In
short, this is why your sound doesn??™t work.
Next, Microsoft redesigned the tools you use to manage sound in Vista,
such as the Volume Control and the Sound dialog in Control Panel. This is
why you can??™t find anything.
As a result, manufacturers of sound cards simply discontinued their older
products rather than trying to make them Vista-compatible. This is why you
have to throw out your old sound card, and why you shouldn??™t spend too
much on a new one.
168 | Chapter 4: Working with Media
Get Sound Where There Is None
Sound in Windows Vista is quite a bit more complicated than it needs to be,
so troubleshooting sound problems is a real chore. The best way to fix a PC
that won??™t play sound is with a systematic approach.
Start with the obvious. If you??™re using external speakers, make sure they??™re
plugged in, turned on, and turned up. Try plugging the speakers into an iPod,
home stereo, or other audio source to make sure they??™re actually working.
Using a laptop with integrated speakers? Most laptops have their own independent
volume controls, and some are unlucky enough to have two or three.
The first type is the old-school walkman-esque dial, usually found right next
to the headphone/speaker jack (sometimes these dials only control external
audio, but not always). The second type is usually found on the keyboard,
accessed by holding the Fn key while pressing another key decorated with a
speaker icon. The third type is found on newer laptops, in the group of media
quick-access buttons.
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