[Lincolnparkdc] Laptop computer repair

[Peter R]

I’m not sure about where to get a laptop repaired, but I wonder about whether it is worth repairing.

If the problem is the sound card built into the laptop, then you could try an external sound “card” that plugs into a USB port.  Sometimes the internal sound card goes bad on its own.  I have bought the first two of these and they work well.  There may be newer ones, since I bought these many years ago.
Very cheap and simple.  You can plug in speakers and a microphone:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IRVQ0F8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Slightly fancier.  Has volume control, mute buttons, more kinds of plugs:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B072BMG9TB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This newer one looks OK, although I haven’t bought it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087T5H3MQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It might be worth spending $10 on one of these just to see if it works rather than going to a repair shop.

If the problem might be related to software, such  as a recent update or other new software, then try one of the new Windows troubleshooters.  Click the start button, type “troubleshoot”, then, in the list of troubleshooters find the one for “Find and fix problems playing sound” and click it.  Let it do its thing.  These new troubleshooters don’t always work, but they are still worth trying, unless Norton already tried that.

If these hardware and software fixes don’t work, THEN take the computer to a shop.  Try www.checkbook.org<http://www.checkbook.org> for ratings of local shops.

--Peter--

From: Scott Keep <uygp-hs47 at DoofusCorp.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 27, 2020 1:27 AM
To: Lincoln Park DC listserve <lincolnparkdc at lincolnparkdc.info>
Subject: [Lincolnparkdc] Laptop computer repair

Anyone have any suggestions as to how to get a Dell laptop computer repaired.   Audio on 5 year old Dell laptop just stopped working.   Not banged or bumped.   An hour and a half on line with Norton Ultimate Help Desk Services convinced me it is almost certainly not a software problem.

Scott Keep
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