T21 Sound not working

[slagmi]

Hello, ThinkPad forum!

I recently got a good deal on a T21 type 2648-4au and am a ThinkPad owner once again!

The notebook is in excellent condition even the battery isn't bad but the sound isn't working.

Showed OK in Devman. Flashed BIOS, added RAM, clean loaded with XP, same. Speakers work with system beeps (pressing the hardware volume control for example). Turn the volume up all the way and there is a faint static thru the speakers as well. Changing PCI/IRQ BIOS setting's doesen't help. Issue is the same with external speakers. The internal mic does not seem to be working either.

Am I replacing the mainboard next or are there other things worth checking? I'm curious about the ports on the hard disk cover and want to remove that & have a look. Besides removing the retaining screw, what's the trick on the T21 to removing that cover?

Any help/suggestions is appreciated!

[sktn77a]

Is the sound muted or turned down in audio properties? Does the windows sound work on bootup? Are you sure you have the right audo drived (from the IBM site, not XP)?

[slagmi]

Hi Keith!

Not muted, there aren't any audio drivers for XP for the T21.
I only loaded the drivers IBM recommends for XP, mostly PM stuff, except I did load the 'not for XP' Trackpoint software because I wanted the 3rd TrackPoint button to scroll. (BTW after the mandatory 'driver rollback' it does work!)

Audio> preferred device is set correctly.
No problems or flags at all in device manager, Windows sees the audio device. I'm suspecting it may be something as simple as a wiring short or loose physical connection. Maybe the speakers aren't fully plugged in. I've done some exploratory dis-assembly but I haven't taken it completly apart yet. Actually, I'm really enjoying the laptop without any sound! My last ThinkPad was a model 365 i believe, about 10 years ago, and I had a 486 ThinkPad before that. Still have some spare trackpoint caps around, both the smooth and rough kind.

I'm being careful and gentle with the harddrive cover, it seems like it may be glued or taped to the drive itself, and it seems there may be a retaining tab or something in the topside I haven't quite sorted out yet. I don't want to break the plastic or pull the audio ports off the mainboard!

[sktn77a]

I definitely wouldn't buy a new mobo just yet. Check the speaker connections, run DXDIAG, PC doctor or any other hardware test program you can get your hands on. Yes, I looked in the Device Driver Matrix and it's the T23 that comes with the IBM driver.

[slagmi]

Well unfortuantley it's not a physical connection issue, and in fact there aren't any internal plugs associated with the sound system except for the one for the mic. IMB's right up there with Apple in design IMO.

I may sell it for $350 (has a/c adapter and origional disks P3-800/192MB/20GB/modem/lan/DVD/14.1), flawless except for no sound; or I may get the 12P3366 system board off Ebay for $75. Haven't decided yet.

[slagmi]

Was the mainboard; swap solved!