Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

Why does my laptop's sound keep shutting off?

May 26, 2014 9:49PM PDT

Hi,
These days when I want to listen to the music or watch something on Windows media player, VLC etc, my laptop's sound keeps shutting off. To get it to work, I have to restart my laptop. And sometimes I have to restart it twice.

Does anyone know how I can fix this?
Thanks.

Discussion is locked

hurray1 has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

- Collapse -
I should have mentioned
May 27, 2014 1:44AM PDT

that a person can check to see if there's a hardware problem by using an Live CD/DVD.

Digger

- Collapse -
MSI CR61 laptop
May 27, 2014 3:39AM PDT

I have a MSI CR61 laptop.

I reformatted the laptop few weeks ago. I installed all the drivers and they all seem to appear as working.
If the sound was not working at all, I could say that the problem is with the driver or the sound card. But it works after a restart. Sometimes I have to restart twice a day to get it to work.

- Collapse -
I find getting a clean install to be much harder today.
May 27, 2014 3:42AM PDT

You may have to ask MSI for the exact versions and order to install motherboard then audio drivers. Only they may know this.
Bob

- Collapse -
I gave my best choices
May 27, 2014 3:45AM PDT

to purchase an USB device or try using a Live CD/DVD to determine if it's an hardware issue, other than that, I must defer to the Pro's here as it would be a guess.

Digger

- Collapse -
Thank You.
May 28, 2014 7:51AM PDT

Thanks guys for all your help.
I finally uninstalled the sound card driver and when I restarted my computer, the windows automatically reinstalled it. For the moment it seems to be working.

- Collapse -
Good for you!
May 28, 2014 7:56AM PDT

with a little diligence you figured it out for yourself. Cool Let's hope it stay's working now.
Best of luck
Digger

- Collapse -
Problem came back again.
May 30, 2014 11:47PM PDT

Hi guys,
I think I spoke a bit too early. This morning when I tried to watch something online on my laptop, the sound stopped working. I had to again restart it.

At the bottom right hand corner of my screen, I have the windows speaker icon which I use to control the volume as well as another similar looking speaker icon called Realtek HD audio Manager. Could this be the problem?

- Collapse -
Not likely
May 31, 2014 1:45AM PDT

Those are just icons but if you are so inclined to you can remove the icon.
Again, I gave my best thoughts on this. That's all I have. Sorry...
Digger

- Collapse -
Answer
Lot's of reasons
May 27, 2014 1:18AM PDT
- Collapse -
Nod!
May 27, 2014 1:22AM PDT
- Collapse -
Answer
I don't think.
May 31, 2014 3:17AM PDT

I don't think buying one of those USB sound cards is the real solution. Furthermore someone here suggested that it may slow down the system.

I know that there is a bug issue. The sound was working fine before and since 3 weeks this problem has started to appear.

- Collapse -
I can't say
May 31, 2014 3:29AM PDT

it's a bug with all of the possibilities such as lead free solder bot another member had the problem where his headphones worked all the time but laptop speakers worked off and on. He purchased external speakers to deal with the issues.

Digger

- Collapse -
I will add for a second time
May 31, 2014 3:43AM PDT

you can check for hardware issues by using a Live CD/DVD .

Digger

- Collapse -
Yup, external bluetooth speakers was my solution.
May 31, 2014 4:00AM PDT

I bought a $15 IOgear bluetooth adapter and a $35 Creative Labs bluetooth speaker and solved the problem for me. If I'm away from home, I can use headphones. YMMV. I verified that it was hardware by booting a Ubuntu disc and having the same problem.

- Collapse -
Beats a lot of alternatives.
May 31, 2014 4:07AM PDT

But I like the Bluetooth angle. Let's be honest about this industry. No one is producing great diagnostics. We can see lots of crapware such as registry cleaners and more so it's never a sure thing if the OS has or has not been dinged up. Since there is no good diagnostics we learn to try the usual and when it doesn't play out we reload the system to factory condition and if that fails, it's a hardware failure.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
How can
Jun 3, 2014 8:14PM PDT

How can this be a problem with hardware when the sound test under speaker properties work just fine.

- Collapse -
Great question.
Jun 4, 2014 12:20AM PDT

The sound "chip" or more accurately system consists of chips that could fail in odd ways and then you have drivers that are now like a Gordian Knot to unravel.

Read above on one fix found but I continue to test with a bootable CD. Only your entry level or new tech would not have such at their fingertips. The industry continues with poor diagnostics and "reload your OS" to solve issues like this. I haven't seen much change since the 90's in that regard.
Bob

- Collapse -
I Agree with 90's "poor diagnostics" lol, so true
Apr 14, 2015 7:18AM PDT

I have this same problem, relatively. I have a Toshiba quad core laptop fairly new just over a year old. When i play music or video or any sound period via the speakers, it will after about 1 minute sometimes less just stop silent. Then if i pause whatever is making the sound usually about 30 seconds later it will play sound again and repeat the same issue forever.Headphone jacks and HDMI sound out work perfect. For the record I am a very able computer technician with great skills in electronics, electrical repair. I have tried full system restore (windows 7), No Dice. Tried the driver disable, re-enable, upgrade, downgrade, removal of driver , re-installation from scratch. Even registry level manual cleaning, still no joy. Oh try a live cd! everyone says. This means nothing to most people unless you tell them perhaps an EXACT cd you think will work like say ubuntu live,or hirens boot cd or Joe Blows not real recovery! be more specific for the un-tech savy masses out there. I myself also tried the live cd, bootable usb thumb drive aproach(a windows 7 Barts PE build with tech tools added custom), same issue for me. Microsoft's MicrosoftFixit.AudioPlayback.RNP.Run.exe tool said my laptop was 100% no problem. So after all of this I have deduced that I'm "pooched". A technical term for a hardware failure of some sort. Bad ground on one of the speakers in laptop? an on-board sound chip malfunction? Maybe a solder point, or a trace needs to be corrected? I will have to eventually take it all apart down to the motherboard and have a look. For your average cat, i would not recommend this. If you are past your warranty like me and you do not feel comfortable ripping apart a perfect working laptop otherwise, I recommend external setup of some sort like a wireless usb speaker setup, or a plug in small speaker, a Bluetooth speaker,(real nice if you have Bluetooth on board) or a USB bluetooth mini dongle, then bluetooth speaker would be good. I would recommend CHINA for all, cheap cheap dx.com or Deal Extreme to those not in the know comes to mind. (I buy everything there, slow but free shipping) Just some suggestions, Hope that helps someone.

- Collapse -
CHECK THIS OUT!!! Laptop to radio?
Apr 14, 2015 7:38AM PDT

Sorry to double post, but i found an amazing fairly cheap solution!!! A USB to RADIO WIRELESS TRANSMITTER!! under $20 apparently and then your laptop sound just transmits to your house or car radio!
here is what i found http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/09/27/review_gadget_keene_usb_fm_transmitter/
definitely have a look if your having the same issue as a few of us. Im going to my favorite cheap china site to see if they have something like this with mini dongle.

- Collapse -
The shame that Samsung can be.
Apr 14, 2015 8:28AM PDT
- Collapse -
Answer
THE BEST SOLUTION
Apr 14, 2015 7:46AM PDT