Strange problem with laptop speakers after update to 8.1

Mikeyt086

Hey guys,

So my laptop had to have the hard drive replaced recently and I was put back on Windows 7 having been on 8 for the last two years.

I know most people dislike 8 and loved 7, but I'd grown used to it so much that I updated to 8.1, but something weird has happened to my speakers since.

I've a Samsung series 5 notebook, with built in JBL speakers. The speakers are fantastic and I love the sound from my laptop, so I was a bit concerned to hear only very fuzzy audio coming from the right speaker when I played a YouTube video. I went into playback devices and noticed that instead of one device which was previously called "High definition audio" I know have two separate speaker options, one which plays fuzzy audio from the right speaker, and the other which plays tinny audio from the left, it looks like this:



Now, I thought that it would be an issue with the audio drivers, so I downloaded the latest ones from Samsung, but when I attempt to install I get this notice which flashes up and then disappears saying "Installing, this may take several minutes" but it never installs, just vanishes.

I've tried uninstalling the audio drivers and restarting, but they were just back to normal when I logged on.

Any suggestions? I've used the laptop perfectly fine on Windows 8, but not 8.1, I'm guessing that's the issue, so I'd love some guidance.

Any help greatly appreciated. Cheers.

Fysh

Try going into Device Manager and uninstalling the drivers checking the option to delete the driver as well. That should stop it being reinstalled on the reboot, so that you can install the latest one properly.

Mikeyt086

I'm not seeing the option to delete the drivers as well, am I missing something? It only asks me if I wish to uninstall.

When I have one speaker set as default with the poor audio, and I test the other one, I get the proper audio that I should, if that makes sens. So it seems that my laptop is seeing the speakers separate and I need to merge them together. It's incredibly frustrating trying to find info online.

Fysh

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

I'm not seeing the option to delete the drivers as well, am I missing something? It only asks me if I wish to uninstall.

When I have one speaker set as default with the poor audio, and I test the other one, I get the proper audio that I should, if that makes sens. So it seems that my laptop is seeing the speakers separate and I need to merge them together. It's incredibly frustrating trying to find info online.

It should be a checkbox available when you uninstall the driver. I'd uninstall & delete both drivers, then reboot, then reinstall the new driver and test that.

Mikeyt086

Still no closer to having an answer for this, deleted the drivers, couldn't install the correct ones as it says there it's saying they are the wrong ones.

My speakers make an audible "Pop" when I turn the laptop on, I'm now thinking it's a problem with the connectors themselves, maybe the speakers are just goosed.

CatInABox

It's almost certainly not hardware related, I've come across other instances where hardware drivers worked totally fine in windows 8 that is 100% screwed in 8.1.

In my case, it was a bluetooth driver that decided not to function correctly, took me quite some time to figure out that was the cause.

Perhaps look into the manufacturer of your speakers, beyond the maker of your laptop, as that's how I eventually sorted the bluetooth issue.

Also, there might be something that you can change in the bios, perhaps try updating that? Look for an updated driver first though (as above)

Mikeyt086

CatInABox wrote: »

It's almost certainly not hardware related, I've come across other instances where hardware drivers worked totally fine in windows 8 that is 100% screwed in 8.1.

In my case, it was a bluetooth driver that decided not to function correctly, took me quite some time to figure out that was the cause.

Perhaps look into the manufacturer of your speakers, beyond the maker of your laptop, as that's how I eventually sorted the bluetooth issue.

Also, there might be something that you can change in the bios, perhaps try updating that? Look for an updated driver first though (as above)

Thank you.

You convinced me to check for drivers by searching for the make of speakers, and after reading about a similar problem someone had with a Dell XPS, I ended up on a Realtek HD Audio driver page, found the one for 8.1 and boom. My speakers are back and fully functional.

Here is the link in case anyone stumbles upon this post:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

Thanks again for the help guys, made my day.

CatInABox

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Thank you.

You convinced me to check for drivers by searching for the make of speakers, and after reading about a similar problem someone had with a Dell XPS, I ended up on a Realtek HD Audio driver page, found the one for 8.1 and boom. My speakers are back and fully functional.

Here is the link in case anyone stumbles upon this post:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

Thanks again for the help guys, made my day.

It's always nice when it works out!

Fysh

Mikeyt086 wrote: »

Thank you.

You convinced me to check for drivers by searching for the make of speakers, and after reading about a similar problem someone had with a Dell XPS, I ended up on a Realtek HD Audio driver page, found the one for 8.1 and boom. My speakers are back and fully functional.

Here is the link in case anyone stumbles upon this post:
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

Thanks again for the help guys, made my day.

Glad you got it sorted in the end, and thank you for coming back to say that it's sorted and share the link Nothing worse than finding a thread for the same problem you've got, only for the OP not to share how they fixed the problem.