Sound problem on SZ2XP

[nailmonkey]

Hi,

I've just received a new SZ2XP and the sound doesn't work

To be more precise, the internal speakers do not work, headphones are fine.

Has anyone else experienced this or similar? And does anybody know a fix.

Thanks in advance,

Nik

[Blencogo]

Hi Nik and welcome to ClubVaio.

Could be a number of things inclusing a hardware problem. First thing to check is if your speakers are muted.

Start>Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices>Volume

and check the speakers are not muted. Click on Advanced and check in there also.

[nailmonkey]

Hi Blencogo,

Thanks for the welcome, it's a shame that my first post is with a problem!

The volume definitely is not muted, everything is enabled. In device manager the sound card is displaying correctly, I have reinstalled it a few times using both the setup program and manually using the INF file.

I've used the latest drivers from sony and also updated the BIOS.

As it works fine using the headphones, I think it's more likely to be a software setting, I've trawled the registry and located the keys relating to the output devices both the headphones, speakers and both but nothing seems to work....

Any more suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nik

[Blencogo]

Hi Nik,

You seem to have tried most things! Have the speakers ever worked? It sounds like hardware to me.

It is probably something as simple as a bad connection. When you plug in earphones the socket disconnects the built in speakers by bending a bit of metal spring and opening a contact. There may be something stopping this closing again when you take the earphone jack out. Either that or a wire has disconnected.

You could try blasting some compressed air into the earphone socket.

As your Vaio is brand new, you could take it back to the shop for repair or (preferably) replacement.

Sorry if it sounds simple but I can't think of anything else. I really don't think it is a software issue.

[nailmonkey]

Hi Blencogo,

Nope, the speakers have never worked, it could well be a hardware problem. In an attempt to rule out the software, I also set up a dual boot with the latest beta of Vista and that has exactly the same problem. I've also booted of a Linux live CD and I can't get the speakers to work with ALSA either.

The only reason I was still hoping it might be a software problem is that a google search revealed that some people have had similar problems with these chips.

Looks like I'm going to have to send it back, which is a shame as it seems like a pretty nice machine apart from that.

Thanks again for all of your help,

Nik