How to Fix the Computer's Sound?

Sometimes, you're watching a movie or listening to songs on your computer, and suddenly, you cannot hear anything-or you hear whirring sounds that are enough to annoy you. Or, you may not hear sound at all, when in fact you've had no problems with this before. This problem usually happens because the speakers are not working properly, or because mute buttons have been checked. There are also instances when it happens because drivers are already outdated.

Well, don't fret because this problem could still be fixed. Here are some methods that you can try to fix the computer's sound:

* Check for sound. You can do this simply by troubleshooting. Click the Start Menu, then look for the Control Panel. Type "Troubleshooter" then choose "Troubleshooting. Then, look for "Hardware and Sound" and choose "Troubleshoot Audio Playback". If you are asked to type a password, just type your administrator password to confirm.

* Don't click "mute". First thing that you should keep in mind is to make sure that the output device, such as the speaker, isn't set on "mute". Also, check if it has been properly plugged in, then check the PC's volume control and make sure that everything is set on high. You can find the volume control settings by clicking "All Programs" from the Start Menu. Then, choose "Accessories," followed by "Entertainment", and finally, you'll find "Volume Control." Use your headphones to check for sounds. If you cannot hear anything, and the device is not on mute, maybe it's the speaker that's the problem and you may have to change it with another one.

* Make sure that speakers are properly connected. If you can still hear sound, then maybe the speakers are just not properly connected to the PC. There are basically three jacks at the back of the CPU where you can connect the speakers. Make sure that the colors of the jacks are suited to the colors on the CPU. There are three different jacks for "line in", "line out", and "microphone" so check for those. The headphones or speakers should not be plugged to the "line out" area as this wouldn't provide any sound for your PC.

* Check if the sound card is compatible with your current version of Windows. You can do this by checking Windows Compatibility Center to find the list of devices and drivers that are suited for your operating system. You can also do this by going to "Properties" from the Start Menu, then click "General" and look for "Device Status". This will then show you if your sound card and other sound devices have any problems.

* Re-install sound drivers. Sometimes, sound drivers are the culprit-especially if they haven't been installed well, or if they're not working with your current operating system. Sound drivers may also be the problem if they are corrupted or missing, which causes them not to function the right way. You can re-install the driver by following these steps:

* Click "Control Panel" from the Start Menu, then click "System".

* Choose "Hardware", followed by "Device Manager", and look for "Sound", then "Video", and "Game Controllers".

* Choose the sound device that you'll find on top of the device manager. Delete it and click "Okay" when prompted.

* Then, proceed to uninstalling all of the sound devices that you'll find, with the exception of the Audio Codec and the Legacy Audio Drivers.

* Re-start your computer, and get your Driver and Application Recovery discs so that you could re-install the drivers properly.

* Begin the process of reinstallation and see if the sound will work.

You may also download updated sound driver software from your computer manufacturer. Find the driver that is right for your computer, download it, and follow the instructions for proper installation.

* Perform "System Restore". You may have to bring back the system to an earlier setting because sometimes, the drivers do not work well with the system that you are currently using. Sometimes though, you have to do this when you've noticed that the sound coming from the speakers is audible, and poof! The sounds are gone just like that. This means that there is a problem with the sound system. To restore the system to what you have used before, just:

* Click the Start Menu and choose "All Programs".

* Then, look for "Accessories", followed by "System Tools", then click "System Restore".

* Follow the steps that you'll see onscreen.

For better computer experience, make sure that the computer has sounds. Follow the steps mentioned above and you'll surely make the sound system work.