HP Compaq nc6220 Sound Problem

**dereksanders** · May 6th, 2009, 05:38 PM

I recently purchased a used unit which was wiped clean. I installed Win XP Pro SP2, then installed SP3 and all security updates. I loaded all appropriate drivers from HP's website. At first, I didn't get any sound from the internal speakers, but headphones worked well. After some fiddling with audio settings I was able to get sound from internal speakers. The first time the system went into standby the sound from the internal speakers stopped. I have been unable to get sound from the internal speakers since. The heaphones, however, still work.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the audio driver from HP, which is the most recent I can find. The sound device is SoundMAX integrated digital audio, and the driver version is 5.12.1.5250, dated 10/13/04. I realize it's old, but it's the most recent version I can locate. I have double- and triple-checked all audio settings; all options are checked, volume maxed, and nothing muted.

All other system drivers have been updated as far as I can, either through HP's or Intel's website.

I'd like to think this is a software problem, but am beginning to think there is something physically wrong with the sound device itself, or the connections.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

Derek

**dereksanders** · May 6th, 2009, 09:50 PM

I forgot to add that the BIOS was updated to the most recent one available.

**NooNoo** · May 7th, 2009, 06:13 AM

Welcome to Windrivers dereksanders

If headphones work, then sound is being outputted... it would therefore seem there is either a problem with the speakers or the software is set to do headphones and not speakers.... or you have the hardware volume control turned down see page 4-4 of the userguide here Page 4-3 explains that the speakers are disabled when headphones are plugged in... I think you have to set it back to use speakers in the sound control panel.

**dereksanders** · May 7th, 2009, 07:33 AM

Thanks for the reply, NooNoo.

I actually took the time to download the user manual along with the service and maintenance guide for the unit prior to posting. The sound output is set to laptop stereo speakers, and I even changed it back and forth to other types in my attempts to get it working. Hard and soft volume controls are maxed out.

I have posed this same question to the business support forum in HP; there seems to be some problems with sound and HP. Through some research I have found that Linux users had a problem, as well. Once the system went into standby the call to turn the sound state back to active was never made. Modified drivers cured that problem.

In my instance, the audio state is active and turned on, per Windows system and SoundMAX software. I have since changed to power settings to 'Always On' to see if I could get the sound working again. No luck so far.

**NooNoo** · May 7th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Have you tried turning the sound off in bios - uninstall the driver software and rebooting a few times then turning the sound back on in bios and reinstalling?

**dereksanders** · May 7th, 2009, 07:34 PM

There is no option to turn the sound off in the BIOS. That would've been a good idea.

The wireless and sound share IRQ 21. Could that be an issue?

**CCT** · May 8th, 2009, 06:21 AM

HP has a checklist and guides; http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=3256602

There are some people saying that a small ribbon cable failure causes similar conditions; http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=ca

**dereksanders** · May 9th, 2009, 02:54 AM

Thanks for the info, CCT. I've gone through the HP sound problem checklist prior to posting here. At this point, I even installed the original sound driver HP had for this product. Again, no luck.

I will investigate the ribbon cable.

**dereksanders** · May 9th, 2009, 03:42 AM

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer HOMELAPTOP
Generator Derek
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2009-05-09
Time 04:39

--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name HOMELAPTOP
User Name Derek

Motherboard:
CPU Type Mobile Intel Pentium M 740J, 1733 MHz (13 x 133)
Motherboard Name Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq nc6220 (EG378UC#ABA)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Alviso-G i915GM
System Memory 2039 MB (DDR2-800 DDR2 SDRAM)
BIOS Type Unknown (08/29/08)

Display:
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family (128 MB)
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family (128 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel GMA 900
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB]

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - AC'97 Audio Controller [B-1]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F
IDE Controller Texas Instruments PCIxx21 Integrated FlashMedia Controller
Disk Drive HTS541040G9AT00 (40 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4083N
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 38146 MB (31454 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard with HP QLB
Mouse Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad

Network:
Network Adapter Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet (192.168.15.101)
Network Adapter Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection
Modem Agere Systems AC'97 Modem

Peripherals:
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - USB Universal Host Controller [B-1]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - USB Universal Host Controller [B-1]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - USB Universal Host Controller [B-1]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801FBM ICH6-M - Enhanced USB2 Controller [B-1]
Battery Microsoft AC Adapter
Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery
Battery Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery

**Platypus** · May 9th, 2009, 09:59 PM

If the headphone socket uses a physical switch to detect the insertion of a plug and re-route the sound, that switch could be broken or jammed and simply be always switched to headphone connection.

**dereksanders** · May 9th, 2009, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Platypus

If the headphone socket uses a physical switch to detect the insertion of a plug and re-route the sound, that switch could be broken or jammed and simply be always switched to headphone connection.

I'll give a look through the service manual, and take a look when I open the unit to check out the ribbon cable.

Thanks for the thought.

**NooNoo** · May 13th, 2009, 05:23 AM

Any progress?

**dereksanders** · May 13th, 2009, 08:32 AM

No progress to date...got tied up with yardwork...lol

**dereksanders** · May 30th, 2009, 06:00 PM

Progress update:

I still haven't had any time to take apart the laptop. However, an interesting development occurred. I've been downloading torrents, so the laptop is on for many hours during any day. I've found that as long as the laptop is "warmed up", the speakers work just fine. I haven't timed it as yet, but is seems if the unit is AC powered for a couple of hours the speakers work.

It just gets stranger everyday around here...lol...

Again, much thanks for all the ideas and comments.