Dell Inspiron 1501 no sound

you can test if the sound card works or not by running rhe live Knoppix cd; at least, you should hear the welcome sound...and others :  ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.2CD-2009-11-18-EN.iso

Booster49
Thanks for your very comprehensive response. I have tried everything you suggested and here is the result:
I followed the steps in sequence except I delayed the modem removal until the end.
When I ran the Dell Diagnostics I heard the audio track okay.
Then I removed the modem and restarted but there is still no sound.
Any more ideas on what I can do as this clearly seems to be a software, rather than a hardware, issue?
Thanks

why don't you try my suggestion ?  easy...

nobus,
Thanks, I did try your suggestion. I had to download the iso image twice as the one I got from the lilnk you supplied would only run to a certain point. I tried it on another PC and it still failed to run properly so maybe the download wasn't good? Anyhow, I got it from another source and ran it but, to be honest, I couldn't see anything on it that would help me! Perhaps you can give me a bit more detail as to what I need to do.
In any case, it looks like, from the Diagnostics, the sound is working outside Windows so I need to keep digging as to why it won't work under Windows!
Thanks

try downgrading the driver to an older version.

Also what version of windows do you use?

i posted everything above :  at least, you should hear the welcome sound...and others
if you don't hear it - consider the sound card dead
btw - don't throw the cd away, it's useful for accessing data on pc's that don't boot + the net...

now you said it worked in the diags, so try this :
My sound procedure checklist :
-in device manager, check if the card is installed without errors
- or #2 - in Device Manager>view - click "show hidden devices" and delete all reference to your card
-reboot, and install the driver
-in the audio and sound applet>audio tab check if the sound card is selected
-in the volume section, check if the sound is turned up enough, and NOT muted
-in the audio and sound applet>sounds tab select the start windows sound, and check if you can play it
-check if the speakers are connected to the proper sound output (green)
-test the speakers on another PC

booster49
the OS is Windows Xp with SP3
If I downgrade the sound card driver will it be compatible with the other drivers I installed from your checklist?
Here is what is listed in Device Manager under Sound, video and game controllers.
Audio Codecs
Legacy Audio Drivers
Legacy Video Capture Devices
Media Control Devices
Microsoft Kernel System Audio Device
Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver
SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
Video Codecs
The two Microsoft ones only list if I select Show Hidden Devices
There are no warning icons showing agains any device
I do not have any speakers plugged into the laptop as the headphone socket is slightly damaged. However, since I heard sound coming out of the laptop speakers during the Diagnostics test I assume this is not relevant?
Thanks

 
 

nobus
Thanks for your response. Yes, I will keep the CD although I do have some other linus based rescue CDs but this could also be useful!
I listed the audio devices in my response to booster49. Do you see anything missing there?
I have carried out all of the other checks you suggest and all are positive.
Do you think I need to check inside the laptop since the headphone socket is damaged?
Thanks

Yes its probably a software related problem. I dont think compatability will be an issue but you can always upgrade back to newer drivers if it doesnt work just try it.

if downgrading the driver doesnt work try what nobus posted:
- or #2 - in Device Manager>view - click "show hidden devices" and delete all reference to your card
-reboot, and install the driver
-in the audio and sound applet>audio tab check if the sound card is selected
-in the volume section, check if the sound is turned up enough, and NOT muted
-in the audio and sound applet>sounds tab select the start windows sound, and check if you can play it

discard the second part of my last post.

I dont think you have to check inside the laptop as the hardware seems to work fine outside windows.

booster49
From the list of devices I have can you tell me which one (or ones) I would need to delete to remove the sound card driver? Is it just the SigmaTel Codec one?
Thanks

booster49
Where do I find the older sound card driver?

i'm sorry to insist - but did you hear the welcome sound in knoppix?

Do you have this driver installed right now?
I would uninstall these to completely remove it:
Legacy Audio Drivers
Microsoft WINMM WDM Audio Compatibility Driver
SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
the codec is probably the driver to.
@nobus ditnt grapey state this here?
In any case, it looks like, from the Diagnostics, the sound is working outside Windows so I need to keep digging as to why it won't work under Windows!

nobus
No, I didn't but I think there is something wrong with my Knoppix downloads or burns. I looked at a video today showing a Knoppix screen and I didn't see that. i only saw some options listed 1 thru 12 like on an old DOS environment.
I have ordered a Knoppix CDROM from a UK company.

ah - that explains things.
did you download and create it on a working PC? then the download should work
pick the one you need from the sart page : www.knoppix.org   - select your language and mirror..

booster49
I uninstalled the WINMM and SigmaTel drivers and installed the one you have linked to (although I think it is the one that was installed already anyhow - same version number). I couldn't see any option for uninstalling the Legacy Audio drivers. Still no sound
Incidentally, after I uninstalled, the computer did beep a few times when starting up (on error messages not related to this problem e.g. an Outlook profile error message) but once the driver was reinstalled this didn't happen again.
 

Sigmatel has its own software via control panel try to diagnose from there

Thanks for your help. I took the laptop apart yesterday and I believe the problem could be hardware related. The headphone socket is damaged and, after fiddling a bit with the the jack of some headphones i managed to get some sound throught he headphones so I imagine the problem with the headphone socket is somehow disabling the speakers.
Although, I must say, having got the Dell (non Windows) diagnostics to play through the speakers okay I am still puzzled!

I have had to close the question as my client wanted his laptop back and has accepted that, due to  damage to the heaphone socket, he will use this as a backup laptop and use it without sound.
Thanks to booster49 and nobus for their help which will be very useful for similar situations.

thanks for the feedback !