Computer Help

Disc Jockey

So my assistant brought her laptop to me saying she hadn't been able to get any sound for the last two weeks. It's a Toshiba A100 about 6 months old if that makes any difference.

First thing I tried was looking in Sound Devices, it shows no sound devices at all. Then I thought I'd check in device manager. Device manager doesn't show any devices of any kind - completely blank. Very odd to say the least.

Tried a system restore - no change at all. I was going to try to reinstall windows but her restore disc only has the option of wiping everything and returning to "out of the box" state.

Any ideas on anything else to try??

Disc Jockey

btw, no devices show in device manager in safe mode either

Shizelbs

How about doing a Windows update?

Disc Jockey

I can't here because I can't get it on the network, but it is set to update automatically

Disc Jockey

I actually found that I can install Windows from the dvd after windows is loaded, I just can't boot to the dvd and do it that way. But when I tried it, the process started then quit and gave me an error message that the installation was not successful after about 20 seconds.

fatchowmein

Go find...

1) Toshiba restore CD and try to install just the audio drivers for that laptop.

or

2) Goto Toshiba website and see if you can download the specific audio driver for that laptop.

If none of the above worked and you've already completed a full system restore that wiped everything out (started over basically) and it's still not working, send it in for warranty work.

wallstreet

6 mos old = still under warranty. you can go into the bios to change the boot order to get the pc to boot from the DVD first and HD second.

ben62670

windows XP
Use system restore within windows to restore the drivers back to a time when they worked.
Start/Programs/accessories/system tools/system restore.
Takes about 10 minutes

Disc Jockey

fatchowmein wrote: »

Go find...

1) Toshiba restore CD and try to install just the audio drivers for that laptop.

Did that too, no go.

ben62670 wrote: »

windows XP
Use system restore within windows to restore the drivers back to a time when they worked.
Start/Programs/accessories/system tools/system restore.
Takes about 10 minutes

I did try that once but didn't help. I tried an earlier point today and did get it to come back. This point was right before the install of iTunes. Anybody ever hear of iTunes messing up a computer this way?

opus

Disc Jockey wrote: »

. Anybody ever hear of iTunes messing up a computer this way?

I am thinking about getting t-shirts made up that say this.

I'll sell millions:p

engtaz

fatchowmein wrote: »

Go find...

1) Toshiba restore CD and try to install just the audio drivers for that laptop.

or

2) Goto Toshiba website and see if you can download the specific audio driver for that laptop.

If none of the above worked and you've already completed a full system restore that wiped everything out (started over basically) and it's still not working, send it in for warranty work.

+1 this the correct way. If it does not work after this use the warranty.

Disc Jockey

Well, FWIW, after mucking around a bit more I found that someone had turned off her Plug 'n Play service. Turning it back on solved both her audio problem and Device Mangaer not populating correctly

engtaz

Congrats. I have seen that and to this day I don't know how it happens.