Intermittent sound problem

[mx5_girl]

I am having a problem with sound on my computer - some times it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have updated the driver for Realtek AC97 Audio but I am still having an intermittent problem. Also, when the sound goes, videos in Youtube don't play properly and look a bit 'jerky'. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Flash Player 10 also. Is there anything else I can try? I am using a Toshiba Satellite laptop and Windows XP.

[mx5_girl]

Just an update - I now have a yellow triangle and exclamation mark beside the Realtek AC97 Audio driver in device manager. When I click on properties it says This device cannot start (code 10). Can anyone help with this please?

[RichieP]

Do you know what make/model the motherboard is?

[mx5_girl]

It's a Toshiba Satellite A30 laptop - I'm afraid that's all I know!

[RichieP]

You need the prpoer motherboard driver rather than the Realtek one.

The European site doesn't list the A30 but the Canadian one does here

Download it.

Uninstall the current driver in Device Manager.

Reboot then run the exe sound driver you downloaded.

[mx5_girl]

Thanks for your help - I tried to download and run the driver you suggested. However, when it gets to about 80% installed I get a message saying 'Tool for driver update has encountered a problem and needs to close.' I click on don't send a report and then it appears to finish installing. I am getting some sound however when I play something for example in itunes it sounds distorted. I have a feeling the driver has not installed properly due to the error message.

This is really starting to annoy me!

[RichieP]

Could be a problem with the hardware causing it.

Try downloading the fiel again, to make sure it's not corrupted.

Uninstall the sound drivers, reboot and try again.

[mx5_girl]

Hi - I tried that. I had sound earlier immediately after I installed the driver again but after shutting down and starting up just now there is now no sound! According to device manager Realtek ac97 audio is working ( there is no exclamation mark) but it clearly isn't. Could it be something other than the driver?

[RichieP]

I think you have a hardware problem. Difficult to fix on a laptop without more specialist input.