Sound stopped working in Windows 8 Pro x86

[theterminator]

Sound suddenly stopped working in my windows 8 pro 32-bit. hardware is fine as i have checked it in ubuntu.
neither headphone nor speaker is working. have installed drivers from manufacturer website (dell), problem persists. to my surprise , it still doesnt work even after I did a fresh install of windows 8 & also formatted the drive before installing.

 

[Desmond]

Weird problem. But the problem certainly lies with the drivers, there cannot be any other problem.

 

[Desmond]

What chipset does your motherboard use for sound?

 

[theterminator]

How can I know that?

Its a laptop dell vostro 1400

 

[Desmond]

Go to Device manager and check what it says.

My point is that you should try getting the driver directly from the chipset vendor.

How can I know that?

Its a laptop dell vostro 1400

Looks like it has a Sigmatel chipset according to the Dell site. But confirm from Device Manager.

Have you tried this driver? *www.dell.com/support/drivers/in/en...leId=2940571307&languageCode=en&categoryId=AU

 

[theterminator]

I have a newer version of that Driver & is the one which I have been using since years. Infact, it shows on my page on Dell's website. Should I try that version which you referenced?

Displays this error message while installing that Driver you referenced:

 

[harshilsharma63]

Are you sure you are not truing to install x64 drivers?

 

[theterminator]

Now using default windows driver but still no solution:

Are you sure you are not truing to install x64 drivers?

Yes. I am dead sure about that.

The difference in using Sigmatel's driver & windows driver is that when I was using Sigmatel , the volume control would hang if i tried to up/down volume but not in the case of windows driver. But in both cases , sound wouldn't work.

Update: Headphone is working now on Windows' default driver.

Now Action Center says that Norton Anti-Spyware & Firewall is turned off despite turning it ON manually.
I am fed up with the incompatibility issues with Windows 8. Thinking to switch back to Windows 7.

 

[amjath]

Is the drivers windows 8 certified. There is a list of laptops in dell which they believe can be upgraded to windows 8

 

[shreymittal]

Yes get back to W7

 

[theterminator]

Is the drivers windows 8 certified. There is a list of laptops in dell which they believe can be upgraded to windows 8

That's what I am doubting. btw do you have any specific links of the models for which Dell recommends Windows 8?

Update: Ok. So found out that my laptop is not tested by Dell for Windows 8.
*www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/in/en/indhs1/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=575111

 

[amjath]

That's what I am doubting. btw do you have any specific links of the models for which Dell recommends Windows 8?

Update: Ok. So found out that my laptop is not tested by Dell for Windows 8.
*www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/in/en/indhs1/KCS/KcsArticles/ArticleView?docid=575111

It's better for u to use windows 7. Don't blame it on windows 8.

 

[theterminator]

It's better for u to use windows 7. Don't blame it on windows 8.

They haven't tested it so one cannot say that my computer isn't compatible. Had they tested & said that 'look , your laptop isn't compatible' then yes Windows 8 was not to blame upto an extent.

 

[amjath]

They haven't tested it so one cannot say that my computer isn't compatible. Had they tested & said that 'look , your laptop isn't compatible' then yes Windows 8 was not to blame upto an extent.

Did u try uninstalling the audio driver, restart and try installing it

 

[theterminator]

I uninstalled manufacturer driver and installed it again. I even formatted the drive n installed fresh copy of win8. When on windows' default driver , headphones have started working but not the speakers. And when on my manufacturer driver both would not work and opening volume control would hang.