Computer speakers giving me some trouble.

[immeraufdemhund]

Now this has got me a bit confused. I got some speakers from walmart like 50 yeras ago....ok i'm only 19 but you get the point. Anywho i have two computers set up right now, I had the speakers hoooked up to an older computer and they worked (they've always worked). Then i hook them back into my new computer like normal and no sound... i'm thinking well maybe my vol is turned down. So i turn the vol knob fairly quickly and when i move it it makes a nice hum, but only when i move it fairly quickly, if i move it slowly nothing. i discombooberated the old computer to sell it i just wanted to make sure one of my sound cards worked. it's a 3 piece system, nothing super fancy. I had to rebuild the cases for the satellites and they've been working for about 2 weeks now no problems. The majority of the sound appears to be coming from the sub (a little 4 inch thing) I really like listening to my mp3's anyone got suggestions.

[SkinnyBoy]

lol.. did you actually plug it into the computer?? into the correct socket?? into the correct computer?? If it works with one it should work with both.....

[kelticwizard]

Originally posted by SkinnyBoy
[B]lol..

A) did you actually plug it into the computer??

B) into the correct socket??

C) into the correct computer?? If it works with one it should work with both..... [Capital letters mine]

Of Skinnyboy's three "suggestions", I would say that (B) might be worth paying attention to. I've plugged things into the wrong jack on the sound card before. Double-check that.

Try a pair of headphones in that jack-do they work?

You might also try spraying some cleaner into the jack when the computer is off. Maybe you are not making contact inside the jack.

Originally posted by immeraufdemhund
I got some speakers from walmart like 50 yeras ago....

As long as this is "Let's-Give-Immeraufdemhund-A-Hard-Time Day" I can't resist pointing out that Wal-Mart was founded in 1962, 41 years ago.....

[immeraufdemhund]

well i checked that today, and rebuilt the old computer. i unpluged the speakers and hooked it up to the other computer. Before windows loaded it was doing the hum thing, but after a little bit the speakers stopped making noise and they worked again. So i put it back into my computer. I turned on some of my music and nothing.. i turned it up all the way and listened very carefully.. I could hear the music but it was really really faint. Could it be that the other motherboard was powered and fried something? I dont know if i have powered output on this computer but I dont think i do. I looked around for a set of head phones but every pair is missing the jack....darn homemade projects....

[kelticwizard]

Originally posted by immeraufdemhund
I dont know if i have powered output on this computer but I dont think i do. I looked around for a set of head phones but every pair is missing the jack....darn homemade projects....

Well, nonpowered sound cards tend to have 3 jacks: Mic, Line In, and Line Out. Powered sound cards have 4 jacks-the aforementioned 3, plus the powered speaker output.

You mentioned a volume knob on your speakers. I know this is achingly obvious, but I will chance asking it anyway: you did plug your speakers into the wall, right?

Originally posted by immeraufdemhund
I looked around for a set of head phones but every pair is missing the jack....darn homemade projects....

LOL, that is certainly something everybody on this board can relate too!!
Anyway, you know all those Everything For A Dollar stores that are springing up all over? Most of those tend to stock El Cheapo headphones with Walkman jacks for the usual buck.

Let us know how this turns out.

[SkinnyBoy]

If you have sound, but very quiet, you either have it pluggedinto the wrong socket, or the soundcard is muted in windows... Double click on the little speaker icon in the bottom right corner, and make sure "Volume Control" and "Wave" are unmuted..

[immeraufdemhund]

man, with all those suggestions of the first thigsn to check makes me kinda wonder what sorta questoins people ask on here.... anywho, yah i already tested out the Volume Control Box and turned up everyone and clicked once on the mute thing, then again to make sure the button was off. I tried it on my key board. The sound card that i plugged into on the other computer is an ASI Soundblaster 16/FM sound car (16-bit ISA) has 5 jacks. IR, SPKR, MIC, LINE IN, ANT.... the only one i dont know is IR i'm assuming Infrared. I'm assuming all the transistors and caps are there for the radio signal, but then again i dont know. I could take a close up for everyone to look at if that might help. and the reply about it being very quiet i'm talking nearly in audible, and i have good hearing.

[immeraufdemhund]

i think i might have found something that has somethign to do with my problem. I took apart my puter today and was lookinga round for anything broken. Sure enough i see two capacitors (2700uF, 6.7v....it has polarity) that have popped tops and both of htem have a brown stuff coming out of them (see pic). Now I dont know anything much of anything cept about the software side of things... how can i get this fixed, i can solder so taking out parts of a puter not a big deal. But here's another question if those caps went bad doesn't that mean that something else i messing them up cause it's kinda unlikly for a cap to do that if it has the right voltage, right? I have a MSI MS-6340M Ver1 Micro ATX VA motherboard. It has given me a few problems in the past so if i had money i'd switch to ASUS (they have a kick but motherboard for like 70$ but that's 69$ more than i have, plus i'd have to get ddr memory and a new chip so price would be a little bit more) oh yah one more thing, i scratched off the brown stuff on top and now I can hear sounds again. Once and awhile though my speakers will pop while playing music... not too sure what that is though. THoughts?

[SkinnyBoy]

You are joking right?? I say find teh manufacturers website, and send them an email.. yeah, MSI... I never really liked them.. but, its personal preference... yeah, give em an email... if they are not helpfull, you can always get a PCI soundcard.. about 30bux Australian.. for a cheap one.

[kelticwizard]

I was wondering how you were doing with this puzzle.

The only "advice" I can offer is the obvious: solder in new caps and see what happens.

Inexpensive sound cards of the type that go into new computers are available here, if it comes to that:
www.pricewatch.com

I got a sound card through them for $10 and it is -6 dB @19 Hz. Not great, but okay.