Solving Problems 35
Sound and Speaker Problems
No sound from speakers
  NOTE: The volume control in some MP3 players overrides the Windows
®
 volume setting. If you have 
been listening to MP3 songs, ensure that you did not turn the player volume down or off.
CHECK THE SPEAKER CABLE CONNECTIONS — Ensure that the speakers are connected as shown on the 
setup diagram supplied with the speakers. If you purchased a sound card, ensure that the speakers 
are connected to the card.
ENSURE THAT THE SUBWOOFER AND THE SPEAKERS ARE TURNED ON — See the setup diagram supplied with 
the speakers. If your speakers have volume controls, adjust the volume, bass, or treble to eliminate 
distortion.
ADJUST THE WINDOWS VOLUME CONTROL — Click or double-click the speaker icon in the lower-right 
corner of your screen. Ensure that the volume is turned up and that the sound is not muted.
DISCONNECT HEADPHONES FROM THE HEADPHONE CONNECTOR — Sound from the speakers is automatically 
disabled when headphones are connected to the computer’s front-panel headphone connector.
TEST THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET — Ensure that the electrical outlet is working by testing it with another 
device, such as a lamp.
ENABLE DIGITAL MODE — Your speakers do not work if the CD drive is operating in analog mode. To 
enable digital mode:
1
Click the 
Start
 button, click 
Control
 
Panel
, and then click 
Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices
. 
2
Click 
Sounds and Audio Devices
.
3
Click the 
Hardware
 tab.
4
Double-click the name of your CD drive.
5
Click the 
Properties
 tab.
6
Check the 
Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device
 box.
ELIMINATE POSSIBLE INTERFERENCE — Turn off nearby fans, fluorescent lights, or halogen lamps to 
check for interference.
RUN THE SPEAKER DIAGNOSTICS — Some speaker systems have self- diagnostics. See the speaker 
documentation for diagnostics instructions.