PC soundcard problem - Solved, I guess...

[Muse]

I'm running Windows 2000 with a Hercules Game Theater XP 6.1 soundcard that I've had around 3 years. The card's hooked up via coaxial cable digital connection to my Kenwood VR-6070 AV receiver. The last 2 weeks or so I've noticed some background noise in the signal - IOW, when I mute a PC sound-producing application, I hear some noise reminiscent of a noisy amplifier. However, the problem is only with the PC sound, not other stuff I have plugged into the receiver. That's not why I'm posting, although that is an issue I figure should be dealt with - that noise is annoying.

The reason I'm posting is that all sound from the PC has gone mute. I see the equalizer bars going up and down in the GTXP control panel, but I hear nothing from my receiver. It happened while I was watching a TV program with my TV card, so I thought it was the transmission - the sound suddenly came back. But then it happened again a few minutes later, and I checked my other soundcard output (MP3, wav, midi), and it's all silent - even that background noise is gone! Other receiver functions work fine, just not sound from the PC. I figure I can remove and reinstall the soundcard, replace the cable between the soundcard's breakout box and the receiver, and see if that helps. Could it just be that the "soundcard died?" TIA.

 

[RGPHNX]

Hi Muse,
from what you describe.. it's POSSIBLE the soundcard just "died".
If

I figure I can remove and reinstall the soundcard, replace the cable between the soundcard's breakout box and the receiver, and see if that helps.

doesn't fix it...then.. test the sound card in another computer.
When adapter cards "die"..sometimes they give you a warning ..sometimes not.
Hope this is helpful
RGPHNX

 

[Muse]

I couldn't test things then because I was making a recording, but when it was over and I turned off the machine, I swapped out the coaxial cable. I had almost zero confidence that this would solve the problem. The cable being used was a big think honkin' cable and I swapped it for a teeny weeny thin cable supplied with a video component for video, but that apparently resolved the problem. Either that big cable went bad or it had a bad connection or maybe somethin' else, don't know.

Anyway, I think I'm going to scrap the digital connection and make analog connections from the GTXP breakout box to the receiver. People say that's the only way I'll get 5.1 sound in games, anyway. I'm not playing games right now, but intend to.

I suspect there's somethin' else going on with my sound hookup I just don't understand yet, but right now it seems to be working.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Muse]

I absolutely don't understand it. The big coaxial cable I replaced tests fine with a continuity test with my multimeter, both the internal and external conductor.

 

[RGPHNX]

Hi again Muse,
Great that I helped you solve the problem !!
re:

I absolutely don't understand it. The big coaxial cable I replaced tests fine with a continuity test with my multimeter, both the internal and external conductor

..sometimes multimeter test will be "ok" ..but the cable will only "short out" when you put a real "load" on it or put it in a certain position. I know it's one of those "freaky" things..but it happens sometimes.
Hope this is clear
RGPHNX

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: RGPHNX
Hi again Muse,
Great that I helped you solve the problem !!
re:

I absolutely don't understand it. The big coaxial cable I replaced tests fine with a continuity test with my multimeter, both the internal and external conductor

..sometimes multimeter test will be "ok" ..but the cable will only "short out" when you put a real "load" on it or put it in a certain position. I know it's one of those "freaky" things..but it happens sometimes.
Hope this is clear
RGPHNX

Yeah, thanks. It's weird. At some point, it will be easy enough to swap the big coaxial cable back in and see if things work with it just for the hell of it. Weird!