Speakers in laptop won't stop making rasping sound

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 1:27am #1

Lattitude D600 Windows 2000
SigmaTel C-Major Audio

The speakers in my laptop won't stop making a raspy sound even when i connect it to different speakers thats all I get.

Any music or whatever that does come out is distorted and crackly.

The left corner of laptop has been very hot for a while but may have gotten hotter recently. This is the side nearest the earphone and micophone jacks so I guess it could be a problem with the sound card.

I tried uninstalling and reinistalling some sound drivers but that didn't work.

Are my speakers fu(ked or is there a simple solution?

Does it need repairing?? Would a format work?

Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

I wouldn't mind but I just got a 32" tv for christmas and was looking forward to connecting them up. I NEED SOUND!!!!

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 3:02pm

Well apparently the speakers and maybe motherboard need replacing.

Does anyone know if a repair company would do this and for what price?

It is a Lattitude D600 which is fairly ancient - would it be possible to get replacement parts?

I was thinking seeing as its ancient but still in perfect condition mostly I'd like to try myself to replace the parts using this manual

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/latd600/sm/speakers.htm#1006368

Would it be difficult?

Alanstrainor · 26-12-2008 3:59pm

I guess what you have to ask yourself is whether it's worth repairing seeing how old it is. If you decide to repair it yourself, be prepared to have to repair it again as other parts fail, given it's age component failure is a certainty.

Hagar · 26-12-2008 4:06pm

I'd re-install all drivers again before I splash out on repairs/new hardware.

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 4:10pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I guess what you have to ask yourself is whether it's worth repairing seeing how old it is. If you decide to repair it yourself, be prepared to have to repair it again as other parts fail, given it's age component failure is a certainty.

I wouldn't mind repairing this time. It would give me some experience repairing that type of stuff. It would depend more on the cost of the replacements.

Would there be a way to get the sound working ok without the internal speakers to external speakers or head phones?

Does anyone know how much a replacement motherboard & speakers would cost? and if they're available? Would I get them off DELL?

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 4:31pm

Hagar wrote: »

I'd re-install all drivers again before I splash out on repairs/new hardware.

what would be the best way to do that?

Hagar · 26-12-2008 4:37pm

Go to the Dell website and download them again from Dell Support page.

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 5:40pm

Right well the continuous crackling seems to have stopped. But music still sounds crap even from external speakers.

Has anyone experienced this problem??

I'd be happy if I could get sound work from external speakers if thats possible I don't really care about the internal ones...

I was talking to Dell chat but really it doesn't seem like they have a clue.

In my opinion there a couple of possible things that could be wrong:

1 A driver is fu(ked - don't this is the case though.
2 The internal speaker has finally given up
3 There is a lose connection somewhere
4 THe sound card is jacked
5 The inside has gotten dirty and has clogged something in internal speakers / sound card.
6 A problem with the motherboard?
7 The sound card / speakers / motherboard has overheated - overheating seems to have been a problem in this laptop (the cooling system is not approriately positioned...

Could yous try and knock these possibities? Which ones are most possible and what I need to fix them....

Alanstrainor · 26-12-2008 6:12pm

If you say you've tried external speakers/headphones and the problem is apparent there too, i'd say it's not an issue with the onboard speakers. But rather the sound card is at fault. As for what is wrong with your sound card, like you said, it could be something as simple as a loose connection somewhere, or it could be something more complicated. And since the soundcard is integrated into the mobo replacing a soundcard means replacing the whole motherboard.
Does the D600 have a pcmcia slot? If it does you may be able to pick up a PCMCIA sound card on the cheap and plug that in. It'd be a much handier work around.

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 6:30pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

If you say you've tried external speakers/headphones and the problem is apparent there too, i'd say it's not an issue with the onboard speakers. But rather the sound card is at fault. As for what is wrong with your sound card, like you said, it could be something as simple as a loose connection somewhere, or it could be something more complicated. And since the soundcard is integrated into the mobo replacing a soundcard means replacing the whole motherboard.
Does the D600 have a pcmcia slot? If it does you may be able to pick up a PCMCIA sound card on the cheap and plug that in. It'd be a much handier work around.

Yes your right the sound card is integrated into the motherboard as the DELL said I'd need to replace the motherboard.

A PCMCIA sound card would be cheaper then a new motherboard?
What is the PCMCIA slot is it one of the slots on the side?

How would I disconnect the old sound card to get the other one to work?

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 6:33pm

It appears I have a PCMIA as I have a slot which currently has the following thing in it....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Latitude-D500-D600-Laptop-PCMCIA-Slot-Blank-Filler_W0QQitemZ270320071723QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081220?IMSfp=TL081220113004r7096

Where could I get a sound Card that would fit into this?? Do you think this would solve my troubles?

Just found some more....

http://ie.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=205&product=10769&listby=

Apparently I could use a USB sound card alternatively is this true?

http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/amigo/home.aspx
http://cgi.ebay.ie/USB-TO-3D-AUDIO-SOUND-CARD-ADAPTER-VIRTUAL-FOR-LAPTOP_W0QQitemZ260335038826QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_LaptopAccess_RL?hash=item260335038826&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318
http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USBG-X2X&cats=121&catid=121%2C136%2C134

I have found possible replacement speakers....
http://www.impactcomputers.com/2n406.html
http://www.impactcomputers.com/qt360.html

I think replacing the motherboard is out of the question - $244 for replacement

http://www.impactcomputers.com/y4801.html

AIR-AUSSIE · 26-12-2008 9:39pm

A USB sound card seems to be the best solution for me.

But has anyone had any experience with them?

kleefarr · 26-12-2008 9:44pm

Did you turn the microphone off?

AIR-AUSSIE · 28-12-2008 12:27pm

kleefarr wrote: »

Did you turn the microphone off?

Yes i just turned the micophone volume to zero. No difference.
Is there a way to disable them properly?

Does anyone know anything about USB sound cards?

ttm · 28-12-2008 12:55pm

In case your interested and do want to replace that motherboard that D series 500,600 and 800 from Dell are very easy to work with. I've had to get the soldering iron out to a few for another issue and now I can strip one down and put it back together in under 20mins, most other laptops take a lot longer. Check on the Dell site as they have a manual somewhere describing every step of opening one up.

Also you might find that you can get the motherboard mounted on the bottom case section (saves alot of messing around if you've not take one apart before) for under €100 off eBay (if I needed one I think I could problaby get one under 50? but would wait till one turned up). Also if you have a model with a Celron CPU there's been a guy on eBay selling the Pentium M 1.7GHz chip for 15euro - nice cheap upgrade

If you can't shut up the speakers then you can disconect them as they are plugged in the motherboard - check the Dell manual - but I think the conector is just under the keyboard, take off the top strip, leavered off from the lefthand side (obvious insert to put screwdriver blade in - be genty) then 2 screws to get the keyboard out. But do check the manual first as I could be wrong as to the location

kleefarr · 28-12-2008 12:57pm

AIR-AUSSIE wrote: »

Yes i just turned the micophone volume to zero. No difference.
Is there a way to disable them properly?

Does anyone know anything about USB sound cards?

Go to sound properties and select mute.

AIR-AUSSIE · 28-12-2008 1:45pm

kleefarr wrote: »

Go to sound properties and select mute.

Nah I tried it. doesn't make a difference.

AIR-AUSSIE · 28-12-2008 1:55pm

ttm wrote: »

In case your interested and do want to replace that motherboard that D series 500,600 and 800 from Dell are very easy to work with. I've had to get the soldering iron out to a few for another issue and now I can strip one down and put it back together in under 20mins, most other laptops take a lot longer. Check on the Dell site as they have a manual somewhere describing every step of opening one up.

Also you might find that you can get the motherboard mounted on the bottom case section (saves alot of messing around if you've not take one apart before) for under €100 off eBay (if I needed one I think I could problaby get one under 50? but would wait till one turned up). Also if you have a model with a Celron CPU there's been a guy on eBay selling the Pentium M 1.7GHz chip for 15euro - nice cheap upgrade

If you can't shut up the speakers then you can disconect them as they are plugged in the motherboard - check the Dell manual - but I think the conector is just under the keyboard, take off the top strip, leavered off from the lefthand side (obvious insert to put screwdriver blade in - be genty) then 2 screws to get the keyboard out. But do check the manual first as I could be wrong as to the location

Well to be honest I wouldn't be willing to pay over €50 to fix it.

I found this on EBAY - a motherboard for about €80 or a untested one for 10 - but that one is prob no better then the one I have already.

http://shop.ebay.ie/items/?_nkw=DELL+latitude+D600+motherboard&_sacat=0&_fromfsb=&_trksid=m270.l1313&_odkw=DELL+latitude+D600+speakers&_osacat=0

I think my best option is this

http://www.dabs.ie/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=4YLK&CategorySelectedId=11140&NavigationKey=11140

A USB Sound card. but delivery is like €13 from this site. Is there any better sites for stuff like this? Or would any stores have stuf like that?

I've found a Speedlink Ultra Portable Soundcard for €15, its on the Peats website might be a better deal will have to find reviews.

AIR-AUSSIE · 31-12-2008 3:32pm

http://cgi.ebay.ie/USB-2-0-to-Mic-Speaker-5-1-Audio-Sound-Card-Adapter-K49_W0QQitemZ290264560721QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_SoundCards?hash=item290264560721&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

I have ordered one these. Will see how I get on.

Will I have to Disable the other sound card & internal Speakers?

Thanks for all the help.

ttm · 31-12-2008 5:35pm

Wow not even 2euro spent on the problem, but allow a month for delivery (can be faster).

No need to disable anything, all you need to do is tell windows which is the default sound card to use, as you obviously like a challenge I'll leave you to find out where to pick the relevant option

AIR-AUSSIE · 31-12-2008 9:25pm

ttm wrote: »

Wow not even 2euro spent on the problem, but allow a month for delivery (can be faster).

No need to disable anything, all you need to do is tell windows which is the default sound card to use, as you obviously like a challenge I'll leave you to find out where to pick the relevant option

Seems like it. Lets see how long it takes for delivery....

AIR-AUSSIE · 05-01-2009 6:48pm

Just got my USB Sound Card.

It works perfectly straight out of the box. No CD or istallation or any b0llox.
DELL Sales wouldn't leave me alone for about three days trying to get me to get the laptop repaired with a new motherboard. Idiots.

Anyway thanks everyone for the help.

May try to remove my internal speakers one day - to save weight. seems a bit of a chore though.

Speakers in laptop won't stop making rasping sound

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