No sound on T41, "No Playback Device"

[Real.Wolf]

The sound stopped working on a friends computer about a month ago, I've tried everything I can think of to fix it, but nothing has worked so far.

Computer specs:

IBM ThinkPad T41 - (2373 7FU)
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
1.60 gigahertz Intel Pentium M
512 Megabytes Installed Memory

SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio


Under Audio properties, there are no devices listed under Sound Playback; the dropdown box is gray, with "No Playback Device". But SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio shows up under "Sound recording". This is the same device right?


Things I've tried:
Downloaded and installed the newest driver from the thinkpad support site.
Checked to make sure that the windows service for sound is enabled.
Compared with anther identical (but working) laptop, all settings and updates appeared the be the same.

First time using these forums, so I hope I followed all the instructions properly.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[NorrisCell]

Are the on screen display drivers installed? Does the volume level show on screen when a button is pressed? I believe the SoundMAX program takes control of the playback device away from Windows, so the "no device" message may be normal. You may also try hooking it up to external speakers to make sure the speakers themselves are not the problem.

[sparta.rising]

The audio on my old T43 motherboard was buggy, wouldn't work 70% of the time, I got the "No playback device" error when it wasn't working. I don't know how to fix it, I replaced the motherboard.

[sktn77a]

Well, it's either a hardware problem (bad motherboard) or a software problem (windows/soundmax driver)! Try uninstalling and reinstalling the audio drivers. Also try searching for new hardware (Audio Device) in control panel. If all else fails, do a full system recovery from the hidden partition.

If that fails, sounds like hardware.

Good luck!

[sparta.rising]

I guess I should add that when I went from the faulty motherboard to the current I made no software changes (was the same board type) and the problem was fixed.

[schen]

Things I've tried:
Downloaded and installed the newest driver from the thinkpad support site.
Checked to make sure that the windows service for sound is enabled.
Compared with anther identical (but working) laptop, all settings and updates appeared the be the same.

It's pretty much the same things I tried about 6 months ago when I bought a T41 2373-700 that turned out to have a hardware issue on the MB. I ended up returning that machine (shame really, it was physically perfect) and bought another T41 on eBay. Strangely it turned out to be the exact same model 2373-700, but this one has working sound!

[Real.Wolf]

Wow, thanks for all the responses!

@ NorrisCell
I don't remember seeing an on screen volume level on either the working or non-working laptop; I will check when I get my hands on it again. (both laptops are semi-permanently docked, so the sound buttons above the keyboard are seldom if ever used). There is a soundmax icon in the taskbar, but it fails to provide any useful settings or information.

@ sktn77a
Reinstall of the driver didn't work, and there are no unaccounted items in the device manager.


I'm not at all familiar with how these things work, can only the sound playback portion of an integrated motherboard fail, while leaving sound recording and all other functions working properly?