[GoonerLad]

Evening all.

I've recently come across a problem where the sound buttons on my laptop (volume up/down and mute) have stopped working. I've had the laptop nearly 3 years and have never had this problem, which is why I'm asking for your help.

I've already tried scanning for viruses using AVG and re-installing the QuickPlay software, but both have failed.

The laptop I am using is a HP Pavilion DV5000 and it's running Windows XP Home Edition.

Any ideas? Oh and please be gentle, it's my first post

[spot]

Does the laptop still make sound? You don't say it does or doesn't. If it still makes sound do the XP controls still work?

If that's a yes and yes, the levers below the buttons aren't engaging on the push switches any longer and someone's going to have to take the plastic cover off and re-align them. We can show you pictures if that's the case and you want to try it yourself.

If the sound (as opposed to the buttons) isn't working properly we can try to work out why too, we just need to know which way to move.

[GoonerLad]

Yeah, the sound DOES still work and the volume control in Windows DOES still function, it's just the buttons that don't function. However, it can't be the button alignment.

I failed to mention that the only time the buttons DO function is when I'm running QuickPlay (a pre-installed program that lets you play music and watch DVD's). That's the only time I have managed to get the buttons to function correctly...

Any more ideas? Thanks for the great response btw

[serverguy]

I had this after I reinstalled a new copy of XP on a laptop. Fixed it with a driver update.

[spot]

It hadn't occurred to me that those buttons actually have a driver but yes, of course they do. Neither would it have entered my head that it might get cast adrift somehow even if I'd have thought of it. Perhaps the HP site has a complete current driver download set you could invoke, I'm sure it does, I've been down that route there in my time.

[GoonerLad]

Well I've just installed both the Conexant AC-Link Audio Driver and the HP Quick Launch Buttons but both have failed to change anything!

I'm baffled as to why they've suddenly stopped working...

[serverguy]

It is certainly very strange why they have stopped, especially if you did nothing to cause them to stop.

The only other thing I can think is that one of the connecting wires from the buttons has come loose. This would require taking the laptop apart to fix, which is not for the faint hearted.

Is the laptop still under warranty? I guess it isn't as you have had it for quite a long time..

Edit: Also, I would have thought the Quick Launch Driver would have solved it if it was software related so I think it is down to a faulty connection.

[spot]

Getting in as far as the button connectors is a junior school exercise, I'll find the instructions tomorrow and post them here (it's 1.42am at the moment and I have classes in the morning).

[GoonerLad]

Cheers guys.

It's not under warranty but I did pay for insurance for 5 years, the only problem being I've got to send it in and be without it for a few weeks!

[spot]

The HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC - Maintenance and Service Guide is at http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/m...lc=en&lang=en& and the part you need to get under to adjust the push-rods is the LED board on page 5-26. I've no idea whether it's the cause of your problem but it was on a machine I adjusted last year. You'll need to read the service guide to get an idea of how finicky it is.