# Sound disappears on Dell Inspiron

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-disappears-on-dell-inspiron/377353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 21, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-disappears-on-dell-inspiron/377353 "2006-10-21T17:14:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![633squadron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/ee59a6/32.png) [@633squadron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/633squadron)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sound-disappears-on-dell-inspiron/377353/1 "2006-10-21T17:14:22Z")

</div>

Hi!

I have a problem in which my sound “dies” every time I reboot my computer. If I re-install the SigMaTel C-Major Audio drivers from Dell, the sound immediately starts working again.

As far as I can tell, something is hanging up the audio chip, and re-installing the driver resets it. I don’t know _why_ this is happening, though, and I’d like to fix it.

While I go searching for a better driver, can anyone give advice?

Technical details:

The audio driver version is 5.10.0.4255.

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 running Windows XP Service Pack 2. In the current setup, I have it attached to a ViewSonic PS790 monitor, Microsoft keyboard and mouse, and Ethernet LAN to Linksys router. I also have a Zonet Bluetooth adapter dongle in it. I’m using a combination laptop pad/fan powered by USB 2.0.

It has a 2Ghz processor and 1.5Gb of RAM.

I am running Palm HotSync Manager 6.01, ZoneTick 3.1, GetRight 6.0c, Norton Anti-Virus 2007, ZoneAlarm Pro 6.5.737, DIManager 6, Dell QuickSet, ATI Display Manager, and Office 2000 Shortcut bar.