PC with 5.1 surround has lost sound after installing a web cam and mike?

francie82

hey
as i hav said i have had 5.1 speakers on the computer and today i installed a web cam and a headset for skype. now when i play a you tube clip i cant get any sound outtta my speakers. what settings do i adjust or any suggestions....

Overheal

It sounds like when you installed the Headset it became the Primary Device. Unplugging the Headset (and in general, restarting the program you want sound from) should fix the problem.

Generally, only one sound and one recording device can be active at any time. This is the case except in Windows 7. Even then, it's usually up to the program (eg. Skype, Windows Media Player) to set up a specific device as the output/input. By Default, programs always default to the default (primary) devices. This makes it possible to for example have skype come through your headset, but have your music come through your speakers. This may be unavailable in XP/Vista.

On your volume button in your task bar right click it and select Playback devices. Assuming you have Vista/7. Select the device you want as the primary "Default" audio (your speakers) and set it accordingly. If your Headset is the primary listening device and/or recording device the PC will automatically switch over to it whenever the headset is plugged in. In this way, unplugging the headset would (in 7) instantly transfers all audio to your 5.1 speakers. In Vista, you would have to restart the programs requiring sound, but when they restarted they would use the 5.1 speakers.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd940522%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

In fact in Windows 7 it would make more sense, probably, to set the speakers as your Default Device, and your Headset as your Default Communication Device. See the link above.

francie82

thanks for da reply....sorted...ur a legend!

Overheal

thats what they tell me