Aspire D255e no sound in Windows 7 or XP

Hey folks, got a weird issue with a netbook I just picked up. I'm an IT guy, so I think I've run through everything I've ever tried--searched knowledge base/forums and couldn't find anything like my problem.

Got a D255e running Windows XP...bought it off craigslist and it had Windows 7 starter, at first, but I clean installed XP PRO SP3. The guy told me the sound didn't work, i just figured driver issue. However, it shows no sound device under control panel. It showed no sound in Windows 7 and after XP install, still no sound device. Device manager, under sound controllers, shows only audio codecs, legacy codecs...I have no audio device showing an exclamation or anything--everything is installed.

I've installed the official Realtek audio drivers from Acer's site, version 5.10.0.6066. I install, it completes, reboot--nothing.

I used a hardware discovery program, and it shows Acer 82801G (iCH7 Family) HD audio controller. So, the bios/mobo is telling the software something's there. Oddly enough, on the main screen of the software, which shows an overview of system hardware, no sound card/controller is present.

I'm stumped. I've rarely seen sound cards go out, but is that's what has happened? I have no sound device in Device Manager to trying removing, to let windows re-install the audio card. Installing the audio drivers(and i tried versions from other websites, just in case)appears to do nothing and Windows never detects a controller.

Any thoughts? Like this little netbook, hope I can get some sound...thank you all

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anjansapkota

Check the BIOS setting, if the speaker is turned off there. Sometimes that happens too.

zazaray

Good thought, but the bios is pretty simple and contains nothing about audio in the options. It is InsydeH20 setup utility, Rev 3.5

Vince53

Have you tried connecting it to external speakers? That will at least tell you if you have a working soundcard.

It is also possible that you have more than one problem. Your drivers might not work with a different OS.

zazaray

Yeah, connecting it to an external speaker is no help if no audio device is installed...whether my soundcard works or not, windows doesn't know its there so media player or whatever tell me i have no audio when i try to play something, dunno if you meant for me to do something different.

As far as the drivers, i downloaded the XP drivers from acers website, so pretty sure got the drivers for my d255e for XP...thanks for the help, but don't think it's either of those.

Anyone else? ive seen this problem elsewhere, with these Acer Aspires---anyone else seen this? Thank you...

Vince53

Okay, Zazaray, you already know that there are many posible causes, and therefor many possible solutions. Here are some of them:

Try:
1. Check if the sound is on mute.
2. Click on Start and select Run. Now type devmgmt.msc and press enter. Check if the sound driver is not installed or has been disabled.
3. Check the speakers. Use external headphones, if the headphones are working properly.

4) There is sometimes a sound button on your rig that overrides everything else. Look for one and make sure it is turned on.

5) Click start. Then right click on My computer and select manage. Then select device manager. Right click on the top most value. (Your computer name) and select scan for hardware changes. Let your pc re-install the sound drivers

6) Did you go into your Start/Control Panel/Sounds and audio, and make sure the volumes are up in there?

7) Try system restore and restore to the last time you heard you pc right (I know, you can't do that. Or can you?

8) Believe it or not, the problem can be caused by trying to change the language. I can only sugest that you make sure that you are set for English only.

9) You have a WIndows Sound panel somewhere. FInd it and make sure it is set to Default, rather than None.

10) If you think you have a sound card installed but you don't see it under the Sound, video and game controllerscategory, expand the Other devices category and check the devices listed there.

Laptops don't usually have sound cards. Instead, they have integrated sound processors, which appear in the same category in Device Manager.

11)

zazaray

Thanks for trying to help, but I see you just copy/pasted those steps from yahoo answers. None of that helps. There is no sound device installed; neither xp or win7 show a sound device. Ive never seen a sound module/chip--whatever u want to call on-board sound--go bad. I've messed with computers since win 3.11...I'm stumped...