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Question

Latest service pack screws up sound on laptop

Dec 17, 2014 4:50AM PST

I just installed the latest Windows 7 Service Pack this morning and now my sounds are totally screwed up. I have checked in the control centre and the volume is set at 100% but I can hardly hear it. Anyone else have the same problem or know what caused it, apart from Windows fixing things which aren't broke as usual?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
All good here.
Dec 17, 2014 5:02AM PST

But there's a rule I follow. No drivers from Microsoft.
Bob

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I didn't mention anything about Service Pack 1.
Dec 17, 2014 7:10AM PST

When I went to close down the computer last night it started to download an update from Microsoft which took ages. When I started the computer this morning it took almost half an hour to start up because it said it was installin a Service Pack from Microsoft. When it finally finished installing and re-booted the first thing I noticed was the very low sound. I would have thouught if it was this Service Pack 1 you are referring to that it would have downloaded that years ago.

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So it's in warranty? Let Sony deal with it.
Dec 17, 2014 7:33AM PST

Given it's so new, let them fix it.

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New!
Dec 18, 2014 6:06AM PST

It's not new, I've had it for about 3 or more years! That's why I can't understand why it suddenly decided to install Service Pack 1 which I now know it was.

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There is malware that can cause this.
Dec 18, 2014 9:43AM PST

And Microsoft's patches can indeed go wonky if there is OS damage from malware, registry cleaning and a few other things.

It's why you read so much about backups and being ready to recover from say a failed HDD.
Bob

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Answer
Service Pack 1 Was Released Almost 4 Years Ago?
Dec 17, 2014 5:36AM PST

I've not seen any problems here with any of our computers when updating to SP1..

Unfortunately, you've not mentioned the brand name, make, or type of computer you installed this on, but remember if you've upgraded the machine from an earlier operating system, or possible created a home build, there may need to be some audio drivers that need to be updated. And if you upgraded from an earlier operating system, it's possible there aren't any updated drivers. Check the manufacturer's website for updated audio drivers.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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It's a Sony Laptop
Dec 17, 2014 7:12AM PST

My computer is a Sony Vaio laptop which I had custom built by Sony running Windows 7 from new. So no earlier operating system or homebuilds.

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There IS A Problem With The Latest Windows Updates...
Dec 17, 2014 7:56AM PST

See the link below to read about the problems on Windows 7. I agree that Service Pack 1 for Win7 should have been installed years ago, but it's possible you have an issue with the latest KB3004394 update.

http://forums.cnet.com/7726-6132_102-5637718.html

Visit the Windows Updates site and check for the "fix" which was recently released. See if it takes care of the issue.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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More problems
Dec 18, 2014 6:16AM PST

I now know that what it installed yesterday was Service Pack 1. Why it suddenly decided to do this now after all these years I have no idea. As I say iy screwed up the sound to the point where I can hardly hear it. I have tried to update the drivers but I'm told that the latest version are installed. Now when I switch the computer off or should I say try to it starts to install 125 updates! Then probably hours later it switches itself off. When I start it up again it starts to install whatever it has downloaded. Then a message appears after about 30 minutes stating that windows couldn't start and it recovers to an earlier version. Then when I try to shut down it starts the install of the 125 updates again. I'm locked in a loop! I have an earlier back-up that is about 5 months old on an external hard drive so I think my only option is to revert back to that and then disable all Microsoft updates as they are nothing but a pain in the ***.

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Have you tried this?
Dec 18, 2014 6:56AM PST
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Thanks
Dec 18, 2014 9:39AM PST

I'll have a look at that tomorrow and report back if it makes any difference.

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Answer
No problems on 4 home PCs or the 28 I support.
Dec 17, 2014 6:21AM PST

I've been running Windows updates on over 30 PCs for the last 15 years and I have to say I've never seen a case where they messed up anything. But then I never run registry cleaners or get drivers from any place except the folks who built the PC.

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Neither have I
Dec 17, 2014 7:17AM PST

I don't have a registry cleaner as I don't trust them and the only updates I install are the offical Microsoft updates. I think my first Microsoft experience goes back to Windows 3.1 and Dos 6 and I've been through most of them since that on one machine or another, always hoping that this is the version that is going to work right and keep working. I live in hope.

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I started with DOS 3 on a PS/2 55 SX in '89
Dec 17, 2014 9:19AM PST

I wish you well with your hope, but think about the billions of instructions in Windows plus those in your apps. There's no real world way to test all the possible code branches, and no way to anticipate all the devices and "clever devils" who try to break into the system. And as Bob points out from time to time, when anybody can install anybody's apps on Windows, it's hard to imagine how all the possibilities for problems could be eliminated. Just ask the folks at Target, Home Depot, Sony, and some of the banks.
Actually before I started with PCs in 1989, I worked with mainframes for quite a while. I can tell you about the 026 keypunch and the 7094. Yep, I'm an old fart! Fortunately most of my neurons are still in pretty good working order albeit with a bit less speed and energy.

Good luck.