Computer problems (speakers specifically)

[center_stage]

Hi--

I have a Toshiba laptop running on Windows XP with built in speakers. Every once in a while I would have problems with a buzzing sound being heard whenever I tried to play music or watch a movie, but I could fix it by closing the program and starting it up again.

Well since yesterday I have just had a constant buzzing whenever I try to do something with sound and I cannot fix it at all.

Is there something that I can do to fix this? Or is my computer totally screwed?

Thanks in advance!

 

[packersfan]

Have you tried to shut down and reboot?

I had that problem one time with external speakers, and I had to shut down from time to time when I was on for a bit. I don't know why, but I recently got a new hard drive and operating system, and it hasn't happened since.

Good luck!

PF

 

[Emilio_di_Roccabruna]

Hi--

I have a Toshiba laptop running on Windows XP with built in speakers. Every once in a while I would have problems with a buzzing sound being heard whenever I tried to play music or watch a movie, but I could fix it by closing the program and starting it up again.

Well since yesterday I have just had a constant buzzing whenever I try to do something with sound and I cannot fix it at all.

Is there something that I can do to fix this? Or is my computer totally screwed?

Thanks in advance!

Hi center_stage, if the sound goes away when you reboot the PC and play the same file, you might consider formatting said PC.
Sometimes after a year or so of installing applications, moving files and generally using a computer XP simply starts behaving erratically for no apparent reason, so my advice is back up all your data, make a list of all important programs you have installed, check for device driver CDs and format the PC.

If however the buzzing is still there AFTER you reboot the computer and is constant, I think it might be slightly more troubling. You should send it back for support as soon as possible.

Hope this helps

Emilio di Roccabruna

 

[sperling]

Put your cellphone away from the laptop more than 20 inches. That'll stop the buzzing sounds...

 

[kindashy]

It could be software in which case closing the program/rebooting will help.

Or it can be hardware, a current leak, or loose speaker, or some other part passing vibration to speaker. You can put cell phone idea listed in previous post into this pile too.

 

[Noira]

Windows XP is stupid.

Windows XP likes installing the wrong drivers.

Google for the driver for your built in speakers, run the program, and your speakers should work again. I've had a pretty similar problem with a built in sound card...

At least, that's my suggestion, it's the only speaker problem I've had. That, and a short in the speakers themselves, and jiggling them helps then.

 

[center_stage]

Thanks for all your responses. I've tried the options that I am capable of doing, and nothing has worked thus far. I think a trip to compuworld is in the near future.....

 

[Weird Harold]

Hi--

I have a Toshiba laptop running on Windows XP with built in speakers. Every once in a while I would have problems with a buzzing sound being heard whenever I tried to play music or watch a movie, but I could fix it by closing the program and starting it up again.

Well since yesterday I have just had a constant buzzing whenever I try to do something with sound and I cannot fix it at all.

Is there something that I can do to fix this? Or is my computer totally screwed?

Thanks in advance!

Is the buzzing present when you plug in headphones/earbuds?

If it isn't present in headphones or earbuds, you've probably got a hardware problem with the internal speakers.

If it's present with headphones then it could be software or hardware, but the history you gave suggests a software problem -- possibly a problem with spyware hogging CPU or interfering with the sound card's interrupt drivers.

I have had sound problems caused by slow drive access times when I let the drive get too fragmented, but that's a fairly characteristic "woofing" sound rather than a "buzzing."