Sound Card not working

[Hibernian]

Hi, I bought my custom desktop PC from PCSPECIALIST back in December 2012.

Here's my specs (from the invoice):

Case: COOLERMASTER HAF 922 MID TOWER GAMING CASE
Overclocked CPU: Overclocked Intel® Core™i7-3770k Quad Core (3.50GHz @ max 4.60GHz)
Motherboard: ASUS® P8Z77-V PRO/THUNDERBOLT: PCI-E 3.0 READY,WIFI, SLI, X-FIRE
Memory (RAM): 16GB KINGSTON HYPERX GENESIS DUAL-DDR3 2133MHz X.M.P (4 x 4GB KIT)
Graphics Card: 2GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 680 - 2 DVI, HDMI, DP
Memory - 1st Hard Disk: 480GB INTEL® 520 SERIES SSD, SATA 6 Gb/s (upto 550MB/sR | 520MB/sW)
2nd Hard Disk: 2TB WD CAVIAR BLACK WD2002FAEX, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64MB CACHE (7200rpm)
1st DVD/BLU-RAY Drive: 12x BLU-RAY RE-WRITER DRIVE, 16x DVD ±R/±RW
Memory Card Reader: INTERNAL 52 IN 1 CARD READER (XD, MS, CF, SD, etc) + 1 x USB 2.0 PORT
Power Supply: CORSAIR 850W PRO SERIES™ HX850-80 PLUS® GOLD MODULAR
Processor Cooling: Corsair H100 Hydro Series High Performance CPU Cooler
Thermal Paste: ARCTIC MX-4 EXTREME THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY COMPOUND
Sound Card: ASUS Xonar DS
Network Facilities: 10/100/1000 GIGABIT LAN PORT - AS STANDARD ON ALL PCs
USB Options: 6 x USB 2.0 PORTS @ BACK PANEL (MIN 2 FRONT PORTS) AS STANDARD

Operating System: Windows 7 (64-bit)
Warranty: 3 Year Gold Warranty (2 Year Collect & Return, 2 Year Parts, 3 Year
Labour)


Over the past few days I experienced a few occasions where the sound from the speakers would basically go into a recurring error. The speakers would be working fine, and then (usually when I turned on some new sound) they would emit a very annoying and repetitive series of clicking tones (kind a mixture of high and low pitches and very loud). This happened probably twice over the last 3 or 4 days and I had to completely turn the computer off to get the noise to stop (well, turning off the speakers also works, but when you turn them back on the sound is still there). No other sounds would be emitted from the system while that clicking was being made, and I couldn't stop if, except by turning the whole thing off. The first two times, the sound system returned to normal after I restarted the PC.

However, yesterday the same annoying clicking sound took over the sound system again and this time, when I restarted the PC, I couldn't get it to produce any sound. I've been messing around with it today, and all that I can get to come out of the speakers is that annoying sound occasionally (otherwise silence).

When the failure happened yesterday I noticed that the little "Xonar DS Audio Center" start-bar icon was no longer there when I restarted. This icon is always usually there and I use it all the time to adjust volume levels and switch from speakers to headphones and things like that. I went into Control Panel and found the Xonar DS Audio Center program there, but when I click on it, nothing happens (like the button is just dead). I think the Xonar DS Audio Center essentially controls the audio system for the PC and I can no longer access it at all.

Also yesterday, when I restarted after the error (for the second or third time), I got a message saying that the Sound Card wasn't plugged in (or something similar to that). I tried downloading the Xonar DS Audio Center software from the manufacturer's website, but during the installation process it said it couldn't find the Sound Card and thus couldn't install.


I've opened up my PC case and had a quick look inside, and the Sound Card is sitting there and appears to be plugged in. I'm wondering now if I should disconnect it entirely and then reconnect it? (like maybe it's a loose connection issue?). Other than that, I'm not sure what to do. Do you guys think this could be a software problem?, or is it a hardware problem with the Sound Card itself?

Thanks.

 

[Rakk]

I've opened up my PC case and had a quick look inside, and the Sound Card is sitting there and appears to be plugged in. I'm wondering now if I should disconnect it entirely and then reconnect it? (like maybe it's a loose connection issue?). Other than that, I'm not sure what to do. Do you guys think this could be a software problem?, or is it a hardware problem with the Sound Card itself?

Yes, take the sound card fully out and then put it back in again, might want to spray the whole area with compressed air whilst you're at it if you have any just to clear out any dust - in theory it could just be that it has become slightly loose over time and now needs putting in properly again.

It does sound like a hardware issue rather than software so if it still happens after you've re-seated it I'm guessing it's faulty

 

[Hibernian]

Yes, take the sound card fully out and then put it back in again, might want to spray the whole area with compressed air whilst you're at it if you have any just to clear out any dust - in theory it could just be that it has become slightly loose over time and now needs putting in properly again.

It does sound like a hardware issue rather than software so if it still happens after you've re-seated it I'm guessing it's faulty

Ok, I took it out and then reconnected it. I got a message saying "Device driver software was not successfully installed" when putting it back.

I have no idea why it's talking about a VGA device though. I though that was something to do with the graphics card.


It has made no difference to the situation though. Still can't access the Xonar DS Audio Center, etc.

 

[Hibernian]

Any more advice here guys?

Should I just assume my Sound Card is broken and go get new one?


Edit: Also, is there a way that I can get sound back on my PC, even without a working sound card? Like, can I hook the speakers into the Motherboard or something?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Any more advice here guys?

Should I just assume my Sound Card is broken and go get new one?


Edit: Also, is there a way that I can get sound back on my PC, even without a working sound card? Like, can I hook the speakers into the Motherboard or something?

Did you unplug the card whilst the PC was on?

 

[Hibernian]

Did you unplug the card whilst the PC was on?

No, I turned it off and unplugged it, i.e. fully removed it and took the cable connection out (I didn't think it was a very good idea to handle live circuits). Then turned the computer on again, with no change. Then I shut it down again and reinstalled the card and turned the computer on once again, and then got that message.


BTW, I found that there is a separate Motherboard audio plug on the back of the PC and I have now plugged my speakers into that. I had to turn the default audio device to "Realtek HD Audio Manager", but I have sound back now. I'd still like to know what's wrong with the sound card though.

 

[SpyderTracks]

No, I turned it off and unplugged it, i.e. fully removed it and took the cable connection out (I didn't think it was a very good idea to handle live circuits). Then turned the computer on again, with no change. Then I shut it down again and reinstalled the card and turned the computer on once again, and then got that message.


BTW, I found that there is a separate Motherboard audio plug on the back of the PC and I have now plugged my speakers into that. I had to turn the default audio device to "Realtek HD Audio Manager", but I have sound back now. I'd still like to know what's wrong with the sound card though.

Does sound like the soundcard has failed. It's not in warranty anymore either.

What did you use it for?

 

[Hibernian]

Does sound like the soundcard has failed. It's not in warranty anymore either.

What did you use it for?

Well I used it for you know... sound. The thing you plug the speakers into at the back of the tower.


Anyway, I'm using the motherboard sound system now and it seems fine. However I can't seem to figure out how to set the system to headphones now. I used to be able to just put the headphone audio jack into the front panel plug and it would recognise it, however that doesn't happen now. My guess is that the front audio plug is tied into the sound card, and not into the motherboard audio.

How would I go about rerouting it to be recognised by the motherboard audio?

Or I could just go buy a new sound card I guess.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Well I used it for you know... sound. The thing you plug the speakers into at the back of the tower.


Anyway, I'm using the motherboard sound system now and it seems fine. However I can't seem to figure out how to set the system to headphones now. I used to be able to just put the headphone audio jack into the front panel plug and it would recognise it, however that doesn't happen now. My guess is that the front audio plug is tied into the sound card, and not into the motherboard audio.

How would I go about rerouting it to be recognised by the motherboard audio?

Or I could just go buy a new sound card I guess.

The only reason for having a dedicated sound card these days is for audiophile dacs and audio production. On board sound is more than enough for most users, that's why I asked. If you had a particular requirement for a breakout box or particular ports then that would warrant a replacement, but for your usage it's not really required.

If you open the case and locate the sound card you should easily see if the front audio is routed to it, and if so, just unplug and find the audio header on your motherboard to slot it in there.

 

[Hibernian]

The only reason for having a dedicated sound card these days is for audiophile dacs and audio production. On board sound is more than enough for most users, that's why I asked. If you had a particular requirement for a breakout box or particular ports then that would warrant a replacement, but for your usage it's not really required.

Ok, I may just remove the broken sound card completely then and just use the motherboard sound system.

If you open the case and locate the sound card you should easily see if the front audio is routed to it, and if so, just unplug and find the audio header on your motherboard to slot it in there.

Well, I'm not sure exactly what is plugged into the sound card. It's just one cable called "HD Audio" and looks like this:

I seem to remember that when I first got the PC, my friend and I had to mess around with the settings for ages trying to get the front audio jack plug working properly with headphones (because it was the sound card that was in charge of the sound system). But it's been so long I forget what we did exactly, we changed some settings to get it to work, but now I think I would need to reverse those actions to get the front headphone jack working with the motherboard sound.


So, I'm using "Realtek HD Audio Manager" now to control the sound, but I can't work out how to set the front audio jack port to accept or recognise the headphones. Any advice on this?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Ok, I may just remove the broken sound card completely then and just use the motherboard sound system.



Well, I'm not sure exactly what is plugged into the sound card. It's just one cable called "HD Audio" and looks like this:

I seem to remember that when I first got the PC, my friend and I had to mess around with the settings for ages trying to get the front audio jack plug working properly with headphones (because it was the sound card that was in charge of the sound system). But it's been so long I forget what we did exactly, we changed some settings to get it to work, but now I think I would need to reverse those actions to get the front headphone jack working with the motherboard sound.


So, I'm using "Realtek HD Audio Manager" now to control the sound, but I can't work out how to set the front audio jack port to accept or recognise the headphones. Any advice on this?

The HDAudio header is the front sound port. This needs to be unplugged from the dedicated soundcard and plugged into the audio header on the motherboard. If you look at your motherboard manual it will tell you where the audio header is. Or post your motherboard make and model and I'll look it up.

 

[Hibernian]

The HDAudio header is the front sound port. This needs to be unplugged from the dedicated soundcard and plugged into the audio header on the motherboard. If you look at your motherboard manual it will tell you where the audio header is. Or post your motherboard make and model and I'll look it up.

Ok, thanks. My motherboard is an ASUS P8Z77-V PRO/THUNDERBOLT (as I said in the first post). Would I have to disassemble anything to plug this cable into it?

Last night I tried for ages to get the headphones to work, but in the end the only way I was able to was to unplug the speakers from the back audio port and plug the headphones into that. It worked (just about), but I sure don't want to have to do that every time I need to use headphones.

 

[Oussebon]

Section 2-2 of the manual (page 26 of 192) gives a motherboard overview: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...THUNDERBOLT/E7309_P8Z77-V_PRO_THUNDERBOLT.pdf


The front panel audio connector is the one labelled 20.

 

[Hibernian]

Section 2-2 of the manual (page 26 of 192) gives a motherboard overview: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb...THUNDERBOLT/E7309_P8Z77-V_PRO_THUNDERBOLT.pdf


The front panel audio connector is the one labelled 20.

Ok, I've tried it. No luck so far.

The sound card had one of those 10-pin connector cables plugged into it, which I've now unplugged (along with removing the whole sound card). I think I've found the socket on the motherboard that you have indicated (number 20, it says AAFP next to it). However the cable which was plugged into the sound card was labelled "HD Audio", but that cable literally wont reach over to the AAFP socket on the left. There was another similar spare cable labelled "AC97", and I have plugged that into the AAFP socket.

There is an option in the Realtek HD Audio Manager to switch between using "AC97 Front Panel" and "HD Audio Front Panel", but no matter which one I select no sound comes out of the headphones and the system still doesn't seem to even recognised that I've plugged any headphones into the front panel.


What should I do now? I think maybe if I cut some of the cable ties used inside I could free up the HD Audio cable and try to make it reach the AAFP socket, but I'm not sure if it will make any difference.

 

[Oussebon]

What should I do now? I think maybe if I cut some of the cable ties used inside I could free up the HD Audio cable and try to make it reach the AAFP socket,

That's what I would have suggested.