem came back. So I messed with the "Speaker type" option for a while in the evening, before giving up and going to bed. Earlier today, I turned on the laptop and didn't hear the log on theme hiccup. Not believing what had happened, I played a music file (Battery by Metallica!!!) and the whole thing played through without a hiccup. I then started up a game and went to a cinematic with a lot of speaking and music alternating, again, no hiccup. I'm scared of messing with the sound options any more in case the problem comes back, but I know my speaker setup is set on laptop stereo. Does anyone know why it didn't have worked the first time, but the second time it did?

09-27-2006, 08:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager Emeritus Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,180 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	I second Terrister's motion!! Don't let 'em get away with it! __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

10-02-2006, 02:29 AM	#10 (permalink)
Dadya_Vasya Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Win XP Pro	Yeah. I took your advice and got the dip***** to send a tech over. He's gonna be here on Tuesday most likely. Thanks everyone. Last edited by Terrister; 10-02-2006 at 01:51 PM.