PC help please

**Mom** · 3rd November 2012, 15:52

We are using a laptop as a desktop PC, two displays, wireless keyboard mouse etc. We have speakers plugged into the system as well. For some reason, the speakers are not working, the only sounds we are getting are from the laptop speakers. They used to work perfectly well. I have checked everything, the speakers are working fine, play all the correct noises on test, but, wont play sounds from a website. I have looked at everything I can think of and cant figure out why. Anyone able to shed some light on it for me? Maybe tell me how to get my sounds back please

**curly** · 3rd November 2012, 16:47

Turn your hearing aid on.

**FJRider** · 3rd November 2012, 16:51

Check default settings ...

**steve_t** · 3rd November 2012, 17:08

Does the laptop autodetect the speakers when you plug them in? If so, it might just be a case of unplugging them and then plugging them in again. Failing that, go "Control Panel" (what OS are you running?) "Hardware and sound" and then check the settings for your audio device/manager/sound card

**Mom** · 3rd November 2012, 17:57

Originally Posted by steve_t

Does the laptop autodetect the speakers when you plug them in? If so, it might just be a case of unplugging them and then plugging them in again. Failing that, go "Control Panel" (what OS are you running?) "Hardware and sound" and then check the settings for your audio device/manager/sound card

Feel sorry for Maha tonight

**Disco Dan** · 3rd November 2012, 18:34

When you connect an additional display to a laptop the sound is automatically routed to that display as well.

Have a little look down the bottom/right side of your screen - all the little icons. You should see one there that looks like a speaker with 2-3 little "waves" coming out of it - click that and it should pop up with two volume bars, one for each display. If so that confirms your sound is defaulting to the new display. It should let you select the laptop for the sound there.

If your laptop does not have that icon or does not show it - time to visit the Control Panel (start - control panel - sound) select sound and you should be able to choose which display handles the sound.

Generally... if you plug your laptop into the TV via HDMI the sound automatically comes out of the TV and you have to tell it otherwise if you don't want it too.

Hope that helps !

**Mom** · 3rd November 2012, 19:54

Originally Posted by Disco Dan

time to visit the Control Panel (start - control panel - sound) select sound and you should be able to choose which display handles the sound.

I tried all that. Can you give me a screen shot of how to do that? I did not see where I could chose the display that handles the sound.

**Disco Dan** · 3rd November 2012, 20:06

Originally Posted by Mom

I tried all that. Can you give me a screen shot of how to do that? I did not see where I could chose the display that handles the sound.

Right click the speaker icon (has little dot under it in second pic) and the little drop down menu appears that you see in the second pic. Click on "Volume Control Options" and the first pic shows the menu that should appear. You will then see two items in the list (my pic just shows one "Speakers") one will be your laptop speakers the other will be your external speakers.