Audio failure on Xp/ASUS board hardware or software failure?

[jlockley]

System: XP pro sp3 on Board: ASUSTeK Computer INC. M2N-MX SE Plus Rev x.xx with onboard realtek audio, 1gb ram. Custom build.

Symptom: Audio began failing two weeks ago: Sounded like the bottom of a steel drum..high echo. Nothing in device manager. This on cheap speakers, which I assumed were at fault. For several days audio has been absent both on speakers and USB audio device. Again, device manager shows all audio functioning correctly.

The puzzling: ITUnes just updated and before shutting down, I find that I do get that audio over usb device.

My first question is whether this is OS or hardware related. I can't figure out how to tell.


Thanks.

 

[Freestone]

Does your RealTek audio driver also supply some kind of Audio Mixer which provides for various sound effects? If so, perhaps some effect has been enabled?

 

[wolluf]

really need to install another soundcard to be sure - though my money would be on the onboard audio is dying. Sound via USB device is just different hardware - no bearing on the functionality of the soundcard.

 

[jlockley]

Freestone had it. Not only that, but the USB headset had been set as the default device. It was software. Thanks both. Found it be chasing down the Realtek file.

Wolluf is right. Somewhere at home I have a good one. I will get it in .

I can't figure out how the settings got changed. I am the only one, and I did nothing. REALLY NOTHING. go figure.

 

[BadBigBen]

jlockley -

I am the only one, and I did nothing. REALLY NOTHING. go figure.

nope, iTunes is the other...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[jlockley]

Point taken. I have to figure how to get that, Adobe and a bunch of other irritating programs from updating at whim and messing up my work flow. ITunes doesn't belong on this machine anyway. (already changed the settings to not update, but they aren't listening.)

 

[Sephyr]

..

 

[BadBigBen]

Look at the autostarts, they are usually hidden there...

e.g. Jushed.exe (Java), Adobequicklk (or similar) usually found in the AutoStart folder (Start menu)...

if you don't have it already, then get CCleaner, there under tools you'll find the Autostarts menu...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[jlockley]

I will look into it. My start menu is always empty..the first thing I do with a new system, but it gets repopulated, I have noticed. Also remove other start programs, but a few seem to get by me. I will check out Ccleaner. Never heard of it.

 

[BadBigBen]

Neat little program, that cleans out the OS from unneeded CRAP, thus the name Crap Cleaner now CCleaner...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[jlockley]

looked at it. I usually get most of that done with msconfig, etc. Did see that the update was in the Startup Items folder, where I swear it had been removed. Thanks.