Audio stopped working HELP!!!

[ellimistx99]

Hey there everyone,

I NEED HELP! I have a compaq Presario F756NR laptop. It is running Windows 7 and Ubuntu on a dual boot. It's been running fine so far, except that tonight as I was talking to classmates with my mic on msn and in the middle of my conversation... my AUDIO DIED!!! I have no clue what to do...

Some info on what I've tried:
> Found out that I have (had) Conexant HD SmartAudio 221
> It's no longer in device manager
> Downloaded latest drivers and installed them, got a message saying "Driver Installation Failed: Could not find the device for this driver."
> I've searched forums and manuals on google and found no response to this.
> Thinking it was a windows issue I switched to Ubuntu and under the sound settings it said that HD Conexant Audo was "Not Connected"
> Apparently I have no made any previous system restore points. So can't try that...

Aside from the obvious format reinstall everything, any OTHER suggestions? I don't want to lose my data, and it'll take me a LONG time to backup, so that's my last resort. I'm beginning to think its a hardware issue since both Ubuntu AND Windows 7 are having trouble with the sound.

thanks in advance!!

[vahnx]

Most likely hardware since they both have issues with the sound. This post (http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Sound_Cards/Q_24542866.html) states that in Ubuntu there's crackling etc. with the sound though so it may be software on both ends but I doubt it. You said audio doesn't work in 7 but you never stated the issue in Ubuntu, if the audio stopped working 100% in Ubuntu aswell then it's gotta be hardware but if it crackles you may have some hope.

[ellimistx99]

The audio didn't work 100% in Ubuntu either.
In fact it said that the HDA Conexant Audio OSS was "Not connected".

So I went to a local computer store, showed it to the tech and within 5 mins he had the sound working!

It wasn't hardware and he wouldn't tell me what he did...

I have NO idea what the issue was, and even more perplexing is that it stopped working in BOTH Win 7 AND Ubuntu 9.04. Also, no drivers for my Conexant audio nor the default HD Audio were shown in the device manager.

I guess it'll be a mystery... oh well

[judaz]

The audio didn't work 100% in Ubuntu either.
In fact it said that the HDA Conexant Audio OSS was "Not connected".

So I went to a local computer store, showed it to the tech and within 5 mins he had the sound working!

It wasn't hardware and he wouldn't tell me what he did...

I have NO idea what the issue was, and even more perplexing is that it stopped working in BOTH Win 7 AND Ubuntu 9.04. Also, no drivers for my Conexant audio nor the default HD Audio were shown in the device manager.

I guess it'll be a mystery... oh well

Maybe he just enabled it in the bios. .. . . .if that is the case. .have no idea why it got disabled in the first place ...

[ellimistx99]

Well, it didn't actually get fixed. It just got REALLY weird.

So, my sound alternates between working, and then not working and no sound card being detected at all. After some messing around this is what I found out.

When my laptop is set to High Performance mode, and if the temp gets to say, 70 ~ 75... the sound dies. Also, launching a program that requires sound causes it to crash. I then restart my laptop. This time no sound cards / devices are detected.

To bring it back. I have to FORCE MY COMPUTER TO SHUT OFF BY OVERHEATING. Then and ONLY then does my sound return (until it gets past 70~75 anyway).

No luck on other forums. Doing this right now till I get a chance to check it out, or chuck the laptop.

[dam7ri]

So I went to a local computer store, showed it to the tech and within 5 mins he had the sound working!

It wasn't hardware and he wouldn't tell me what he did...

Did you pay him? If you did, he must tell you what he did to your equipment.

[davmoo]

That sounds to me like you've got a hardware failure coming on.

[revision3fan]

BACK UP ALL DATA!

[dam7ri]

BACK UP ALL DATA!

You are aware of the fact that just because a mobo craps out, data is not lost, right?

Hey, aren't you the one who can't figure out his/her HDD problems in another thread?

[davmoo]

You are aware of the fact that just because a mobo craps out, data is not lost, right?

While a failing motherboard won't normally physically damage a hard drive, it can write random data in the wrong places and stuff like that. So backing up data is good advice.

But then everyone makes regular backups anyway, just because, right? :D